Kiwis are nutritious fruits packed with fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Humans benefit from adding these green fruits to their diets, but what about bearded dragons?
If you have beardies (as they are also known as pets), you might be considering spicing up their diets with some fruits, which might provide them with some variety and ensure they get all they need to thrive. But can bearded dragons eat kiwi? You are in the right place to find that out!
Quick Answer
Bearded dragons can eat kiwi and other fruits. You can add kiwi fruit and skin to your bearded dragons’ diet, but sparingly. These fruits are non toxic and are healthy for your pet.
We included everything you should know about adding these nutritious green fruits to your animal’s diet (and much more) in this essential guide. Don’t forget that bearded dragons are omnivorous, meaning they can eat plants and insects. But like many animals, they won’t resist a sweet and juicy piece of fruit, even if it will give them less nutrition.
However, even if it might make them happy, you should avoid giving them fruit too frequently. The high amount of sugars can cause your beardies severe health issues. After all, there must be reasons why people regard them as their “junk food.” But what about kiwi? To learn more about feeding your beardies these delicious fruits, jump to the following section!
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Kiwi? All You Need to Know
Beardies love fruits, but that doesn’t mean you’ll need to feed them plenty of fruits to have them grow. Instead, you must regulate your animals’ fruit consumption because just like too many cookies might cause humans lots of trouble, too much fruit can harm your bearded dragons. As a rule of thumb, you should only feed your animals fruits once or twice a month maximum.
To keep the story short, yes: bearded dragons can eat kiwis. These fruits are highly nutritional and are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, fibers, potassium, folate, copper, calcium, and zinc, which your dragons need for healthy growth. Kiwis can provide your beardies with all that without adding fat, which is especially important for adult individuals who tend to suffer from obesity and tooth decay. Indeed, just like humans, bearded dragons have higher chances to develop those problems as they age. And tooth decay can cause lots of pain to your beardies.
Luckily, of all fruits, kiwis are low in sugar content, reducing the risk of causing health issues to your animals. However, don’t forget that too much of a good thing can be counterproductive. For this reason, you shouldn’t give your beardier kiwis more than twice a month.
Indeed, despite all its benefits, this fruit contains oxalic acid, which prevents the absorption of calcium and might cause metabolic bone disease in your pets. Oxalate is a compound you can also find in most vegetables, so you must pay attention to your animals’ calcium intake.
If you feel your beardie’s diet lacks calcium, consider adding a supplement (enriched with vitamin D3, essential for calcium absorption) to its daily intake. It will prevent you lots of headaches and your animals’ pain.
How to Feed Bearded Dragons Kiwi?
Your beardies will have no problems eating kiwi: they will love it. However, make sure you select a ripe fruit and wash it before giving it to your animals. If you can, consider buying organic products to eliminate the risk of contamination from chemicals and pesticides.
Chop the kiwi into small pieces and remove the peel: your bearded dragons might not digest it. On the other hand, seeds are safe to eat. You can even cut the fruit in half and scoop out the pulp with a spoon.
To balance the sugar levels, consider feeding your beardies kiwi in a salad of leafy greens like kale, collards, and veggies like carrots. Your beardies will love the combination!
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Kiwi?: The Bottom Line
So, in short, you can add kiwis to your bearded dragons’ diet, but sparingly. Fruits should be part of a balanced diet, rich in vegetables and plants. Besides the high sugar content, fruits tend to be poorer in minerals than vegetables.
Giving your dragons too much fruit might deprive them of essential nutrients for their healthy development. But you can give your pets kiwis as an occasional fruit from time to time to add variety to their diet: they will thank you!
Related Article: Can Chickens Eat Kiwi Fruit Skins?