Bearded Dragons are semi-small lizards that make great pets for children. As part of the Squamata order of reptiles, they are distant relatives of snakes and other “running’ reptiles. But, now that you have your new pet, what should you be feeding them as bearded dragon owners? 

Bearded Dragons can eat bananas and like them a lot. Bananas hold many nutrients essential for your bearded dragon’s health. However, you should only do it occasionally, no more than once per week. Feeding them too much banana could be harmful to your bearded dragon’s health.

If you’re not sure how much banana you should give your bearded dragon , you’re in the right place. Today we will explore how bearded dragons will benefit from bananas in their diet and how much and how often you should give them this sweet fruit. 

Why You Should Feed Bananas to Your Bearded Dragon?

It is safe and beneficial to feed your bearded dragon bananas as long as you moderate their intake. Bananas hold many micro and macronutrients essential for the health and well-being of bearded dragons. These include several B vitamins, potassium, and vitamin C. 

The Health Benefits of Bananas

As mentioned above, bananas contains a lot of vitamins and minerals for bearded dragons. They are high in vitamin A, B and C and play a significant role in healthy animal growth.

These nutrients help reduce the chances of them being ill and also helps to increase their size too! It contains a good quantity of minerals including calcium, magnesium and zinc which are very crucial for bearded dragons health.

Feeding your bearded dragon bananas can also improve their renal system and help them feel energetic. In addition, bananas contains high amount of potassium.

Bearded dragons are not very different from human when it comes to their nutritional needs. Bananas have a plethora of vitamins vital for organ function and carbohydrates that help maintain energy levels. These nutrients help your bearded dragon maintain an active and balanced lifestyle.

B vitamins help them maintain healthy hearts while the sugars give them the energy to run around. Additionally, bananas may have a similar impact on a bearded dragon’s mental health as they do on humans. 

Scientists found that bearded dragons exhibited sleep patterns and neural behavior that are similar to those of humans. This means that if your little dragon suffers from sleep deprivation, giving them a banana might help.

How Much Banana Can Bearded Dragons Eat?

You should give small servings of banana to your bearded dragon, or around two slices at a time. You should never feed them an entire banana. Do it periodically, no more than once every week. If you give them too much, they could develop kidney diseases or the fruit could go bad in their cage. 

There is no exact serving size of banana for a bearded dragon, but it would be best if you never give your bearded dragon a whole banana. The best way to start giving them bananas is to provide them with one or two slices at a time.

Bearded dragons benefit from the many nutrients found in bananas, but the fruit also has high phosphorus levels. Phosphorus is not necessarily harmful, and it would take a lot of bananas for a healthy human to feel any adverse effects. 

However, a bearded dragon is much smaller and can be much more sensitive than a human. Phosphorus and potassium are difficult for your kidneys to process and expel from your body. This is why people with heart conditions and extensive kidney failure should avoid eating bananas. 

If given too many bananas at one time, a bearded dragon could experience paralization and hyperglycemia. If given too much over extended periods, they may also get metabolic bone disease (MBD). This occurs as phosphorus builds in the body and drains it of calcium. 

If you notice your bearded dragon is lethargic or is losing bone density, you should stop giving them bananas. 

What Parts of Banana Are Good for Bearded Dragon?

You can give your bearded dragon every part of the banana, including banana peel and banana leaves. If you buy banana flowers or eat traditional tamales, you can let your bearded dragons eat bananas leaves and other parts of the fruit. 

If you want to encourage your bearded dragon to eat banana peels and other tough parts of the banana, you can chop it up. You can also boil them and make them into a paste or puree.

If your bearded dragon finds these parts too bitter, you can try blending them with sweeter fruits or foods. However, try to avoid adding any additional sugar that does not come from fruit. Regular, white, and bleached sugar are very processed and your bearded dragon is not accustomed to digesting them. 

Try blending greens and other tough parts of the banana plant with peaches or apples. This will make them more palatable for your bearded dragon. 

How Often Can Bearded Dragons Have Bananas?

Bearded dragons should only have bananas 2-4 times per month. You can potentially give your bearded dragon a small serving of bananas about once a week. However, the feeding frequency and the amount you give them will depend somewhat on their size and weight. 

If it’s your bearded dragon’s first feeding of a banana, then you should start slow. Make sure they don’t have any adverse or allergic reactions. Pay attention to their bowel movements for any signs of distress. 

If all seems good, then you can slowly increase their consumption. Just make sure not to go above once a week. If you want to be especially careful, limit consumption to once every two weeks. 

You must keep their consumption limited to encourage them to eat a diverse diet. Like a human child (or adult), bearded dragons can get hooked on too much sugar, which bananas have in large quantities. 

In the worst case, your bearded dragon could end up only wanting these sweets and unwilling to eat their other food. If you keep their consumption of sweets to a minimum, you’ll ensure they eat plenty of protein and vegetables. 

Dried Bananas vs Fresh Bananas For Bearded Dragons?

Bearded dragons can eat both types of bananas. But make sure not to give them too much as it might harm them.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Peeled Banana?

Yes, bearded dragons can eat peeled bananas.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Banana Skin?

Yes, bearded dragons can eat both bananas skin as well as the banana itself.

What Fruits Should You Give to Your Bearded Dragon?

You can give your bearded dragon apples, pears, peaches, and other fruits. The more diverse your bearded dragon’s diet, the better their health will be. Be careful not to give them arsenic-rich seeds such as those found in apples and peach pits. 

Bearded Dragons are usually omnivores in the wild. Some varieties consume a predominantly vegetarian diet when the environment demands it, but they tend to prefer consuming proteins as well. 

These include insects and other small lizards found in the Australian wilderness. It’s good to buy your little dragon some beetles, mealie worms, and other insects. You can buy them at your local pet store, already dead, so you don’t have to worry about the bugs getting into your room. 

We also recommend giving your bearded dragon some vegetables. They tend to enjoy celery, lettuce, and other greens, which are also very good for them! If your pet is especially picky, you can try making them puree or even feeding them baby food to encourage them to eat more diverse foods. 

Conclusion

It is perfectly safe to give your bearded dragon banana so long as you limit their consumption. Bananas will contribute to a balanced diet, and you should incorporate them moderately into your little dragon’s feeding. 

Make sure you give them plenty of vegetables and protein so they can get all the minerals and vitamins they require.

If you give them bananas once a week, your dragon will get the vitamins they need without otherwise negatively impacting their health. If you go over that, your risk having your bearded dragon develop kidney diseases and a low bone density.