Can bearded dragons eat tomatoes?
People are often concerned about the diet of the bearded dragon. Many fresh owners want to know if the bearded dragon eats the tomatoes or not. Feeding tomatoes to the bearded dragon is okay but only one time in a month as it is safe only once a month. A bearded dragon can eat only one -forth of a tomato in a month.
Tomato contains an improper ratio of calcium and phosphorus and high content of acid, so the tomato is unhealthy in large amounts for your bearded dragon.
How often can bearded dragons eat tomatoes?
It is best to give only one-quarter of tomato and feed one time a month. You should avoid feeding too many tomatoes to your pet.
Is the green tomato good for the bearded dragon?
The green tomatoes contain toxic chemicals. They are not safe for the bearded dragon. Never give it to your bearded dragon. Give your bearded dragon the ripe tomatoes. Always buy organic tomatoes for your bearded dragon.
Also read: Can Bearded Dragons Eat Spinach?
How to feed tomatoes to your bearded dragons?
1. Wash the tomato entirely.
2. If it is a large-sized tomato, cut it into pieces and choose one quarter.
3. If you are using a quarter of full-sized tomato, trim it. If you are using grape tomatoes, there is no need to peel them.
4. Remove all the seeds of the tomato with the help of a teaspoon.
The appropriate way to prepare tomatoes:
Most bearded dragons love tomatoes, It is important to prepare tomatoes properly so that your bearded dragon can get the health benefits rather than the side effects. Mixing the tomato pieces with green leafy vegetables like spinach etc. is good for bearded dragon’s health. In a food, bowl places the salad along with a tomato piece and serve it to your bearded dragon. Bearded dragons need a large amount of calcium. You should dust the salad with a high-quality calcium supplement before giving it to your dragon.
People also read: Can Bearded Dragons Eat Carrots?
Can bearded dragons eat cherry tomatoes?
The answer is yes, the bearded dragons can eat cherry tomatoes.
Can baby bearded dragons eat tomatoes?
Baby bearded dragons can eat tomatoes safely, but
the amount should be less than that we give to the adult bearded dragon.
While there are many fruits that are safe for a bearded dragon, most of them contain a large amount of sugar so we should offer only a small amount of fruit to a bearded dragon. Most of the bearded dragon’s diet should consist of vegetables, especially leafy greens. Fruits should only make up one-fifth of their diet.
Can bearded dragons eat tomato leaves?
You should never give your bearded dragons other parts of the tomato plant, as tomato leaves, flowers and stems are very dangerous for your pet.
Can bearded dragons eat tomato worms?
If you grow tomatoes without using pesticides then you can give the tomato worms to your bearded dragon. Tomato hornworms are a good source of food for bearded dragons.
Benefits of feeding bearded dragons tomatoes:
As we have already discussed unripe tomatoes are toxic, but a ripe tomato can supply significant nutrients to a bearded dragon’s diet. Here are the benefits of the tomato for the bearded dragon.
- Tomatoes contain loads of minerals and micronutrients.
Tomatoes contain a good amount of minerals and micronutrients that are absent in other vegetables and fruits. It contains magnesium, potassium, and iron. The antioxidants in the tomatoes also make it good for bearded dragons.
- Tomatoes have much lower sugar contents than most other fruits:
A big issue with some fruit is that they have a huge amount of sugar, sugar is not good for bearded dragon’s health and it has many health risks for bearded dragons.
Tomatoes are quite low in sugar as compared to other fruits therefore, it promotes the heart health of your bearded dragon.
- Tomatoes contain little oxalic acid
There are not too many oxalates in tomatoes. Like phosphorus, a large amount of oxalic acid absorbs calcium and prevents the body from metabolizing calcium.
As the tomato contains a little amount of oxalic acid than some vegetables and fruits, it is a good addition to the bearded dragon’s diet, so it can not cause health issues for the bearded dragon.
- Tomatoes have a high Vitamin A content.
Tomatoes are a good source of Vitamin A, which in the proper amount will help to maintain and strengthen your bearded dragon’s immune system, reproduction, growth and vision.
It is significant to note that grape tomatoes have missed out on plenty of Vitamin A but the grape tomatoes contain a higher content of other nutrients.
If you are giving tomatoes to your bearded dragon for the Vitamin A content, buy regular tomatoes.
Disadvantages of Feeding Bearded Dragons tomatoes:
Some disadvantages of feeding tomatoes to your bearded dragons are the following :
- Tomatoes contain a large amount of water.
Water is vital for bearded dragons but in less content. The issue is that these fruits contain large amount of water than the nutrients.
- Tomatoes have a low calcium content
The owner of the bearded dragons knows that calcium is an important component of the bearded dragon’s diet but the tomatoes contain comparatively less amount of calcium.
- Tomatoes contain citric acid
As we know tomatoes contain citric acid, by feeding many acidic foods, your bearded dragon may suffer from acidic reflux.
- Too much tomato can cause a Vitamin A overdose
An excessive amount of Vitamin A becomes dangerous and can cause harmful side effects like listlessness, weight loss, and dehydration.
- Metabolic Bone Disease
One of the major disadvantages of feeding fruit like tomatoes to your bearded dragon is that they generally have an improper calcium ratio that causes metabolic bone diseases.
Can bearded dragons eat tomato sauce?
Bearded dragons can have small amounts of tomato sauce as part of their diet, but it should not be the main staple. Tomato sauce can be offered as a occasional supplement to a primarily insect-based diet.
It is important to ensure that the tomato sauce is unsweetened and does not contain any added spices that may be harmful to bearded dragons. Also it is recommended to avoid giving it in large amount, as it can cause diarrhea. It is best to stick to offering fresh fruits and vegetables as part of their diet.
Tomatoes can be offered as a occasional treat but should be washed and cut into small pieces before giving to your bearded dragon.
What can bearded dragon eat more often then tomatoes:
If you are searching for an alternative fruit or vegetable to feed your bearded dragon, try the following items:
- Green beans
- Acorn squash
- Bell peppers
- Broccoli
- Sweet potato
- Bell peppers
- Mango
- Yellow squash
Fruit and Vegetables are an important part of your bearded dragon’s healthy and balanced diet. Just make sure you feed your bearded dragon the proper amount of diet.
I am Nick James, I have been three male beardies since 2015. I love to take care of my pets and their diet. Here, I am sharing my personal experiences and strategies to grow up your cute pet.
