Can Bearded Dragons Eat Tomatoes? TopFlight Dubia Answers
Posted by Emma Johnson on Apr 4th 2024
Your bearded dragon depends on you to make the right choices for its health.
But what if a simple mistake could harm them?
Bearded dragons are omnivorous— meaning they thrive on a balanced diet of insects, greens, and occasional fruits.
While it seems tempting to share various foods with your pet, not everything that is healthy for humans is safe for bearded dragons. Tomatoes, for example, are packed with nutrients and antioxidants but contain acids and compounds that can affect your beardie’s health.
So, should you offer this juicy fruit as a treat, or is it best to leave it off their menu? Here, TopFlight Dubia will uncover the facts— their benefits, risks, and the safest way to feed tomatoes (if at all).
The well-being of your bearded dragon starts with the right information. Let’s get started!
Can Bearded Dragons Have Tomatoes?
Yes, bearded dragons can eat tomatoes, but only once a month.
Nutrients Present in Tomatoes
Here is the overview of the nutrients in tomatoes:
Source: Nutritional Composition and Bioactive Compounds in Tomatoes and Their Impact on Human Health and Disease: A Review (Citation: Ali MY, Sina AA, Khandker SS, Neesa L, Tanvir EM, Kabir A, Khalil MI, Gan SH. Nutritional Composition and Bioactive Compounds in Tomatoes and Their Impact on Human Health and Disease: A Review. Foods. 2020 Dec 26;10(1):45. doi: 10.3390/foods10010045. PMID: 33375293; PMCID: PMC7823427.)
The Health Benefits of Tomatoes for Bearded Dragons
✔This fruit contains a lower amount of sugar than other fruits.
✔It is also packed with many antioxidants, such as lycopene, that contribute to the red color of tomatoes. This antioxidant helps bearded dragons by:
- reducing inflammation.
- Strengthening heart and skin.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Tomatoes Every Day?
Bearded dragons cannot eat tomatoes every day because of the following reasons:
✔It is highly acidic and may cause digestive problems like diarrhea.
✔It also contains high amounts of beta carotene, and it gets converted into vitamin A. So, feeding tomatoes more often to beardies with ongoing vitamin supplements may lead to a vitamin overdose. The symptoms that you may notice in beardies are as follows:
- Swelling
- Lethargy
- Loss in Weight
- Dehydration
✔It also has a low amount of calcium.
✔It has a high phosphorus level, which prevents calcium absorption in the bearded dragon’s body.
✔A tomato also contains high amounts of oxalates (50 mg per 100 g of raw tomato).
What do high amounts of oxalates do to bearded dragons?
- Oxalates bind with calcium in the body, preventing it from being absorbed in the bloodstream.
- Over time, it can deplete the calcium supply in the bearded dragon’s body.
- It may result in MBD.
Symptoms of MBD are:
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How to Prepare Tomatoes for Bearded Dragon
Let’s know how to feed tomatoes to your beardie:
✔First, thoroughly wash and peel the tomato.
✔Then, remove the seeds.
✔After that, cut the flesh of the tomato into bite-sized pieces.
✔Finally, serve the pieces with high-calcium foods or with a salad once a month.
What Are Bearded Dragon Parents on Reddit Saying About Feeding Tomatoes?
As per various Reddit queries, here are the viewpoints of various beardie parents:
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✔Feeding a quarter of a tomato or no more than three times a month is suggested. ✔The green tomatoes, leaves, plants, or seeds should not be included in the beardie’s diet. |
Real-Life Problem: A Bearded Dragon Ate Hornworms from a Tomato Plants And Hasn’t Pooped Yet
Bearded dragon parents sometimes face unexpected situations– like pet snacking on something questionable. One Reddit user shared a concern about his friend’s bearded dragon.
Help! Friends beardie ate tomatoes!
byu/passive_paranoia inBeardedDragons
https://www.reddit.com/r/BeardedDragons/comments/9eisnk/help_friends_beardie_ate_tomatoes/
What Should You Do If This Happens?
Various Reddit users have suggested the following solutions:
✔Put the beardie in a warm bath and massage his stomach.
✔Go to a reptile specialist vet to examine your pet’s condition.
Conclusion
You must have gotten an answer to your question: Can beardies eat tomatoes?
Yes, bearded dragons can have tomatoes, but in moderation ( once a month as a rare treat). It is also essential to feed the tomato in small-sized pieces, either with a calcium-rich food or salad.
However, make sure to balance your pet’s diet with other nutritious foods such as Dubia roaches, crickets, greens, and occasional fruits. Remember to discuss your pet’s specific nutritional needs with a veterinarian to ensure the overall well-being of your beardie.