Can Bearded Dragons Eat Papaya

Feeding Papaya to Your Bearded Dragon; Benefits and Risks

Vibrant, colorful, and rich in taste, Papaya, or pawpaw, is an exotic food that bearded dragon lovers should add to their pet’s diet,  but only on an occasional basis because of its high moisture and sugar content. 

Can Bearded Dragon Eat Papaya?

Papaya is very nutritious. Feed it sporadically as the high water content could lead to diarrhea for your bearded dragons.

Benefits of Feeding Your Bearded Dragon Papaya

Papaya is a fruit rich in minerals, Vitamin C and fiber and has many health benefits.

Aids Digestion

Fiber aids digestion. Papaya fruit contains a good amount of fiber which will prevent constipation.  

Prevents Illness

Papaya provides Vitamin C, which helps build a strong immune system. If your pet falls sick or is inactive, papaya will restore its health and agility.

Proper Hydration

Papaya keeps your pet hydrated because it has a high water content

Nutritional Value Per 100 Gram

Nutrients	Value
Carbohydrates	10.82 g
Sugar	7.82 g
Fiber	1.7 g
Fat	0.26 g
Protein	0.47 g
Vitamin C	62 mg
Calcium	20 mg
Phosphorus	10 mg
Potassium	182 mg
Water	88 g

Risks of Papaya For Your Bearded Dragon

The calcium and phosphorus ratio in papaya is not ideal when compared to other fruits. It contains more phosphorus than calcium which means you should serve it moderately and rely upon other edible options with a good calcium to phosphorus ratio.

Is It Safe To Feed Your Bearded Dragons Papaya Seeds?

Papaya seeds are edible and are not toxic. So, yes, you can feed your bearded dragons papaya seeds.

Most beardies will ignore the seeds in papaya and eat the colorful fruit. This habit is not a concern for your pet’s health.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Papaya Skin?

You can also feed your bearded dragons papaya skin. The skin is safe to eat and has no toxic component that can harm your pet beardie. Do not  feed your bearded dragon papaya skin which was bought in a grocery store. Chemicals are used to grow this fruit for better yields and to protect it from pests. These chemicals usually gather on the skin of the fruit which could be dangerous to your pet.

But you can feed your bearded dragon organic papaya skin.

How To Prepare Papaya For Bearded Dragons

Wash the fruit well before serving it.  You can cut the fruit into halves and give it to your beardie or into tiny pieces. Also, for variety, you can mix small quantities of papaya with vegetables.

Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Papaya?

Baby bearded dragons can eat papaya. But ensure that they eat meat more often than they do vegetables and fruit. 

Their foods should be similar to dubia roaches and other small creatures that supply significant amounts of calcium and protein.

Final Thoughts

Feed bearded dragons papaya in moderation. Too much of it can cause  calcium-deficiency. It could lead to weak bones and metabolic bone disease.   Avoid feeding papaya with other watery foods.