The name tells it all; applesauce is simply a sauce made from apples. It is palatable, tangy, tasty, and highly rich in fiber and vitamins and has been a principal food to most growing children.
You may have wondered if applesauce is something to feed bearded dragons, whether as a treat or mix it with their food. Can bearded dragons eat applesauce?
Overall, bearded dragons are open to eating both animal- and plant-based foods. Part of keeping your beloved dragon happy and flourishing is providing it with health-giving foods.
If you want your beardie to have some applesauce, confirm first that it’s safe. Continue reading to know if applesauce is a thing for bearded dragons.
This article has been reviewed by Dr. Dilber. Read more about our knowledge control process here.
Contents
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Applesauce?
Yes, these beloved beardies can eat applesauce. If you want to share your love for applesauce with your dragon, feel free to do it. Your lizard companion may love munching on this viand, but don’t let it have much.
Bearded dragons don’t give a second thought to pleasure eating, especially with desserts like applesauce. However, these lizards don’t need to eat applesauce now and then or be allowed to enjoy it how they want.
Applesauce boosts the immune system of baby dragon and prevents its exposure to different infections and diseases.
With its liquid nature, it’s appropriate for the baby dragons, and therefore, no need to worry about the baby being choked.
Benefits Of Applesauce for Bearded Dragons
Applesauce contains 1.1g of fiber, 9.4g of sugar, 0.17g of protein, 11.3 g of carbohydrates, and 74mg of potassium.
Applesauce contains natural sugar from apples; however, the many brands in the market today have added sugar, e.g., corn syrup, and contain preservatives. Look for a brand with no added sugars, an unsweetened version of applesauce.
You can even choose to make your applesauce at home. Applesauce’s dietary fiber greatly aids in regular digestion and protects against constipation and diarrhea. Vitamin C is a gem in supporting healthy bone and muscle development, especially in babies.
Other benefits of applesauce to bearded dragons include boosting the immune system, improving skin health, and supporting heart health. It’s low in calories and therefore effective for the beardies that need to lose weight.
When Should You Feed Your Bearded Dragon Applesauce?
Even after being a flavorsome and dear snack, note that applesauce isn’t really food for bearded dragons. It’s even worse to feed applesauce with preservatives to these lizards; it’s likely to harm your beardie.
Artificial flavors and preservatives can affect the digestive system and metabolic processes of the cells. As a result, the bearded dragon may have an upset digestive system and weakness occurs due to low energy.
Only feed your dragon with unsweetened applesauce and offer it occasionally to help keep your lizard healthy and safe from potential harm. So, when exactly is the right time for bearded dragons to have applesauce?
Best moments for applesauce to help bearded dragons is during impaction or constipation, or in case of digestive issue. Applesauce is fiber-packed food, thus encouraging regular digestion of food and regular and smooth bowel movement.
Even without digestive issues, a bearded dragon can eat applesauce as long as you feed it less often and in limited amounts.
How To Properly Prepare Applesauce for Bearded Dragons
Some people prefer to make their applesauce instead of getting it from store groceries. It’s a good thing if you decide to make applesauce at home; at least you control what to add and what not.
Too much applesauce is harmful to bearded dragons, and not all applesauce is good for these reptilian companions. Likewise, how you prepare a bearded dragon applesauce matters a lot.
How Much Applesauce Can a Bearded Dragon Eat?
Despite being a nutrition-packed food, applesauce can harm the beardies when fed too much and too often.
It is high in sugar, so, do not include it in the bearded dragon’s primary diet. However, it is beneficial when fed occasionally.
Ideally, healthy bearded dragons can eat applesauce once every other two weeks, or even one time in a month.
What Kind of Applesauce Can Bearded Dragons Eat?
Best applesauce for bearded dragons should be organic and unsweetened. You can make this at home; just choose fresh and organic apples, and don’t add sugar to the sauce.
Last update on 2022-12-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Note that how applesauce is made affects the nutritional content of this food. So, if you are that person who is mindful about a food giving its maximum benefit, then consider preparing your applesauce. It’s perfectly safe and recommended!
Instructions For Making Applesauce for Bearded Dragons
There is no need to scratch your head overthinking how to prepare applesauce for your bearded dragon.
Plus, if you think of preparing one, that’s your only way to guarantee that the sauce is free from food coloring, sugar, and preservatives. Here is a straightforward challenge in preparing applesauce for your bearded dragon.
- Peel and slice the apples
- You can choose to blend the sliced apples with water in a blender until smooth. However, for bulky applesauce, place the pieces of sliced apples in a crock pot for cooking.
- Add water, and then cook on high for 2-4 hours. Note that blended applesauce is a bit more nutritious than cooked one.
How to Feed Applesauce to Your Bearded Dragon
Applesauce is not a staple food for bearded dragons and therefore shouldn’t be fed frequently. The beardies find it sweet and tasty and also easy to consume. Would it be fine letting your beardie consume applesauce as a standalone meal?
While bearded dragons will enjoy eating plain applesauce, it’s not something you should do. Applesauce is best mixed into other foods for the beardies or vegetables than feeding it solely. When the applesauce is mixed with other vegetables, it increases the palatability of other foods.
Other Foods Bearded Dragons Eat and Don’t Eat
A bearded dragon wandering in the garden can eat even foods that it’s not supposed to. As a responsible owner, you know that not everything is good for the beardies, and you shouldn’t eat just anything.
It should be in your mind what foods bearded dragons should eat and what is poisonous to them.
Foods Bearded Dragons Eat
These lizards are curious eaters and appreciate diversity in their diet. Remember that the list of foods that bearded dragons eat is pretty big, but I will list only a few.
- Live foods such as crickets, king worms, phoenix worms, mealworms, earthworms, etc.
- Vegetables and greens such as parsley, kale, sweet potatoes, collard greens, broccoli, pepper, zucchini, dandelion greens, squashes, arugula, mustard leaves, clover, and alfalfa, etc.
- Fruits: apples, bananas, watermelon, raspberries, strawberries, grapes, peaches, etc.
Foods To Avoid for Bearded Dragons
There are some foods that you should always avoid feeding bearded dragons since they can pose health abnormalities and toxicities. Check them below:
- Beef
- Fish
- Eggplant
- Avocado
- Fireflies
- Iceberg lettuce
- Garlic/onion, etc.
Other foods that bearded dragons should avoid include mushrooms, rhubarb, chives, leeks, buttercup, fireflies, dairy products, acidic fruits,, ladybugs, high oxalate foods, and high phosphorus foods.
Last Sentences
Almost all bearded dragons will present a good taste for applesauce and would like to have them now and then. However, applesauce is only a treat, and bearded dragons don’t need to eat it more often.
Although healthy beardies can eat applesauce in small amounts, feeding this food to constipating dragons is more recommended. It helps them pass their bowel movement with ease. Homemade applesauce is better and safe for beardies.