Can Bearded Dragons Have Watermelon?

Bearded dragons are incredible animals and popular pets. If taken care of properly, bearded dragons can live for over 15 years in captivity. They require the right amount of space, type of food and nutrients, and lighting. But what can they eat? While bearded dragons can eat fruit, not all fruit benefits them. Which has many of us asking, can bearded dragons eat watermelon? Follow along to find out.

Can Bearded Dragons Have Watermelon?

The answer to ‘Can bearded dragons have watermelon?’ is yes, but in moderation. Watermelon is sweet and hydrating, which makes it a fun treat for bearded dragons to have once in a while. However, too much water and sugar can leave your scaly pet sick. It’s best to feed your bearded dragon only a few small pieces of watermelon about once a month or less.

What Foods Do Bearded Dragons Eat?

Bearded dragons need the right nutrition to grow and live long lives. Their diet, though, changes as they age. For instance, young bearded dragons are almost entirely carnivores. As they mature, though, they start eating more plant material. An adult bearded dragon consumes about 80% plant-based material and 20% animal material, like insects.

Listed below are a few things bearded dragons eat:

• carrots
• apples
• collard greens
• yams
• kale
• horn worms
• crickets
• cockroaches
• pumpkins
• okra
• mangoes
• zucchinis
• butter worms
• dandelions
• super worms

What Foods Should You Never Give a Bearded Dragon?

Knowing which foods you should never feed a bearded dragon is just as important. Some foods to avoid giving your bearded dragon include onions, avocados, garlic, chives, mushrooms, seasoned meat, processed human food, and iceberg lettuce.

It may sound strange to know that iceberg lettuce isn’t healthy for bearded dragons, but it’s because it lacks nutritional value. Iceberg lettuce is mainly water, which can lead to diarrhea. Your bearded dragon may even feel full and not eat other nutritious food necessary to live.

Bearded Dragon Facts

• Bearded dragons are cold-blooded.
• There are 8 species of bearded dragons in the world.
• The most popular bearded dragon species is the central bearded dragon.
• Bearded dragons may reach as long as 22 inches. They can also weigh up to 18 ounces.
• The oldest bearded dragon recorded lived to be 18 years old. His name was Sebastian, and he died on January 24, 2016.
• In the wild, bearded dragons can climb trees.
• Bearded dragons are solitary animals. In captivity, you should never place two in the same habitat. While some male and female pairings may get along, there is always a risk of aggression and fights.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Claudia Nass/ via Getty Images