Many beginners want to know whether their bearded dragons can eat grapes since they are easy to find and natural. Therefore, it is important for every owner to understand about feeding grapes to the bearded so he has to avoid feeding them something that should not be provided. This article seeks to explain everything about feeding grapes to bearded dragons.
The question of whether the bearded dragons can feed on grapes, the answer is yes. It is completely safe to feed your bearded dragons with the grapes, but a few conditions need to be followed. The bearded dragons primarily feed on insects and plant matter, and this includes the grapes. The dragons actually enjoy feeding on the fruits more than greens and vegetables. These reptiles can feed on fruits with or without the skin, but you need to ensure there are no seeds in the fruits.
How Often Should they be fed Grapes?
The grapes should be fed to your bearded dragon from time to time, and the health of your pet should determine this. If you have a healthy dragon that is not fat or overfed at all, then there is no problem if you feed your bearded dragon some grapes once a week. You can also use the grapes to trick your dragon into feeding on more greens, and this can be achieved by cutting half of the grape and applying it to the greens you want to feed on the dragon.
You can also slice the grapes into small pieces and put them between the greens so the bearded dragon can eat the greens accidentally as they eat the grapes. One-half piece of a grape can be used per a bowl of greens, and that will work perfectly.
Why Grapes can be Toxic for Bearded Dragons
There are a number of reasons why the grapes might be bad for a bearded dragon if they are overfed, and below are some of the reasons;
Grapes Contain Oxalates
The word oxalates may be a little uncommon to you, but you should not be worried. Whether it is in animals or human beings, the oxalates bind calcium, and this means that even if you make sure that your bearded dragon gets a lot of calcium each day, the grapes take part in that. The grapes contain low levels of oxalates, but this does not mean they do not contain them, and feeding too many grapes to the dragons could absorb too much calcium, which your bearded dragon needs so much for its health.
Grapes Have Seeds
Some owners prefer to buy seedless grapes, but despite the fact that these seedless have fewer seeds than the common grapes, they do not have any seeds at all. That is why it is advisable to check all the grapes that you feed to your bearded dragon for seeds. Whenever you find any seed in the grape, ensure that you remove them all despite the size. The bearded dragons can get impaction from eating those sees, and this means they will not be able to have proper bowel movements anymore. Until they get immediate intervention, they may end up dying. There is a history of very many bearded dragons eating the stone fruits such as grapes, and this is why it is advisable to be very vigilant when feeding these fruits to your dragon.
If you have already fed your bearded dragon with a lot of grapes and you suspect they might have swallowed some seeds in the process, you can give your dragon a warm bath and rub its belly gently. Warm baths are important in helping the bearded dragons relax and have a bowel movement. If you realize that your dragon has not been able to defecate for a week, you should immediately consult a vet for treatment.
Grapes Contain A Lot Of Water
As a beginner, you might be surprised to hear that water can be bad for a bearded dragon since it is believed that water is generally good for dragons. In a real sense, too much water can be dangerous to a dragon. The Bearded Dragons are natives of the dry woodlands of Australia, and this implies that they are already used to getting dehydrated for long periods. Therefore, the bearded dragons do not need a lot of water to remain healthy. Actually, the dragons get most of the water from the food they eat. This does not, however, mean that you should not offer a water bowl of water to your dragons; it means you should not offer foods that contain a lot of water. The grapes are among the foods that contain a lot of water, and they can cause diarrhea to the bearded dragon.
Diarrhea in bearded dragons can cause dehydration despite the fact that the dragon is used to getting hydrated. Too much diarrhea can lead to health problems, and therefore it should be avoided, and this can be achieved through limited feeding of grapes.
They Contain Sugar And Plant Acid
The grapes are very high on fiber, which is very good for them, but they also contain sugar and fruit acid, and this can be pretty, very bad for the health of a bearded dragon. This is why it is advisable to not only feed the grapes in rare cases but also other types of fruits. Mostly the bearded dragons are overfed, and they end up becoming fat and feeding more food that contains sugar will be disastrous to the health of your pet dragon. Many pet lovers are not aware that some reptiles can also get diabetes and fatty liver disease, and these are common diseases that bearded dragons die of.
Imbalance In Calcium: Phosphorous Level
One of the major challenges of using grapes as the main meal to the bearded dragons is it causes an imbalance in the ratio of calcium to phosphorous. The presence of more phosphorous compared to calcium will inhibit the intake of calcium in the blood, which leads to metabolic bone disease. Since the grapes have other nutritional values, you can boost the calcium content using the calcium powder or other feeds that are high in calcium.
It is important to avoid using grape species that are high in phosphorous, and you should also avoid feeding the bearded dragon with unripe grapes since they contain acid and have a low nutritional value. The grapes should be used moderately since excess use can cause serious problems to your bearded dragon.
The Reasons why you should feed Grapes to Your Dragon
They Are Rich In Fiber
The grapes have a very high content of fiber, and it is important in the digestion process of your beardie. Compared to other fruits and vegetables, the grapes have a high content of fiber, and it ranges between 1.5 g to 2.8 g. In your local grocery, you may have seen some grapes, and you wonder whether it is important to buy them for your pet. The fiber binds the food being digested within the alimentary canal by acting as roughage. The fiber network in the grapes will help in constipation prevention also.
Additionally, the grip of the grapes fiber is very strong, long, and coiled, and they help hold the food being digested together without breaking. This, in turn, improves the process of peristalsis and the smooth flow of chime within the digestive tract of your bearded dragon. The fivers are not digested, and they are needed in every diet that your bearded dragons feed.
