Can Bearded Dragons Eat Pineapple? Here's What All You Need To Know!

Bearded dragons have spikes all over their body, including below the chin; these spikes that exist below the chin seem like a beard.

The beardie is classified as a reptile as its characteristics are very similar to other reptiles. Bearded dragons are omnivores.

Beardies have an average lifespan of 4-10 years. Unlike the giant majestic dragons that we see in movies and read about in fairytales, these bearded dragons are 16-24 in (40.6-61 cm) and weigh roughly 10.5-18 oz (300-510 g).

Lovingly called beardies, these animals are lovely pets. Although, they have special needs that not everyone can cater to. They are active, gentle, and love to explore. There are about eight species of bearded dragons that have been found to exist, of which Pogona vitticeps are seen as the most commonly kept pets.

Beardies are most commonly found all over Australia mostly because these cold-blooded creatures need their environment to be hot and humid to feel comfortable. They love to lay on and around trees.

After you understand if a bearded dragon can eat pineapple, read about bearded dragon facts, and can bearded dragons eat green beans.

How often can bearded dragons eat pineapple?

Pineapple is a tropical food with a high nutritional value. It has a high water content. Its nutritional value is not destroyed even if the pineapple is canned or frozen.

Bearded dragons are strong creatures with well-formed jaws, which allows them to crush even the strongest shells of insects and eat all kinds of fruits. They do not fuss over food and can eat flowers, plants, insects, and small animals like lizards as well as rodents.

The regular diet of bearded dragons should not include pineapples. Even if the pineapple is fed to a bearded dragon, it should be in small quantities and should definitely not be fed to them more than twice a month.

Fresh pineapple is a tropical food readily available in the regions where these bearded animals live. Even though pineapples have nutritional value, they are among fruits with oxalates. Such fruits in large quantities are not suitable for the health of beardies.

The number of pineapples can be increased only if calcium is also increased in their diet. Although bearded dragons love to eat pineapples, it is considered to be harmful to their health in excess.

Whether it is fresh pineapple or canned pineapple, the quantity can only be increased if the calcium content in their diet is high. It is best to ensure a balanced diet. The oxalate content in pineapples inhibits calcium absorption in bearded dragons, which is why pineapples in greater quantities are detrimental to their health.

Suppose this aspect is not taken care of, and the bearded dragon’s diet continues to include fresh pineapples or canned pineapples without having the appropriate amounts of calcium; in that case, the beardie is likely to suffer from metabolic bone disease. When not able to absorb the correct nutrients from food, the body starts to extract it from bones, leading to metabolic bone diseases.

Also, the skin of pineapples should not be fed to beardies because the hard skin cannot be eaten by a bearded dragon and might cause choking. Dragons have strong jaws, but that does not prevent choking, and therefore feeding them pineapple skin should always be avoided.

However, this does not mean that pineapples should be removed entirely from their diet. Fresh pineapples have great nutritional values and are great for their digestive system. It is an excellent source of vitamins and has enough water content, meaning it is best to feed dragons with fresh pineapple twice a month.  

As a tropical fruit, Pineapples are also a great source of vitamin C and antioxidants, enabling a dragon to have a strong immune system. Having a strong immune system is essential to assist in maintaining the health of your dragon. The bearded dragon remains safe from common diseases and stays strong if its immunity is maintained. Fresh pineapples contain fiber which helps with the uncomplicated functioning of the digestive system. The digestive system works smoothly and does not cause any discomfort to a dragon if pineapple is consumed in moderate quantities. But the high sugar content makes it important that beardies are fed pineapple in moderation.

Can bearded dragons eat pineapple leaves?

It is always better to remove the leaves, skin, and top before feeding any fruit to your pet. Dragons should only eat the fresh nutritional fruit cut into small pieces, not its leaves or skin.

It is best to give them fresh pineapples only, not the unripe green ones.

Pineapple pieces have the appropriate calcium to phosphate ratio. The right calcium to phosphate ratio is good for the health of a bearded dragon. The ratio of calcium to phosphate present in pineapples is usually 1:1. This ratio is safe if taken twice a month and ensures that your pet does not develop metabolic bone disease.

Pineapple for bearded dragons can become a source for suffering and eventual death if not given in moderate amounts and along with calcium-rich food. Bearded dragons are a species that also fall ill if pineapple is served to them in large quantities or regularly because of the sugar content. Sugar is harmful to their health in general. Pineapples are also acidic in nature.

The leaves of pineapple do not really have any nutritional value and therefore, the typical feeding diet of a beardie does not include them. The leaves, if consumed, can cause choking and also result in gut impaction.

What fruits can bearded dragons not eat?

There are a few fruits that bearded dragons should not eat. Although these fruits have great nutritional value, certain contents of these fruits are not suitable for bearded dragon health.

Avocados are known to have high levels of oxalates, which would hamper a dragon's ability of calcium absorption and may lead to metabolic bone disease. Unlike pineapple, which is great if consumed in small quantities, the amount of oxalates is so high in avocados that even small quantities could hamper a bearded dragon’s health.

Bearded dragons should not eat olives. Olives have a lot of salt and fats in them. Neither a baby nor adult dragons should eat olives. However, very occasionally, one or two olives should not be life-threatening.

Another set of fruits to avoid include those too rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C-rich fruits like oranges, lemon, and tomatoes are highly acidic. Bearded dragons must eat pineapple in only small quantities because it too is rich in vitamin C and can increase the acidic levels of the digestive system if not eaten in moderation.

Consuming too much food rich in acidic components can cause trouble in the digestive system. The bearded dragon can start feeling uncomfortable inside its digestive system. It can lead to stomach upset. The best thing to do to avoid all this trouble is to simply stop feeding your pet dragon tomatoes, oranges, and the likes.

Feeding it incompatible fruits can lead to it having sugar-related problems, calcium deficiency issues, and sometimes even overhydration. Each of these issues hampers a dragon’s health and impacts the digestive system and the immune system.

Can bearded dragons eat dried pineapple?

Beardies eat all types of food, including fruits and vegetables. Although fruits should be given in moderation because of their sugar content, beardies can eat as many vegetables as they wish to.

You can treat your pet beardie with pineapples as they have great benefits. The health of beardies is best maintained by the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Just like it is not advisable to feed your pet leaves, peel, and skin of a pineapple, feeding dried pineapple is also not recommended. This is mainly because dried pineapple is very rich in sugar content. And there are also artificial preservatives added to them. Dried pineapples should strictly be kept away from a dragon’s diet.

Canned pineapple is still better than consuming dried pineapple. However, it is best to consume fresh pineapples whenever possible. The benefits of fresh pineapple are multifold but regulated consumption is always recommended.

It is immensely interesting to know that you can feed your beardie human baby food once every week if that is something that is more easily available to you.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 'Can bearded dragons eat pineapple? Here's what all you need to know!' then why not take a look at 'Do deer eat meat? The omnivorous being, the answer might surprise you!', or 'Do cocker spaniels shed? And know how to deal with shedding!'