Blueberries are a universally loved treat. They are some of the first whole fruits we introduce to toddlers because of their bite-sized nature and nutritional benefits. They are little antioxidant powerhouses and taste pretty great too so who wouldn’t want to make them a regular part of their diet?
Are beardies a part of that category though? Can bearded dragons eat blueberries the way that we do, or are they something you should avoid giving them? Read on while we explore that a little bit.
The Benefits of Blueberries
Something we’ve already briefly mentioned as being the biggest benefit to blueberries is their high antioxidant levels. They really pack a punch on benefiting your beardie’s immune system and helping them ward off diseases, as they have Vitamin C and Manganese in addition to their high antioxidant levels to really help boost their immunity. Blueberries are certainly the fruit you want to give your beardie if they’re starting to feel a little under the weather.
They are tiny, but they pack a lot of punch in their levels of hydration as well. They can ward off thirst while also ensuring your beardie isn’t getting too much water in their diet, which can cause issues with digestion and ultimately defecation. But with blueberries, as long as you’re giving them only a couple at a time you shouldn’t have to worry about over-hydration.
So if you’re still wondering can bearded dragons eat blueberries, the answer is YES. They are also in the safe for frequent consumption club! Beardies have a small list of fruits they can have on a weekly basis, and blueberries fall into that category along with grapes and apples. As long as you’re giving them small quantities you can give your beardie a nice little treat once a week for being so good.
They don’t even need to have much special preparation in order to give to your pet. Unlike some other fruits that beardies enjoy, they don’t need to be peeled or cut up for consumption. All you need to do is make sure they are washed very well and any stems that might still be stuck on are removed.
Once they are properly cleaned you can either feed them to your beardie by hand, or you can just place them in their bowl for them to enjoy. If you decide to go the frozen over the fresh route, all you really need to ensure is that they are thoroughly thawed through before giving them to your beardie. The too cold temperature and the hardness of frozen blueberries aren’t enjoyable for beardies, so just make sure they are completely thawed before giving them to your buddy.
What To Look Out For
The obvious answer for this is that you need to make sure your beardie isn’t getting too much sugar in their diet. Blueberries should only be given once a week at most, but any more than that and in addition to other fruits can spell disaster for your beardie’s health. Not only can it destroy their dental health by rotting away at their teeth, but too much sugar can also make your beardie fat.
Obesity in beardies can cause really detrimental side effects like diabetes, joint pain, and heart and liver issues. Keep their diet clean and balanced and you should be able to keep their weight in check, but sugar should still be limited to once a week at most. You don’t want to overdo it even if they happen to be a very good pet.
A treat is still a treat.
Besides sugar, you do have to be a little bit wary of the phosphorous levels in blueberries. It is just a bit higher than the calcium level, which means once a week really should be the limit. Calcium deficiencies can really make your beardie’s life miserable, so you want to be very sure they’re getting enough calcium-rich foods in their diet or through dusting powder.
Too little calcium can cause issues with their bones, most commonly leading to MBD which can be really painful for your little buddy. Thankfully, blueberries aren’t too low in calcium that they cause much of a problem. But, they should be monitored just to make sure they don’t become one.
Other than that, blueberries really are an ideal treat to give your pet. They are easy to prepare and have amazing immune-boosting benefits that you really can’t beat. So go ahead and sprinkle them in their bowl as an occasional treat, or enjoy some bonding by feeding them by hand.
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