Can Bearded Dragons Eat Applesauce? Vet Approved Nutrition Facts & FAQ

If you own a bearded dragon, you might want to jazz up his diet occasionally with new foods to prevent dietary boredom. While beardies are generally happy eating their veggies and insects, you might one day want to share your snacks. If you’re looking at your cup of applesauce and wondering if you can offer a taste to your beardie, know that your bearded dragon can eat applesauce, but there are some caveats to consider.

While homemade applesauce without additives or sugar is unlikely to cause any harm to your beardie, it still isn’t the best food for your reptile. Read on to learn more.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Applesauce?

Beardies can eat applesauce occasionally, provided it is a homemade variety made without additives or additional sugar. It is important to note that applesauce is not a natural part of a beardie’s diet. This is not something a dragon would encounter in the wild, so it isn’t something their bodies have evolved to digest.

Some bearded dragon owners offer applesauce to their pets if they’re constipated or struggling with other digestive issues, as it’s highly effective as a natural laxative. We do not recommend going this route unless you have received the go-ahead from your exotic vet. The last thing you want to do is self-diagnose your pet and provide at-home treatments that could do more harm than good.

What Are the Benefits of Applesauce?

Apples are a nutrient-dense fruit, high in fiber and vitamins like C and E. Dietary fiber is important for all reptiles as it promotes gut motility and plays a role in fatty acid and B vitamin production.

Vitamin C can be beneficial for beardies with certain health conditions as it can be beneficial to the recovery process. Beardies deficient in this vitamin may experience poor wound healing and increased bleeding. Vitamin E is an integral component of the body’s antioxidant defense system.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Apples?

Yes, bearded dragons can eat apples. Fruit shouldn’t be a part of your pet’s daily diet, however. If you want to give your beardie a bit of a treat, a little slice of apple won’t be harmful.

What Should Bearded Dragons Eat?

The ideal diet for an adult bearded dragon will consist primarily of fresh vegetables. Young beardies are more carnivorous than their adult counterparts, with most preferring insects over a salad. As your pet ages, however, it naturally transitions to a more herbivorous diet. That’s not saying he won’t need insects, but that his interest in bugs will probably naturally wane over time.

You should offer your adult beardie a daily salad chock full of fresh and nutritious greens. Feel free to add in different veggie mixers for variety. Insects can be offered once or twice a week, and fruit even more sparingly. Fruit should not be a staple in your pet’s diet as they’re high in sugar and can contribute to obesity and dental disease.

Check out our bearded dragon diet article for more tips on what your beardie should eat regularly.

Conclusion

While a little taste of homemade applesauce now and then is unlikely to cause any lasting harm to your beardie, it’s important to remember what an appropriate diet looks like. Applesauce is not part of a bearded dragon’s natural diet, so if you give any to your pet, it should be in tiny amounts and offered rarely.

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