Raspberries are a tart but sweet treat that can be enjoyed in so many ways. Whether you’re adding it to a savory salad for a pop of sweetness, or enjoying them on their own as a fresh little snack, they are rich in vitamins and minerals as well as packed with flavor. Humans and animals alike love the refreshing flavor of raspberries, but can bearded dragons enjoy them?
Bearded dragons love a wide array of fruits and vegetables to keep them healthy and strong, but are raspberries a part of that list? They do happen to be one of the safe fruits that your beardie can enjoy in moderation, so what are the benefits and detriments of adding it to their diet occasionally? Let’s dive into that!
Benefits of Raspberries
Raspberries come with the benefit of being packed to the brim with essential vitamins and minerals that aid in your beardie’s wellness. These nutrients can help nearly every part of your beardie’s body work at the highest functionality so raspberries are wonderful for an occasional little punch of nutritional benefit. Some of the vitamins and minerals that make raspberries a little superfood for bearded dragons are:
- Vitamin C: It is incredibly important to pack your beardie’s diet with vegetables and fruits that are high in vitamin C, as it is one of the most valuable resources to boost their immune system. Having a properly functioning immune system that is working at its best is imperative for staving off illnesses and diseases that might run your little buddy down.
This is especially important in the colder seasons as your beardie does not have a natural defense against colder weather, so vitamin C rich foods combined with warm lamps and light will keep your beardie healthy all season long. - Potassium: This is one of the most essential nutrients in helping nerve and muscle function and repair. Keeps blood pressure regulated as well as ensures nerve endings are firing correctly. This nutrient is essentially keeping the mainframe of your beardie’s body working so they can move and respond to stimuli.
- Fiber: For proper digestion and gut health, fiber is essential. Fiber-rich foods will keep your beardie regular and ensure that their digestion doesn’t stagnate and lead to painful constipation or impaction.
- Iron: Working with the calcium that you’re supplying your beardie with already, iron helps to fortify bones and ensures their blood is healthy as well. You want to be sure that your beardie is taking in plenty of iron-rich greens and other foods so their blood clots effectively and their red and white cells are optimal.
Harms of Raspberries
Like most fruits, you’ll see the same old song and dance as far as the cons of raspberries go. They are high in sugar and water, which can cause issues for your beardie’s health and wellness in the long run. An overabundance of water can make their stool watery and foul-smelling, so you should keep an eye on how much water they’re getting in their diet.
Sugar, on the other hand, can lead to eventual obesity and tooth decay if they are given enough of it so it is recommended to give it to them sparingly. They should only be given every few weeks to a month, and when you do they should be as fresh as possible and cut up to avoid choking. Bearded dragons will certainly enjoy the addition of raspberries to their diet, but it really should only be used to top greens occasionally or as a treat.
What Else?
Bearded dragons can be a little fickle sometimes when it comes to eating the things they should be eating. Certain greens that are nutritionally dense can make them a bit listless over time. Raspberries or other fruits that excite them can make a great addition to an otherwise boring bowl.
Adding little pops of fruit or insects they don’t have very often, is a great way to get them to eat things that are good for them that they don’t seem all that jazzed about. As long as you’re making sure to give them these things in moderation, you really can’t go wrong with it. Unlike other fruits you could be giving them like watermelon, they have a higher number of beneficial vitamins and minerals so you can feel justified selecting them as a treat for your buddy.
If you’re going to be giving them treats, they should be worth their time nutritionally as well as something they enjoy.
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