Can Bearded Dragons Eat Watermelon? Things You Should Know

Watermelon is a tasty summer treat for us humans, but you might be wondering if you can feed it to your beardie. Your dragons will likely gobble up any watermelon you put in front of them… but is it safe? Can bearded dragons eat watermelon? Let’s find out in the post.

Yes, bearded dragons can eat a small amount of watermelon, very occasionally. Due to its high level of water, acidic, sugar, and phosphorus content, you should not give it to your beardie on regular basis. Rather, you should feed them other fruits that are rich in nutrients.

Pros of Watermelon for Bearded Dragons

As the name suggests, a watermelon has a lot of water in it. This means that on a hot summer day when you want to ensure that your bearded dragon stays well hydrated, it may be a suitable option.

Both vitamin C and beta carotene, which are found in watermelon, support the immune system, vision, and growth of your bearded dragon.

It also has magnesium and potassium in it. Magnesium is crucial for keeping a healthy metabolism and preventing inflammation. Potassium aids in the regulation of your bearded dragon’s blood pressure.

Due to the sugar, it contains, watermelon is also a favourite food of most bearded dragons. This means that if your bearded dragon has lost their appetite for any reason, you can offer watermelon to stimulate them to eat.

Cons of Watermelon for Bearded Dragons

Your beardie might enjoy the sweet flavour of watermelons, but if they eat them frequently, they could easily get too much sugar in their system. Your bearded dragon may gain weight as a result of consuming too much sugar.

Sugar can also cause dental plaque and tooth decay. Given that a bearded dragon’s teeth are directly attached to its jaw, any dental problems may end up inflaming and hurting the entire jaw.

Watermelon is not a very nutrient-dense fruit, despite the fact that it does contain healthy vitamins and minerals. Watermelon may be tasty, but it doesn’t offer much in the way of nutritional value for your bearded dragon.

Additionally, watermelon includes phosphorus and calcium. Phosphorus makes up a larger portion than calcium. The calcium is prevented from being properly absorbed into the bloodstream of your bearded dragon by the phosphorous molecules, which bind to the calcium. This may eventually result in metabolic bone disease (MBD).

MBD can eventually result in the skeletal system of your bearded dragon becoming weakened or malformed. If neglected, it can also result in paralysis and even death.

Pro-Tip: You need to give your bearded dragon a calcium supplement whether you choose to give it watermelon or not.

How Often Can Bearded Dragons Eat Watermelons?

Consisting of 92% water and very less nutritional properties, watermelons can be fed once a month or less frequently.

They still get a few essential vitamins and minerals from watermelon:

• Beta carotene and vitamin C boost the dragon’s growth, vision, and growth processes.
• Magnesium promotes metabolism and minimises inflammation
• potassium, a mineral that controls blood pressure

So, in moderation, watermelon can slightly improve the health of your dragon. The majority of beardies can’t get enough of watermelon’s sweet flavour, so your beardie will probably love it. Watermelon is a wonderful dessert, not the main course.

What’s Best for Dragons, Seedless or Seeded Watermelon?

When it comes to watermelon, you have two choices: seeded or seedless. Both can be fed to bearded dragons. In any case, you will need to remove the seeds before feeding them to your bearded dragon.

Even seedless watermelons can contain one or two seeds. If they consume the seeds, bearded dragons risk choking or developing gut impaction (obstruction in the digestive tract). Before giving watermelon to your dragon, take out all seeds, both black and white.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Watermelon Rind?

No. Watermelon rinds can be difficult for your bearded dragon to chew. If they do manage to get a chunk off, they might swallow it whole which can result in an obstruction in their digestive system.

How Can Bearded Dragons Eat Watermelons?

Choose organic watermelons that have not been sprayed with herbicides or pesticides wherever possible. You must take every seed out as mentioned above.

Slice the watermelon into pieces, and remove the rind and seeds. We also recommend removing the thinner white rind. Give your beardie the soft, dark pink flesh. The white section of the watermelon rind, which is difficult to chew, should never be fed to dragons.

Chop the watermelon into small pieces, around the size of a teaspoon or smaller, and then add them either alone or with vegetables to the bearded dragon’s food dish.

Watermelon’s sweetness can be used to entice bearded dragons to eat vegetables, particularly necessary foods like collard greens and squash. Just be careful not to apply this tactic too frequently because your bearded dragon can start favouring sweet fruit over nutritious vegetables.

Make sure to check your bearded dragon’s cage every day, and remove any uneaten fruits and vegetables.

What Fruits Can Bearded Dragons Have More Often Than Watermelon?

Some of the fruits you can feed your beardie on regular basis include:

• Apples
• Cantaloupe 
• Figs
• Mango
• Papaya

Fruits are a tasty and enjoyable way to give your beardie a little treat. Just remember not to overdo it, especially with watermelon.

Read More >>> What Food Can Bearded Dragons Eat