Cucumber is a very refreshing vegetable (technically a fruit from the same family as watermelons and pumpkins) that you probably enjoy most during summer time.
You may have wondered at some point “can bearded dragons eat cucumbers”. Most importantly are the health benefits for your beardie?
The straight answer is yes bearded dragons can eat cucumber but not every day.
We tell you why below but first let’s start with the nutritional values of cucumbers.
Health benefits of cucumber
Cucumber contains 95% water. Its caloric intake is miniscule: only 10 calories per 100 g (knowing that the average weight of an English cucumber is 400 g.)
Cucumber is a good source of:
- Potassium
- Copper
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
Cucumber also contains a lot of fiber and contributes to good intestinal transit. This may help your beardie if constipated.
Can bearded dragons eat raw cucumber?
Yes, bearded dragons can have raw cucumber but as previously stated don’t feed them frequently.
Why not? You may ask. Good question. Well simply because cucumber contain so much water (95%) that over feeding your pet with it may cause diarrhea.
Furthermore, cucumber does not contain enough calcium. As you likely know calcium is vital for your beardie’s bones health.
Indeed, if your bearded dragon eats too much cucumber, it may develop what is called MBD [1] also known as metabolic bone disease.
Can bearded dragon eat cucumber skin?
Yes, beardies can have cucumber skin. Indeed, the skin is where most the nutrients live. Therefore, to leverage all the health benefits of cucumber for your pet, you can feed it with the skin.
How do you feed cucumbers to a bearded dragon?
When shopping for cucumber you need to avoid the ones that are puffy or have sunk-in areas. You need to get the those that are firm, preferably green (medium to dark-green).
Before feeding them to your bearded dragon, wash the cucumber thoroughly to get rid of eventual pesticides or other unwanted dirt.
Preferably peel the cucumber so that your pet does not develop impaction (when its digestive tract is blocked).
Get rid of the seeds in order to prevent your pet from unintentionally choking. Seeds also may cause impaction.
Cut the cucumber in small pieces and serve with its favorite vegetables, salad or other fruits.
Summary
Yes bearded dragons can enjoy cucumber provided that you don’t overdo it. Indeed, cucumber has so much water and not enough calcium that it can either have diarrhea or develop a bone disease.
If you are concerned about your beardie’s diet or health in general, please consult with your local veterinarian for advice.
Resources
[1] Metabolic Bone Disease
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20682425/
My name is Brad and I am the main editor of BeardieZilla.com.
The only goal of this site is quite simply to be able to help you. To help you by the means of my experiment, of the relation which I maintain with my bearded dragon as well as some of my knowledge about beardies.
I hope that you will find answers to some of your most pressing questions here.
Thank you for stopping by and enjoy the blog!
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