Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cucumbers? TopFlight Dubia Answered
Posted by William Jones on Apr 4th 2024
Every bearded dragon’s parent always looks for ways to give their pet the best care possible.
From looking for the proper lighting to creating a comfortable habitat, every choice matters in caring for bearded dragons. One of the most important decisions is taking care of their diet. While the diet of bearded dragons is composed of insects and greens, many pet parents wonder about including certain vegetables and fruits.
One such question that often comes to the mind of many pet parents is:
Can bearded dragons eat cucumbers?
The cucumber is a popular vegetable that human loves for their crisp and refreshing quality. However, for bearded dragons it is essential to know whether this vegetable is safe as well as nutritious.
Let’s discuss more about this in TopFlight Dubia's guide on cucumbers for bearded dragons.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cucumbers?
Yes, bearded dragons can have cucumbers in moderation (once a week).
According to a query on Reddit, one of the beardie parents shared their experience feeding cucumbers to their pet. They shared that it helped their beardies get water and proper digestion.
What Nutrients Present in Cucumbers?
Some of the important nutrients present in cucumber are as follows:
Nutrients |
Amount |
Beneficial for |
Water |
95. 23g |
Health, digestion, and metabolism |
Fiber |
0.5 g |
Digestion, bowel movements |
Vitamin C |
2.8 mg |
Immune system health, healthy skin, and tissue |
Vitamin K |
16.4 µg |
Bone and blood vessel metabolism, cell growth |
Potassium |
147 mg |
Fluid balance, healthy nerve and muscle function |
Phosphorus |
24 mg |
Bone and teeth development |
Calcium |
16 mg |
Strong bones and teeth |
Magnesium |
13 mg |
Healthy bone density |
Source: Nutritional value of cucumber per 100 grams
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Different Types of Cucumbers?
There are almost 100 varieties of cucumbers. Some of them are as follows:
Types of Cucumber |
Image |
Key Features |
English (Or Seedless) Cucumbers |
|
Unnoticeable seeds |
Armenian Cucumbers |
|
Soft seeds and thin skin |
Garden Cucumbers |
|
Smooth skin, large seeds |
Persian Cucumbers |
|
Easily digestible, has very few seeds, and has a thin and edible skin |
When it comes to bearded dragons, they can eat cucumbers of any type but feed them occasionally.
How To Prepare Cucumbers For Beardies
|
Different Vegetables For Bearded Dragons
Other vegetables have a similar water content, like cucumbers that you can feed to your bearded dragon are as follows:
Vegetables |
Image |
How To Serve |
How Often |
Zucchini |
|
|
Once a week |
Bell Peppers |
|
|
A few times a week or less |
Butternut Squash |
|
|
Every day |
Celery |
|
|
Every other week |
Collard Greens |
|
|
Every day |
Tip: Make sure to cut the vegetables into small pieces and consult a veterinarian before adding new vegetables to your pet’s diet. |
Conclusion
In order to provide the best care to your beloved beardie, you must provide nutritious and safe food options. Cucumbers are one of the great vegetables with high levels of water and other nutrients that can help bearded dragons live long and happy.
When feeding cucumbers to your pet, make sure to serve them in moderation ( once a week), remove the hard-to-digest peel, and cut the cucumber into small pieces.
Apart from that, consult with a veterinarian about the specific dietary requirements of your bearded dragon to ensure their overall well-being.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the healthiest vegetable for bearded dragons?
- Many healthy vegetables like dandelion greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, and many more can be served on the bearded dragon’s plate.
2. How do you hydrate your bearded dragon?
- There are different ways to hydrate bearded dragons:
-
Give them shallow baths in warm water
-
Mist their enclosure regularly
-
Feed them vegetables with high water content, like cucumbers and leafy greens.
3. Can bearded dragons eat cucumber seeds?
- No, it is recommended not to serve cucumber seeds to bearded dragons because they may result in choking issues and cause digestive problems.