Bearded dragons love eating vegetables of all kinds, just like we humans do. Leafy greens, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, carrots, and cabbage are just a few of the things that bearded dragons expect to see in their daily salads. However, some veggies, like iceberg lettuce and celery, should not be offered to bearded dragons because they are full of water but low in the nutrients that these animals need to thrive. But can bearded dragons eat bell peppers? The short answer is yes, but there are a few considerations to make before you start feeding your bearded dragon any bell peppers. Here is what you need to know.
Bell Peppers Are Nutritional for Bearded Dragons
Bell peppers do contain nutrients that are beneficial for bearded dragons, which is why they are a great occasional addition to their salad meals.
It is important to note that green bell peppers are not as nutritious as other colored bell peppers because they are not as developed and ripe. Therefore, yellow, orange, and red bell peppers should be offered to your bearded dragon more often than green ones.
Bell Peppers Should be Fed to Bearded Dragons Sparingly
Even though bearded dragons can benefit from the nutrients found in bell peppers, this product should not be offered to your pet every day. The first reason for this is that they are so full of water. All that water can overhydrate your bearded dragon and give them diarrhea. Bell peppers are low in calcium too, of which bearded dragons need a large amount.
They would be better served being offered veggies that contain higher calcium levels, such as kale and broccoli. Also, bell peppers are high in phosphorous. Too much of this nutrient can actually suck the calcium out of their body and put your dragon at risk of developing metabolic bone disease. This can occur when bearded dragons consume too much phosphorous and too little calcium and is most prominent in younger animals, usually under the age of 2.
Fun Ways to Offer Bell Peppers to Your Bearded Dragon
You can offer your bearded dragon a piece of fresh bell pepper straight from the kitchen as-is — after you core and de-seed it, of course. However, this is not the only way that you can feed your beloved pet this colorful, sweet veggie.
Always buy organic bell peppers when possible to minimize the number of pesticides that your bearded dragon consumes. You should thoroughly scrub the veggie before serving it, even if it is organic.
Summary
Do not be afraid to feed your bearded dragon bell peppers, but do so with caution. Make sure that this product makes up little of your pet’s diet overall, and ensure that your pet is getting a wide variety of vegetables throughout the week. Do you plan to feed bell peppers to your bearded dragon? Why or why not? We would love to learn your thoughts!
Featured image credit: Brett_Hondow, Pixabay
