If you want your Bearded dragon to have a long and healthy life, it is crucial that you provide it with the proper diet. You need to give them everything they need to thrive and expand.
It’s a common concern among Bearded dragon owners to know whether cactus pads are safe for their pet to eat.
Calcium, water, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, thiamin, and riboflavin are just some of the nutrients that bearded dragons may get from cactus pads. You shouldn’t overfeed them because of their high water content. If fed in moderation, they may form part of a Bearded dragon’s daily diet.
Starting to provide your Bearded dragon these yummy treats might be pretty simple if you’re keen to do so.
Read on to learn about the health benefits, recommended serving size, and proper preparation methods for your Bearded dragon’s favourite food.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cactus Pads?
Bearded dragons may benefit greatly from eating cactus pads as a regular part of their diet. But, before you sink the cactus pads into the container, make sure they are well prepped.
The spines must be removed, either by hand or using a vegetable peeler. Make sure to break it up into small enough pieces for your Bearded dragon to eat before adding it to his meal.
Many Bearded dragons like prickly pear cactus as a source of nutrition. After the fruit’s seeds are removed, they may consume the prickly pear fruit and the cactus pads.
The pads of a cactus plant are rich in:
- vitamins c and e
- Vitality Iron Vitamin A
Bearded dragons may benefit from eating cactus pads because of the high calcium content and low fat sources. Bone health depends on a sufficient intake of calcium.
Calcium is essential for your Bearded dragon’s skeletal structure, and if he doesn’t get enough of it in his food, his body will recycle it from his bones. This may cause metabolic bone disease, making it hard to bear weight and move about.
Similarly, your Bearded dragon requires a low-fat diet. Pets need some fat in their diet because it provides energy, but too much fat may make them obese and sluggish.
When you want to give your Bearded dragon a snack without worrying about it gaining weight, cactus pads are a perfect choice.
Not only are they low in fat, but they also have a minimal amount of sugar. This is fantastic news since sugar is linked to serious health problems including tooth decay and diabetes.
Cactus pads, which are likewise rich in water, may be used to assist your Bearded dragon stay healthy and hydrated. But, remember that giving your Bearded dragon an excessive amount of water might be harmful. Overhydration is a common cause of digestive problems, especially diarrhoea.
There’s a risk of dehydration if your reptile vomits or has diarrhoea for an extended period of time. That might turn into an endless loop. To avoid this problem, you may give your Bearded dragon cactus pads to eat, but you need also make sure that the remainder of its diet has a reduced water content.
Is Prickly Pear Cactus Good for Bearded Dragons?
The concept of creating an aesthetically pleasing environment for one’s Bearded dragon is enticing to many reptile owners. One method for doing this is to include real plants in the arrangement. Since it can be eaten by both humans and Bearded dragons, Prickly Pear Cactus is a great choice.
Prickly pear cacti come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colours. Your Bearded dragon may eat the cactus pads (also known as nopales) in all of them.
Certain varieties also yield fruit with a purple to crimson hue; after the seeds have been removed, the fruit is edible.
If you want to put a cactus in your Bearded dragon’s enclosure, you need make sure it won’t hurt your reptile. These plants are often available having the spines removed, however it is also possible to remove them manually.
You may give this plant to your Bearded dragon anytime he wants to eat. If your Bearded dragon truly enjoys it, it probably won’t stay very long in its terrarium. If so, you may wish to make it a regular part of his diet.
It’s quite simple to slice into little pieces and include it with his other salad ingredients.
Just as there is such a thing as too much water, there is such a thing as too much prickly pear cactus. Since too much of this plant might cause diarrhoea and dehydration in your Bearded dragon, it’s important to keep an eye on how much he’s eating.
Using this cactus kind in your Bearded dragon’s diet is highly recommended. Minerals and vitamins including protein, potassium, calcium, fibre, and iron are all present. Calcium’s protective effects against metabolic bone disease make it a nutrient of paramount importance.
For healthy gastrointestinal function, your Bearded dragon needs a diet high in fibre.
Moreover, the cactus pad is a rich source of essential vitamins like:
- Vitamins A, B6, and C
- Thiamin Riboflavin with Vitamin C
How Often Should Bearded Dragons Eat Cactus Pads?
