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Bearded dragons have a versatile diet that includes insects, vegetables, and fruits. For example, bearded dragons can eat a tomato safely in small portions, though it isn’t the best fruit in terms of its nutritional profile. You do have to be careful when you feed tomatoes to your beardie, though. There is a proper way to serve them, and the frequency needs to be sparing.
If you want to know more about the nutritional benefits and risks of tomatoes, how to serve them to your bearded dragon, and other food options for your pet, keep on reading.
Are Tomatoes Safe for Bearded Dragons?
Raw, ripe tomatoes are safe for healthy bearded dragons and are not considered toxic.
- The stems and leaves of tomatoes are not considered safe for bearded dragons.
- Unripe tomatoes are not considered safe for bearded dragons.
Bearded dragons should not eat the stems or leaves of a tomato plant, and they shouldn’t nibble on the vines or flowers either. Tomatoes are part of a family called Solanaceae (better known as nightshades). These plants naturally possess poisonous glycoalkaloids. In the tomato plant, these alkaloids are most concentrated in the stems, leaves, and raw fruit. They’re drastically reduced as a tomato ripens. While there is little evidence of tomato toxicity in veterinary medicine literature, it is still recommended that you don’t feed your bearded dragons any parts of the fruit that contain these glycoalkaloids.
In tomatoes, the glycoalkaloids of interest are solanine and tomatine.
Nutritional Benefits of Tomatoes for Bearded Dragons
Fruit is considered the least important part of a bearded dragon’s diet. Wild beardies tend to eat more vegetables than fruits, and fruits’ slightly higher sugar content (compared to that of vegetables) makes them less appealing as far as dietary additions are concerned. Basically, fruits should be considered treats. That said, in moderation, they can be fantastic additions to a bearded dragon’s diet.
Like all fruits, tomatoes offer a few nutritional benefits for beardies.
- Water: 5 grams (g)
- Carbohydrates (includes sugars): 3.89 g
- Fat: 0.2 g
- Protein: 0.88 g
- Fiber: 1.2 g
- Calcium: 10 milligrams (mg)
- Phosphorus: 24 mg
- Beta Carotene (converts to vitamin A): 449 micrograms
Tomatoes contain other vitamins and minerals, though most of them aren’t that significant from a nutritional standpoint (but may be beneficial in certain circumstances). For example, tomatoes are often touted for their vitamin C content, but healthy bearded dragons don’t benefit much from this, as they can make their own vitamin C. However, a beardie that is ill or has liver issues might benefit from vitamin C supplementation in their diet.
Risks of Feeding Tomatoes to Your Bearded Dragon
The risks of feeding a tomato to your bearded dragon can often make it seem more dangerous than it is worth.
The main reason that a tomato isn’t recommended as a dietary staple in a bearded dragon’s diet is its calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. For healthy adult beardies in maintenance, their diet should have a calcium-to-phosphorus ratio of anywhere between 1.5:1 and 2:1. This means the calcium should be around twice as much as the phosphorus. The recommended ratio for juveniles is around 2:1, and dragons that are breeding (particularly females) require a much higher calcium intake compared to adults in maintenance.
In tomatoes, the calcium is much lower than the phosphorus, typically around 1:3.6. Phosphorus balance in the body requires that it be in the correct proportion with calcium. It binds to calcium, so when a bearded dragon is fed high amounts of phosphorus, their body responds by pulling calcium out from the bones to restore the proper levels of minerals and reduce the excess phosphorus in the bloodstream. Over time, the loss of calcium from bone mass can make the bones brittle and weak, leading to a condition called metabolic bone disease.
In addition, an inappropriate ratio of calcium to phosphorus is undesirable for the long-term health of a bearded dragon because it may predispose them to kidney or parathyroid issues. Therefore, tomatoes (like many other fruits) should be viewed as treats and not significant components of their daily salad servings.
If you feed your bearded dragon too many tomatoes, digestive issues may occur. The high water content of most fruits means consuming large numbers of them in a short span of time can lead to digestive distress that often manifests as episodes of diarrhea.
How to Serve Tomatoes to Your Dragon and How Often
Tomatoes are not the best treats for your bearded dragon, but these reptiles can eat them and stay healthy as long as they do not have them too often. Like most fruits (which should be considered treats), a small serving of a tomato about once a month is acceptable for healthy adult beardies.
- Opt for a ripe, raw tomato.
- Begin by removing the stems and leaves.
- Thoroughly wash the tomato to remove any chemical or pesticide residues.
- Cut the tomato into four slices.
- Although tomato seeds aren’t toxic, it is best to remove them to minimize the risk of choking and reduce the chance of digestive impaction.
- Slice one of the slices into small pieces, averaging around 1 x 1 cm in size (approximately ⅖ of an inch). Mix this into your bearded dragon’s salad of the day.
Removing the skin from the tomato is also an acceptable option. While this does slightly reduce the nutritional value of the tomato, the trade-off is worth it because fruits shouldn’t be a big part of their diet, anyway.
Other Fruit and Vegetable Alternatives for Bearded Dragons
You may have decided that it is not worth it to give your beardie a taste of tomato. Take heart in knowing that there are plenty of alternative fruits and vegetables that you can try instead.
- Green leaf lettuce (e.g., romaine, though most variants are acceptable except for iceberg)
- Dandelion greens
- Mustard greens
- Watercress
- Endive
- Squash
- Green beans
- Zucchini
- Kale
- Collard greens
Remember that healthy fruits and vegetables, especially dark leafy greens, should be a staple of your beardie’s diet. To ensure that they are getting the right amount and frequency of feeding, make a meal schedule. Feeding them the best food in the proper amount is a great way to be a responsible dragon owner.
Final Thoughts
Owning a pet means you want to make sure you provide them the best care. This includes what you feed them! We hope that this article has given you insight into whether you should feed tomatoes to your beardie. As you can see, it is probably best to skip this food and opt for something more suitable for your bearded dragon.
Featured Image Credit: Lernestorod, Pixabay