They Contain Rich Minerals And Vitamin Composition
Ripe grapes are rich in vitamin B6, Vitamin K, Vitamin C, and vitamin A, and all these vitamins are very crucial in protecting the bearded dragon from infection, and they also improve the vision. They also contain a component that is vital in reducing the absorption of cholesterol within the alimentary canal. This, in turn, prevents cholesterol-related diseases such as heart failure and obesity. They also contain some components such as riboflavin and thiamine, which are crucial in boosting the immune system of the beardie.
The grapes also have a high content of potassium that helps in controlling the blood pressure and hence preventing stroke and heart disease. In every 150 grams of grapes, there is 288 mg of potassium ions which is a bit higher compared to other fruits and vegetables.
They Contain Relative Water Levels
The grapes have relatively higher water content compared to most of the fruits and vegetables, and this ranges between 45 to 68 percent. This varies according to the climatic conditions of the places they are grown. Actually, red grapes have a higher water level compared to other types. The grapes should be fed in small amounts since water can turn to be a problem for their health. They have high calcium: phosphorous ratio, which can cause metabolic diseases, and high sugar, which can lead to tooth decay and high blood pressure. For every 180 grams of ripe grapes, there is a water content of between 80 to 121 grams which is okay, but you need to always be careful to avoid overfeeding of grapes.
They Contain Low Acid and Fat Levels
The acidity level of either rip or unripe grapes is below 0.002 grams for every 155 grams of grapes. Also, the PH levels of a grape on the chart ranges from 6.1 to 6.91. This indicates that your bearded dragon is safe health-wise whenever it is feeding on grapes as long as it I not overfed. It is common knowledge that a diet that contains high acid levels causes irritation and discomfort among the alimentary canal. The acid also causes a burning sensation on the inner lining of the mouth and will cause digestion problems to your dragon.
How to prepare Grapes for your Bearded Dragons
It is important to always follow the below procedure whenever you are preparing grapes for your bearded dragons;
- Pick the grapes in their entirety and leave them for a day or two to drain all the excess water.
- Using warm water, wash the grapes to remove any chemical or poisonous insects such as the fireflies that might be on the skin of a grape.
- For those grapes that contain seeds, remove all the seeds since they may choke and kill the bearded dragon. For easier removal of the seeds, you can slice them into 2 or 4 parts.
- For those seedless grapes, you can go on and directly feed them, or you can alternatively mash them so that they can be a viscous meal that a beardie can lick using its tongue.
- After you have sliced the grape into smaller parts, you can supplement it with other fruits such as apples in order to add nutritional value and balance the low calcium component.
- Place the meal salad in a bowl or dish and let the beardie feed itself. It is advisable to avoid feeding your pet dragon direct to its mouth since this may cause imp0action or choking, and that may be fatal.
Additionally, it is important to avoid feeding the bearded dragon with wild-grown grapes since most of them are usually poisonous or will end up causing some illness to your pet.
Can Bearded Dragons Feed on Grapes Seeds?
Some grapes have seeds while others do not have, but the most appropriate for a bearded dragon is seedless. The grape seeds are not bad entirely since they contain nutrients and can be suitable for bearded dragons, but they may end up causing some impaction, and the dragon will have a lot of difficulties trying to poop, and eventually, it may die if not taken care of. It is advisable to always ensure that you remove all the seed from the grapes before feeding your dragon since this might be fatal.
However, if you realize that your bearded dragon has swallowed the grape seeds and it is having difficulty reliving itself, give it a warm bath and rub the belly gently.
Can Bearded Dragon Feed on Grape Leaves?
The grape leaves are very nutritious, and they contain high levels of phosphorous, calcium, protein, potassium, energy, vitamin K and C. One of the main advantages of grape leaves over fruits is the fact that they contain higher levels of calcium compared to phosphorous. Being so nutritious, the leaves are considered the ideal food for bearded dragons.
Since the grape leaves are very important to the health of the dragon, they should be used frequently and vegetables for the dragons. Additionally, the bearded dragons can also eat the grape skin since it is easy to digest and cannot cause impaction. The dragon can easily swallow the skin, and this means you do not have to peel the grapes prior to feeding them. All you need to do is wash them thoroughly to ensure that you remove all chemicals and other harmful substances from the skin.
Does the type of grape matter?
The bearded dragons like feeding in any color of grapes, may it be red, black, or green. However, you might notice some dragons preferring a certain color of grapes due to the slight difference in taste, but no matter the color of a grape, they all have the same nutritional value, and they are high in calcium and fiber. You should feed the grape leaves more frequently than the fruit itself since they are healthy foods and they do not pose any danger to the pet.
How to feed grapes to bearded dragons
The bearded dragons can eat the grapes wholly, but most owners prefer slicing them into smaller pieces, and this makes it easier for them to eat and eliminates any possibility o choking. The cutting also ensures there are no seeds since even the seedless grapes have a few seeds. The grapes are so sweet, and most dragons love them, and it is, therefore, good to use them to entice them into eating other greens and vegetables. This is mainly for the young ones since they tend to resist eating vegetables.
Can you grow your own Grapes?
You can grow your own grapes depending on where you live. However, they do require a large amount of sunlight and water, and they are not frost tolerant. From spring onwards, they require an environment of about 16 degrees, and this means that if you want to grow the grapes in colder areas, you will need to use greenhouses, or you can do it indoors.
Conclusion
The bearded dragons will feed on not only the grapes but also the grape leaves. This is because they all contain some nutrients and vitamins that are so important to the health of a dragon. Additionally, the grapes are rich in nutrients that are important to the health of a dragon. The grapes should, however, be fed on an occasional basis since too much consumption can be dangerous to the dragon.
