When it comes to nutrition, many younger owners have the question “Can Bearded Dragons Eat Bananas?” on their minds. It’s a popular, excellent, and inexpensive cuisine, so being able to provide it to their beardies would be a huge plus!
Everything you need to know about feeding bananas to your bearded dragon is included in this tutorial. You’ll learn about Can Bearded Dragons Eat Bananas?, the nutritional values, advantages, and how much you may feed them, among other things!
Is it Safe for My Bearded Dragon to Eat Bananas?
Unfortunately, there are a few valid reasons why you shouldn’t give your pet bananas that you should be aware of ahead of time.
Calcium and Phosphorus
Both phosphorus and calcium are essential elements for a bearded dragon’s health, but the proportions must be balanced. The majority of specialists suggest a phosphorus-to-calcium ratio of 1:1 or 2:1. If there is too much phosphorus and not enough calcium, phosphorus will bind to calcium and hinder the bearded dragon from absorbing it. It has the potential to produce metabolic bone disease, which is a serious health problem (MBD). MBD is a serious condition that, if left untreated, may result in bone fractures and even death, and most doctors attribute it to inadequate nutrition.
Because bananas contain a phosphorus to calcium ratio of 3:1, which is higher than the acceptable ratio, a diet high in bananas might cause calcium shortage and ultimately MBD. If you are not already doing so, you might attempt to correct the imbalance by giving a powdered calcium supplement.
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Sugar
Bananas contain a lot of sugar, which may lead to weight gain and damage to the bearded dragon’s teeth. Obesity, like humans, may lead to a variety of major health issues, including heart disease, renal disease, and more. Sugar may also cause teeth decay in your pet, which is uncomfortable and prevents them from eating properly. So if some ask about Can Bearded Dragons Eat Bananas? then tells them If your bearded dragon eats too many sweet fruits, he or she may refuse to eat veggies, drastically limiting their nutritional intake.
Stomachs that are too small
Because bearded dragons have small stomachs, it’s important to provide them good food because they become full quickly and won’t be hungry for a long time. When your pet is still developing, high-quality nourishment is essential at every meal, stomach size is particularly crucial to consider.
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Pesticides
Your bearded dragon may consume both the peel and the fruit of the banana, which will assist to boost the quantity of nutrients they obtain. The skin, on the other hand, may contain toxic pesticides that are hazardous to your pet’s health. Before letting your bearded dragon to eat the peel, carefully wash the bananas or purchase organic bananas.
Can My Bearded Dragon Eat Bananas?
Bananas are considered safe by VCA Hospitals when included in a diversified diet. Bananas are rich in vitamins and minerals, which your bearded dragon needs to keep healthy.
A and C vitamins
Vitamin A may aid in the growth of your bearded dragon’s eyes and prevent swelling. Vitamin C will aid in the immune system’s improvement.
Potassium
Potassium helps with muscular function, cramp prevention, and kidney health.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants cut cholesterol and lessen the risk of cardiovascular disease. They may also aid in the improvement of vision, development, and reproduction.
Minerals
Calcium, iron, and magnesium are minerals that build the bones and aid in a variety of biological tasks.
Bananas Prepared Correctly For Your Beardie
There are a few key measures to follow while cooking bananas for your bearded dragon. Taking the effort to pick the right banana, wash it, and offer it in the most appealing manner possible are all essential components of successfully incorporating this fruit into their diet.
1. Check to see whether the banana is healthy.
When it comes to selecting the ideal banana for your bearded dragon, there are a few factors to consider.
To begin, select whether you want to go organic or non-organic. Bananas that are organic are usually the best choice. The peels of non-organic bananas sometimes contain significant quantities of pesticides and herbicides, as we previously mentioned. Buying organic bananas is particularly crucial if you want to feed your dragon the peels.
After that, choose a banana that is neither too ripe nor too green. The sugar content of a banana increases as it ripens. Too much sugar (even natural sugar) is bad for your dragon, as you should well know. A banana that is excessively green, on the other hand, might create stomach problems and may not be as appealing as one that is somewhat riper.
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Finally, give the banana a thorough examination. Check for mouldy spots and make sure the peel is in good shape with no slits or holes. In other words, if it looks like something you’d eat, it’s something you should feed to your dragon.
2. Break it up into little pieces.
Even though bananas are soft, you should only feed little chunks to your bearded dragon. Some beardie owners will place a full, peeled banana in the cage, but we believe this is not a smart idea.
There are a variety of methods to chop up a banana, but we find that slicing it into thin rounds and then cutting the rounds into pieces is the most convenient method. If you want to keep the skin on the banana, just slice it through, peel and all.
However, there is no true right or wrong way to accomplish it in the end. It doesn’t matter what form the pieces are cut in as long as they’re tiny and easy to chew.
3. Put it in front of your Beardie!
It’s advisable to start with one or two little slices of banana until you’re convinced your bearded dragon will like them. This will tell you if bananas will become one of their favorite treats or whether you won’t be serving them again.
If your beardie appears to like bananas, don’t feed them more than they can consume in a single meal. Banana parts left behind will decay and attract bugs and other creatures.
Place the banana chunks in a shallow feeding dish that is sturdy. Mixing banana slices with their greens or veggies is always a fantastic idea. This will persuade them to consume all of their meal rather than just the delicious bananas.
How Can Bearded Dragons Eat Bananas?
Here are a few creative methods to feed bananas to your bearded dragon.
Slicing and Dicing
Small amounts of bananas every one or two months are the ideal approach to feed your bearded dragon. A half banana is considered a modest portion, however smaller portions are preferred. Cut the banana into quarters by slicing it into thin slices. If you’re feeding the skins with the fruit, chop them up extra tiny and purchase organic or thoroughly wash the fruit before eating.
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Serve the bananas raw to get the most nutrition out of them, since cooking them reduces their nutritional worth. Use ripe bananas that haven’t been hanging around for a long time. Because the sugar content of bananas grows as they mature, it’s best to serve them somewhat green.
As if you were a person
A different technique to offer a banana is to peel it like a person and give it to your pet in little bits while holding it. This method of serving bananas might help you connect with your pet and spend more time with them.
Toss It In
Another technique to feed a banana is to put half of it, skin and all, into their cage and let it for a day or two before removing it. This strategy gives your pet the freedom to eat as it pleases. It could even decide not to eat it. After a day or two, you’ll need to get rid of it because rotten fruit attracts pests.
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Conclusion
I hope you will like The article Can Bearded Dragons Eat Bananas? Yes, Bearded dragons love bananas, but they should only be given as a treat. Bearded dragons may also consume banana leaves and peels, which are high in nutrition. Ensure that your dragon eats nutritious meals at all times; provide insects, vegetables, greens, and fruits. A healthy balance of these elements guarantees appropriate development and wellness.