You can reliably feed your Bearded dragon on a diet of cactus pads and Prickly Pear fruit. You may include cactus pads and other leafy greens in your reptile’s regular diet with excellent success.
Keep in mind that dark, leafy greens are just as, if not more, crucial to a healthy diet than fresh, living foods. The vitamins and minerals in them are essential to your Bearded dragon’s health.
While it’s called a “Prickly Pear,” this fruit is surprisingly low in sugar. Because of this, you may include it as part of your Bearded dragon’s main diet instead of certain fruits.
Sugar is linked to cavities, diabetes, and extra pounds.
Cactus pads are a great staple food for your Bearded dragon if you have access to them in your region or can get them online.
In case you were wondering, cactus pads contain a lot of water in them. A person who drinks too much water may have diarrhoea, which may lead to dehydration.
They may get cactus pads every day, but don’t give them too many at once. Green leafy vegetables like collard greens, mustard greens, alfalfa, and even herbs like cilantro need to make up the bulk of their cuisine.
Where Can You Find Cactus Pads for your Reptile?
It’s only logical that there would be more cactus pads in certain locations than others. In certain places, you may pick some fresh ones just outside your door. Nevertheless, if you don’t happen to reside in one of these areas, you can have a hard time tracking one down.
Cactus pads and Prickly Pear fruit may be available at your local supermarket. Nopales is the common name for the cactus pads, whereas tuna is a common name for the fruit.
If you can’t locate what you’re searching for at a regular supermarket, you may have to try a speciality market.
They are also sold by Coastal Silkworms, TexasPricklyPears (an Etsy shop), and Premium Crickets, among others.
In the event that you want to put them to your terrarium in full form, you may also be able to track some down in your neighbourhood garden centre. Your Bearded dragon will thrive on cactus pads you plant in your own garden.
Feeding Your Bearded Dragon Cactus Pads
Bearded dragons benefit greatly from a diet that includes cactus pads, especially those from a Prickly Pear Cactus. They are rich in the minerals and vitamins essential to a lizard’s well-being.
Cactus pads may be given to them regularly, but because of their high water content, only a little amount should be given at a time. Bearded dragons love cactus pads, which you may be able to purchase in the produce section of your grocery store.
What Is The Nutritional Value Of Prickly Pear Cactus?
Moreover, the calcium in the fruit is vital to the well-being of a bearded dragon.
Beardies are susceptible to metabolic bone disease from inadequate calcium intake.
Since it is fatal and produces debilitating bone abnormalities, preventing this incurable disease is of the utmost importance.
The cactus pad, as its leafy counterpart is more frequently known, also includes:
- vitamins a and b6
- Ascorbic acid
- Vitamins B1 and B2
Little levels of iron, magnesium, potassium, and calcium may be found in cactus pads, as well.
Digestive health is supported by the fibre and potassium found in cactus pears and pads.
Pear cactus pads are a vibrant green, and the fruits may be any shade from green to orange to red to purple.
It’s estimated that there are at least 180 species across the Americas, with more than 90 of them found in the United States alone.
A bearded dragon’s cage might also benefit from prickly pear cactus.
Spines must be removed before the cactus is added to the environment, and fresh needle growth must be monitored.
Related Questions
Is nopales good for Bearded dragons?
Your Bearded dragon can, in fact, eat nopales, or prickly pear cactus. Cut it up into little pieces and remove any spines before giving it to your reptile.
It’s low in fat and a rich source of calcium and vitamins. Your Bearded dragon needs a certain amount of water every day, so watch how much you give it.
Can Bearded dragons eat aloe vera?
Keep in mind that bearded dragons can really consume aloe vera, so you may want to include it in the terrarium. If they consume too much of it, they may have gastrointestinal distress, diarrhoea, and eventually dehydration.
Can Bearded dragons eat broccoli?
Broccoli is an excellent addition to the basic diet of Bearded dragons, which must always contain green vegetables. Feeding your Bearded dragon a diet rich in dark green vegetables like broccoli on a regular basis is recommended.