ᐅ Can Bearded Dragons Eat Zucchini?

image with a bearded dragon, zucchini and a text that says: can bearded dragons eat zucchini?

The Good And Bad Of Feeding Zucchini To Bearded Dragons

We see zucchini as a healthy and tasty food choice for us. For this reason, many bearded dragon owners consider tossing it into their beardie’s meal rotation. Now you might ask: “Can bearded dragons eat zucchini?”.

The short answer is yes, bearded dragons can eat zucchini, but it should only be offered infrequently and in moderation.

In this article, we look at the nutritional value of zucchini, the good and bad factors of zucchini for bearded dragons, and much more.

Nutritional Value Of Zucchini

Taking a look at the nutritional value of zucchini will help you decide if it is a good mealtime choice.

Nutritional information of zucchini per 100g

Nutrition Name	Amount
Water	94.79 g
Energy	17 Kcal
Protein	1.21 g
Total lipid (fat)	0.32 g
Carbohydrate, by difference	3.11 g
Fiber	1 g
Sugars	2.5 g
Calcium	16 mg
Phosphorus	38 mg
Sodium	8 mg
Vitamin C	17.9 mg
Iron	0.37 mg
Vitamin D (D2+3)	0 ug
Vitamin B6	0.163 mg
Vitamin A	10 ug
Vitamin E	0.12 mg
Vitamin K	4.3 ug
Magnesium	5.2 mg
Potassium	73 mg
Folate	3.2 ug

Read on to find out how the above-mentioned nutritional information impact your bearded dragon.

Health Benefits Of Feeding Bearded Dragons Zucchini

A little zucchini occasionally offers the following nutrients that bearded dragons require:

Antioxidants – Prevent inflammation

Vitamin A and C – These are key for growth, a healthy immune system, vision, reproduction, and organ and tissue maintenance and repair.

Vitamin K – Regulates blood clotting and aids in bone and overall health.

Vitamin B6 and Folate – Boost energy and help maintain the nervous system.

Fiber – Supports an excellent digestive system

Thiamine – Helps maintain nervous tissue health

Manganese – Aids metabolism

Magnesium – Promotes brain and muscle health

Potassium – Regulates blood pressure and nerve function

Risks Of Feeding Your Pet Bearded Dragon Zucchini

From the benefits of zucchini in your bearded dragon’s diet, there are plenty good vitamins and minerals. However, zucchini ultimately falls short due to issues relating to calcium.

Low Calcium

Zucchini is relatively low in calcium, with just 16mg per 100mg serving. Calcium-rich foods are essential for bearded dragons; they need them for overall health and strong bones. Usually, bearded dragons get more calcium from plants than insects; it is vital to ensure the vegetables they eat are rich in calcium. Zucchini is not rich in calcium, and therefore it is not recommended to fill your beardie’s salad bowl with it daily.

Poor Calcium to Phosphorus ratio

Looking at the nutritional value, it is clear that there is a lot more phosphorus than calcium in zucchini. The ratio is 1:4.4, with phosphorus being predominant. This ratio places zucchini out of the recommended range for regular consumption. The ideal healthy range should be 1:1 to 2.:1, calcium to phosphorus.

Risk of Metabolic Bone Disease

Since zucchini has higher phosphorus levels than calcium, it can make your bearded dragon sick when they overeat it. Phosphorus binds with calcium in the body and prevents calcium absorption into the bloodstream.

Too much phosphorus over time will deplete your pet bearded dragon’s own calcium supply, which can result in calcium deficiency and ultimately metabolic bone disease.

Alert your vet immediately if you notice any signs of metabolic bone disease in your bearded dragon. These include:

Lack of appetite
Lethargy and weakness

Stress
Constipation
Receded lower jaw

Swollen limbs and jaw
Bumps along the spine or bones
Soft jaw, and facial bones

Bowed limbs and arched spine
Fractures and broken bones
Greenstick fractures (folded or bent bones)

Trembling and twitching limbs
Tremors and seizures
Paralysis or difficulty moving

How Often Can Bearded Dragons Eat Zucchini?

At most, you should only feed your pet reptile zucchini once a month. If you are feeding your beardie other foods with low calcium levels and high phosphorus or oxalate levels, you may want to consider feeding zucchini even less.

During those feedings, limit the snacks to no more than a handful of pieces.

How To Prepare Zucchini For Bearded Dragons

As a bearded dragon owner, you must be aware that, like all vegetables and fruit, there is some preparation involved to ensure the food is safe and ready for your beardie to eat. Here are some quick and easy preparation tips.

Choose Raw, Organic Zucchini

Organically grown zucchini is the best option for your bearded dragon. Store-bought zucchini is fine too, but you might inadvertently expose your bearded dragon to harmful toxins.

Organic vegetables are grown without chemical fertilizers or sprays and don’t have any residue that can cause harm.

You should not feed zucchini leaves and seeds of the zucchini plant to your bearded dragon.

Do not let your bearded dragon eat cooked zucchini. During the cooking process, food is stripped of its essential nutrients.

Bearded dragons can eat frozen zucchini if you have no other option, but make sure it is properly thawed before feeding it to your bearded dragon.

Wash And Inspect

Wash the zucchini and examine it closely. Throw out any zucchini with physical deformities. These zucchini are prone to insect infestation. Insects can spread parasites and disease-causing pathogens.

Peel The Zucchini

Raw zucchini has a waxy peel that you need to remove.

Using a potato peeler, strip the tough outer layer off until you see the light-green flesh inside. Make sure to remove all the peel. Even the tiniest piece of skin can cause get stuck in your bearded dragon’s throat, causing him to choke.

Slice And Serve

Once the zucchini is peeled, slice the raw zucchini into manageable pieces. These pieces must not be bigger than the space between your beardie’s eyes.

How you serve the zucchini is totally up to you. Many bearded dragons do not have a problem eating the zucchini on its own. We suggest you feed zucchini to your beardie as a healthy salad with the most suitable greens such as collard greens, dandelion greens, and more.

Always remember to remove uneaten food from your bearded dragon’s terrarium. Spoiled food can be harmful to your bearded dragon.

To Conclude

It is essential to understand that vegetables like zucchini are not the best food to offer your bearded dragon. They can make the occasional yummy treat, but they should never be a staple.

We recommend that before feeding any food item to your beardie, you must try to understand what it can offer in terms of nutrition. Even if a food item seems healthy, there can be health risks.

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