Yes, bearded dragons can eat papaya. They also love bananas, apples, grapes, oranges, strawberries, melons, pears, peaches, plums, cherries, nectarines, apricots, kiwis, mangoes, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, and even pineapple!
I’m going to tell you everything you need to know about bearded dragons and papaya. I’ll answer all your questions.
What Is Papaya?
Papaya is a tropical fruit that grows in warm climates. It’s a member of the Caricaceae family, which means it belongs to the same genus as mangoes, guavas, and cherries.
This article gives us a great overview of what papaya is and how it can be used. You’ll find lots of interesting facts here, including that it’s a good source of vitamins A and C, as it contains an enzyme called papain. And it’s a good source of fiber.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Dried Papaya?
Bearded dragons are omnivores. They eat a variety of foods including fruits, vegetables, insects, eggs, meat, fish, and plants. You can feed your bearded dragon any kind of food you’d feed to your pet lizard. But if you want to give your lizard a special treat, you might consider giving him/her a piece of fresh papaya.
Fresh papaya is a great snack for lizards because it’s high in fiber and low in calories. And since it’s a sweet fruit, it won’t cause your bearded dragon to gain weight. Plus, it’s nutritious and healthy for reptiles.
However, if you decide to give your bearded dragon fresh papaya, you should only give him/her small pieces. Larger pieces may choke your bearded dragon. Also, avoid giving your bearded dragon dried papayas because they’re a concentrated source of sugar, which can lead to obesity and diabetes.
Is Papaya Good for Bearded Dragons?
Papayas are a great food for bearded dragons. They’re high in vitamin A and C, which helps keep your beardies healthy. And they’re also rich in calcium, which is important for growing strong bones.
Bearded dragons should only eat papayas that are ripe enough to ripen naturally. You can tell if a papaya is ripe by squeezing its skin gently. If it feels soft, then it’s ready to eat. Don’t worry if it doesn’t feel completely firm; it still tastes delicious.
The Health Benefits of Papaya for Bearded Dragons:
Beardies love papayas. And if you feed your beardie dragon papaya, he or she will thank you for it.
It’s also a good source of protein, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese, niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, pantothenic acid, biotin, and vitamin B6.
Your bearded dragon will enjoy eating papaya because it’s a healthy and nutritious snack. Papaya is a safe choice for your bearded dragon because it doesn’t contain any toxic chemicals or pesticides.
It’s also a relatively low calorie and fat diet, making it a good choice for those who are trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.
Feeding your bearded dragon papaya is a great way to give him or her a nutritional boost. You can find papaya in pet stores, grocery stores, and online retailers.
The Risks of Feeding Papaya to Bearded Dragons
Papayas are great treats for bearded dragons, but if you give your bearded dragon too much, it can lead to digestive issues. And if you give him too much, he might choke on the seeds.
So before you start feeding your bearded dragon papaya or any other food, be sure to know how much is safe to give him. Also, make sure to cut the fruit into smaller pieces.
Also, try to limit his intake of papaya to once every couple of weeks. He may enjoy eating papaya, but it can be harmful to his health if he eats too much of it.
How to Prepare the Papaya for Your Bearded Dragon
Wash the papaya thoroughly to remove any pesticides and chemicals. Then cut it into small pieces that your beardie can easily eat.
Remove the seeds from the papayas before giving them to your bearded dragon, since he might choke if he eats the seeds.
Give your bearded dragon papaya once a week as a treat!
Nutritional Fact of Papaya
Nutritional Content:
A medium sized papaya contains more than 200 percent of vitamin C. It is also a good source of protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants,
Nutritional Value Per 100 Gram:
| Energy | 179 kJ (43 kcal) |
| Carbohydrates | 10.82 g |
| Sugars | 7.82 g |
| Dietary fiber | 1.7 g |
| Fat | 0.26 g |
| Protein | 0.47 g |
| Vitamins | Quantity %DV† |
| Vitamin A equiv. | 47 μg 6% |
| Beta-Carotene | 274 μg 3% |
| Lutein zeaxanthin | 89 μg |
| Thiamine (B1) | 0.023 mg 2% |
| Riboflavin (B2) | 0.027 mg 2% |
| Niacin (B3) | 0.357 mg 2% |
| Pantothenic acid (B5) | 0.191 mg 4% |
| Folate (B9) | 38 μg 10% |
| Vitamin C | 62 mg 75% |
| Vitamin E | 0.3 mg 2% |
| Vitamin K | 2.6 μg 2% |
| Minerals | Quantity %DV† |
| Calcium | 20 mg 2% |
| Iron | 0.25 mg 2% |
| Magnesium | 21 mg 6% |
| Manganese | 0.04 mg 2% |
| Phosphorus | 10 mg 1% |
| Potassium | 182 mg 4% |
| Sodium | 0.08 mg 1% |
| Zinc | 0.08 mg 1% |
| Other constituents | Quantity |
| Water | 88 g |
| Lycopene | 1828 µg |
Source: Wikipedia
Is Papaya Dangerous for Bearded Dragons?
