Can Bearded Dragons Eat Zucchini?

In this article, you will learn if you can give Zucchini to your bearded dragon whether it is safe or not. without wasting any more time let’s jump straight to it.

In short, Bearded Dragons can eat Zucchini but it is recommended that you don’t do it often, Bearded dragons are omnivores whose diet in their natural habitat include a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, insects, and meat.

They can safely eat zucchini occasionally although experts recommend limiting consumption because the poor calcium to phosphorus ratio of summer squash carries a high risk of metabolic bone disease for beardies.

Typical Bearded Dragon Diet

Typical Bearded Dragon Diet

An ideal diet for a bearded dragon should mirror what it would typically eat in the wild and should include a healthy mix of plant and animal-based foods.

Young dragons grow rapidly and require more protein than their adult counterparts so their meals should consist of about three-quarters of meat or insects and a quarter of fruits and vegetables.

Once beardies mature at around eighteen months of age, they should transition to an adult diet which is three quarters produce and one-quarter proteins. Juveniles eat approximately three times per day but by the time bearded dragons reach adulthood they only need to be fed once daily.

Varying the types of food pet dragons eat is a significant source of enrichment for them and helps them retain good eating habits. Adults are usually excellent eaters and refusing food could potentially indicate an illness or injury.

See also  Can I feed my bearded dragon baby food?

Preparation

Bearded dragons prefer to eat their fruits and veggies raw and in small pieces. Peels represent a potential choking hazard and can be difficult to remove if they become lodged in a beardies throat.

After removing the peel, shred the zucchini using a cheese grater or chop into fine pieces and mix it with nutritious greens. If a waxy peel gets trapped in a bearded dragon’s throat, gently hold open its mouth with a finger or soft utensil and pull it out with a pair of tweezer

Bearded Dragons and Zucchini

Bearded Dragons and Zucchini

Zucchini is a green or yellow mild-tasting summer squash closely related to cucumbers and pumpkins. The skins, seeds, and flesh are all edible and contain lots of vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants which are beneficial to reptiles.

Squash is also low in calcium, however, and contains a high ratio of phosphorus which is outside of the range recommended for regular consumption by beardies as it can lead to metabolic bone disease.

Bearded dragons derive most of their calcium intake from the vegetarian part of their diet and it is essential to their overall health and ability to thrive that they consume fruits and vegetables high in calcium. This makes zucchini a nice occasional treat for pet beardies but not a great fit for regular meals.

Alternatives

Zucchini is a healthy and nutritious snack for humans but probably not the best option for your pet beardie. Greens that are high in calcium like spinach, okra, kale, and collards are better substitutes when it comes to the overall wellbeing of bearded dragons.

Phosphorous binds to calcium in the body of reptiles which stops it from being absorbed into the bloodstream. Eating produces low in phosphorous like strawberries, pineapples and radishes can help reptiles to absorb calcium from other foods.

See also  Do I Need a License To Own a Bearded Dragon?

Fruits with softer peels like grapes, plums, raisins, and melons do not present as much of a choking hazard for your beardie or require as much effort to prepare as zucchini either

Conclusion

Eating zucchini in moderation will provide necessary nutrients like Vitamins A, C & B6, fiber, magnesium, and potassium to a bearded dragon but primary consumption would almost certainly lead to devastating health problems. Bearded dragons are known to be excellent eaters and varying their diet is important to their wellbeing.

Leave a Comment