Can Bearded Dragons Eat Mango? Vet-Approved Feeding Facts
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Bearded dragons are easy pets to take care of, at least compared to most cats and dogs. However, they still require care, compassion, and companionship. A crucial aspect of caring for a bearded dragon is making sure they have plenty of delicious and nutritious food to eat each day. Your bearded dragon should eat healthy greens and veggies like collard greens, kale, parsley, bok choy, and escarole as the main part of their diet.
That said, your beardie can enjoy certain fruit as part of their diet. One fruit that your pet bearded dragon can indulge in is mango. However, mango should only be offered occasionally, as a complement to their regular diet. There are also a few concerns to be aware of when it comes to feeding this fruit to your bearded bestie. Read on to learn more about this topic!
The Benefits of Mangos for Bearded Dragons
There are a few good reasons to consider occasionally adding mango to your bearded dragon’s diet. Just like mango is nutritious for us humans, it provides extra vitamins that can benefit your beardie’s health overall:
- Vitamin A — This nutrient is extremely important for a bearded dragon’s eye health in various ways. First, it helps support optimal eyesight. Second, it helps beardies avoid dry eyes, squinting, infections, and swollen eyelids, which are all common signs of vitamin A deficiency (also known as hypovitaminosis A).
- Vitamin C — A strong immune system is important for good health, and this vitamin offers the necessary support.
- Vitamin E — Beardies rely on this nutrient to help protect themselves from free radicals and diseases that free radicals cause.
- Manganese — This is a helpful nutrient for the support of proper bone development and health throughout all stages of life.
- Fiber — Like humans, bearded dragons need a steady source of fiber for good gastrointestinal health.
These nutrients are all vital for a bearded dragon’s health, but keep in mind that they can get these nutrients from a regular diet of healthy greens and other vegetables.
The Concerns About Feeding Mango to Bearded Dragons
Mango is not bad for bearded dragons, but certain problems could arise if they are offered too much of it as time goes on. For one thing, fruits in general are typically poor sources of minerals, which are important for beardies in several ways. So, if you’re feeding your beardie multiple mangos or other kinds of fruit, they will have less room for the foods that have all the minerals that they need, such as kale and broccoli.
Another concern is the sugar content in mangos. The riper and sweeter they are, the more sugar they are likely to contain. Eating too much sugar can lead to problems like weight gain for bearded dragons.
How Much and How Often a Bearded Dragon Should Eat Mango
Although mangos offer a certain amount of nutritional value to bearded dragons, they are high in sugar and don’t have everything the animals need for good health like leafy greens and other veggies do. For this reason, mango should be offered as a topper or supplement to your bearded dragon’s meal no more than once or twice a week. One or two slices or small dice-sized chunks of mango are enough during any feeding. This will help ensure that there is plenty of room in their diet for other varieties of food and that all their nutritional requirements are met no matter what stage of life they are in.
How to Feed Mango to a Bearded Dragon
You don’t have to do anything special when feeding mango to your bearded dragon, but you should make sure all the skin is removed first, as it’s a choking hazard. Also, you should never give your beardie the pit of the mango, even as a toy. Cut the mango into small chunks about the size of six-sided dice or thin slices about 1/8 inch thick before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Should Beardies Eat Mangos That Aren’t Ripe?
A: Unripe mangos are high in Vitamin C and can cause gastrointestinal distress. Avoid feeding your beardie these mangos and opt for ripe ones instead.
What Can Be Served With Mango?
A: You can serve your bearded dragon mango on its own as a snack or treat or add it to a meal as a topper. You can also blend mango and offer a teaspoon of it at a time, keeping the rest in your freezer for later use.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Dried Mango?
A: While dried mangos are generally higher in sugar content than the fresh fruit, they make for a concentrated source of vitamins, so bearded dragons can eat small pieces sparingly as treats.
A Quick Recap
Your bearded dragon can enjoy mango as part of their regular diet. That said, make sure leafy greens and other vegetables make up the bulk of your pet beardie’s meals overall. Chances are that your pet will love their mango treats!
Also see:
- Can Bearded Dragons Eat Mice? Vet-Reviewed Nutrition Facts & FAQ
- Can Bearded Dragons Eat Nightcrawlers? Vet-Reviewed Nutrition Facts & FAQ
Featured Image Credit: bochimsang12, Shutterstock