Beardies love papayas. But if you give them papayas that are too hard or too soft, they won’t eat them. And if you give them papaya that isn’t ripe enough, they might choke on it.
So if you’ve got a bunch of papayas lying around, you’d better make sure they’re ripe before giving them to your beardie.
To know whether your papaya is ripe, touch it gently. If it feels soft, it’s probably ripe. If it feels firm, it’s probably not ripe.
If you’ve got a lot of papayas sitting around, you may want to consider buying a papaya tree. You can grow your own papayas, and they will provide you with fresh fruit year round.
But remember, papayas are acidic, so keep them away from your beardie until they’re fully ripe. Otherwise, they might hurt him.
Why not to Serve Papaya to your Bearded Dragons?
Papayas are great for humans, but they’re not necessarily safe for bearded dragons. Papaya contains a lot of potassium, which is important for reptiles’ hearts. But if you give your bearded dragon papaya, it will probably end up getting sick.
Bearded dragons require a certain level of calcium and phosphorus in order to stay healthy. Papaya doesn’t provide enough calcium or phosphorus, so it won’t keep your bearded dragon healthy.
But papaya isn’t harmful to bearded dragons. You can feed your bearded dragon papaya every once in a while without worrying about any negative effects. Just remember to ripen the papaya before giving it to your bearded dragon.
If you’ve got papaya growing in your backyard, you might consider harvesting it and giving it to your bearded dragons instead of buying it from the grocery store.
Tips for Feeding Papaya to Bearded Dragons:
Papaya is a great source of vitamin C, fiber, potassium, folate, and magnesium. But if you’re giving it to your bearded dragon, there are certain things you should know. First off, you shouldn’t give him papaya every day. He might choke on it. And secondly, he doesn’t really need it. His diet already consists of insects, crickets, and worms.
But if you do decide to give him papaya, here are some tips to keep in mind:
1. Don’t give him papaya every day. Give him papaya once a week.
2. Crush the fruit a bit before giving it to him.
3. Remove the seeds from the papaya before giving it to him, otherwise, it will taste bitter.
4. You can add papaya to his diet, but it’s better to leave out the seeds.
5. Always remember that papaya is a hard fruit. It’s not meant to be eaten raw.
6. Never feed your bearded dragon papaya that has gone bad.
7. Keep in mind that papaya is high in sugar. If you’re giving it to him, don’t let him overeat.
8. Remember that papaya is acidic. If you’re giving him papaya, make sure to wash his mouth thoroughly after eating it.
9. If you’re giving papaya to your bearded dragon, make sure to crush it a bit before giving it. Otherwise, it might hurt his teeth.
10. If you’re giving your bearded dragon papaya, make sure you clean his cage regularly.
11. If you’re giving papaya to your bearded, make sure to wash your hands before handling it.
12. If you’re giving the papaya to your bearded friend, make sure to wash the bowl where you’re keeping it.
13. If you’re giving fresh papaya to your bearded buddy, make sure to cut it into small pieces.
Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Papaya?
Baby bearded dragons can eat papaya, but keep in mind that it’s high in water and can cause diarrhea. Papaya is a great source of calcium, but you shouldn’t give them too much or else they might develop kidney stones. Other fruits that are safe include peas, pea pods, shoots, and parsnips.
Bearded dragons are omnivores, meaning they will eat anything. But you do need to be careful with certain foods. Some foods can cause diarrhea, so you need to monitor how much your bearded dragon eats. Avoid giving them too much papaya, since it can cause diarrhea. And remember to keep an eye out for any signs of illness.
What Fruits Can Bearded Dragons Eat Safely?
Beardies love apples, especially if they’re organic. But don’t let them eat apple cores. Apple cores are high in oxalic acid, which can cause stomach upset. Instead, cut up apples into bite-sized pieces and place them in a bowl near your bearded dragon’s food dish. You can also try feeding them baby spinach leaves instead of apples. Spinach is low in oxalic acid and is easier for your bearded dragon to digest.
Bananas are great for your bearded dragon because they’re high in potassium. However, do not leave bananas out overnight. Bananas spoil quickly and can become toxic to your bearded dragon. Instead, keep bananas in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve them to your bearded dragon.
Dragon fruit is a good source for calcium and has a pH level between 3 and 4. Wash the fruit thoroughly before serving it to your bearded dragon. Do not allow your bearded dragon to eat the fleshy part of the fruit. Only eat the rinds.
Kiwis and blackberries are two common fruits that contain seeds. Large amounts of seeds can cause gastrointestinal issues. Keep kiwis and blackberries away from your bearded dragon.
Conclusion:
The bearded dragons are often fed papaya because it helps them digest food faster. This makes sense since they eat insects and worms, both of which contain high amounts of fiber. So if you feed your bearded dragon papaya, he’ll likely enjoy it even more.
