Pros And Cons Of Bearded Dragons And Cherry Tomatoes
A Bearded dragon requires a broad, healthy diet of different protein-rich bugs and vitamin-rich veggies. Bearded dragon owners are unaware of the different vegetables they can safely feed their pets.
So, can bearded dragons eat cherry tomatoes?
The simplified answer is, yes. Bearded dragons can eat cherry tomatoes, but only occasionally and as a treat.
Nutritional Information About Cherry Tomatoes
Cherry Tomato, Red, Ripe, Raw – Nutritional Value Per Grams
Nutrient Name | Amount |
Water | 92g |
Energy | 18 Kcal |
Carbohydrates | 3.9 g |
Protein | 0.9 g |
Total Fat | 0.2 g |
Dietary Fiber | 1.2 g |
Folates | 15 ug |
Niacin | 0.594 mg |
Pyridoxine | 0.080 mg |
Thiamin | 0.037 mg |
Vitamin A | 833 IU |
Vitamin C | 13 mg |
Vitamin E | 0.54 mg |
Vitamin K | 7.9 ug |
Sodium | 5 mg |
Potassium | 237 mg |
Calcium | 10 mg |
Sugar | 2.3 g |
Iron | 0.3 mg |
Magnesium | 11 mg |
Manganese | 0.15 mg |
Phosphorus | 24 mg |
Zinc | 0.17 mg |
From the above table you can see that cherry tomatoes provide water and some vitamins to your beardie. But they are also laden with sugar.
Benefits Of Beardies Eating Cherry Tomatoes
Cherry Tomatoes Are Good For Hydration
Although most pet dragons do not drink from a water dish, they do require hydration. Usually, it is supplied by veggies. Cherry tomatoes contain a fair amount of water – keeping your bearded dragons hydrated.
Not being hydrated can lead to some nasty side effects, including sunken eyes and fat pads, a droopy face, and wrinkled skin. Not giving your bearded pet the proper levels of hydration could even be fatal.
Vitamin A
Cherries contain high levels of vitamin A, which is vital for a bearded dragon’s vision, immune system, and reproduction. Therefore, to keep your bearded dragon’s vision up to par, help it fight infection, and be able to reproduce, you should feed your beardie veggies that are rich in Vitamin A.
Additionally, Vitamin A supports overall bone health, which is crucial for bearded dragons. They are highly susceptible to MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease), a fatal condition. This painful and fatal disease weakens a bearded dragon’s bone structure.
Finally, Vitamin A supports many of your bearded dragon’s primary organs. This includes the heart, lungs, and kidneys. It can also assist a baby beardie’s growth.
Risks When Bearded Dragons Eat Cherry Tomatoes
Too Much Sugar
Cherry tomatoes are rich in sugar that can lead to weight gain and other illnesses such as diabetes and tooth decay.
Your bearded lizard stores fat in its tails so if you keep feeding your beardie cherry tomatoes or other sugary fruit its tail will get fat.
Low in Calcium
Cherries provide little to no calcium for your bearded dragon.
Beardies require calcium in order to maintain a healthy bone structure and avoid Metabolic Bone Disease. Consequently, calcium is especially important for baby bearded dragons who are still growing and developing.
So, even though your bearded dragons can eat cherry tomatoes, you should keep them to a minimum and they should not replace calcium-rich foods.
Don’t Have the Proper Calcium-Phosphorus Ratio
There are plenty of foods that contain calcium and high levels of phosphorus. Fruits are the most common food that has incorrect calcium to phosphorus ratio.
Phosphorus attaches itself to calcium and prevents it from being absorbed in the body.
Therefore, if you gave your bearded dragon food that has a low calcium-phosphorus ratio, it can create a calcium deficiency in your bearded dragon which can lead to metabolic bone disease.
Are Cherry Tomatoes Good For Baby Bearded Dragons?
You should not feed your baby bearded dragons cherry tomatoes. Baby beardies are still developing and require a calcium-rich diet. Because cherry tomatoes provide little to no calcium benefit, we do not recommend you feed them to your baby bearded dragons.
The main staple of your baby beardies diet should be protein-rich insects such as crickets, mealworms, and king worms. Bugs should make up a total of 75-80% of your baby bearded dragon’s diet.
How Often Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cherry Tomatoes?
Cherry tomatoes are good for your bearded dragon as a treat from time to time, but they should not be part of its regular diet.
Insects and vegetables such as crickets, collard greens, and others, are the best types of food for your bearded pet.
To Conclude
While cherry tomatoes are listed as a safe food for your bearded friend, too much of it can be harmful. It is better than bearded dragon owners limiting cherry tomatoes to an occasional small portion as a treat.
Research new foods you wish to add to your beardies’ diet because even food that seems like a healthy diet might have side effects when given to your bearded dragon. If you remain unsure, please consult your vet for advice.
Continue to read our main article “What do Bearded Dragons Eat?” for all the ins and outs on general diet questions, and get a further detailed breakdown of other popular foods in the articles below: