Pears are liked for their juiciness, sweet taste and high nutritional profile. If you are a pear and reptile lover at the same time, it’s natural for you to wonder, “can I share pears with my bearded dragon?”. Since bearded dragons are omnivores and can eat many fruits and vegetables, the great news is that pears are also included in the list of fruits that beardies can eat. Before discussing the pros and cons of pears for bearded dragons, let’s have a look at the nutritional profile of pears.
Nutritional Facts Of Pears
| Nutrient | Approx. Amount/100g |
| Energy | 57 Kcal |
| Fiber | 3.1 g |
| Water | 83.96 % |
| Sugars | 9.75 g |
| Calcium | 9 mg |
| Protein | 0.36 g |
| Carbohydrate per difference | 15.23 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.14 g |
| Sodium | 1 mg |
| Vitamin C | 4.3 mg |
| Iron | 0.18 mg |
| Vitamin K | 4.4 ug |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.029 mg |
| Vitamin E | 0.12 mg |
| Vitamin A | 1 ug |
| Phosphorus | 12 mg |
What Benefits A Bearded Dragon Can Get By Eating Pears
The table above indicates that pears have a healthy nutritional profile that can benefit your bearded dragon.Here are some of those health benefits listed below.
- Pears are a rich fibre source required for gut health and digestion and keep constipation away.
- Pears contain a lot of water, so feeding pears can help your bearded dragon get the necessary hydration.
- Pears contain a significant amount of vitamin K necessary for tissue and blood cell maintenance.
- In addition, pears also contain vitamin c and vitamin b-complex, which are also beneficial for the body.
Concerns Associated With Feeding Pears To Bearded Dragons
Generally, pears are safe for beardies, and they can extract the benefits mentioned above by eating pears unless your beardie is ill or allergic to pears. However, some risks are also associated with pears that must be considered while deciding how much pears you should feed your bearded friends.
- Though pears are liked for their sweet taste if eaten in large quantities or often, higher sugar contents can cause obesity, gum and teeth decay, digestive disturbance, and internal inflammation in bearded dragons.
- Higher water contents can cause diarrhea if you feed pears to your beardie too often.
- The calcium and phosphorus contents of pears are also a major concern. Beardies need a diet with high calcium content, and pears contain only 9 mg per 100 grams, which is not enough for a beardie. In addition, phosphorus-to-calcium ratio is unfavorable from a bearded dragon’s health perspective because phosphorus level is higher than calcium in pears. Feeding too many pears can lead to calcium deficiency and related health issues (like weak bones, poor bone development, metabolic bone disease etc.).
- Pears are low in energy and contain only a trace amount of protein.
How Often & How Much Pears A Bearded Dragon Can Eat?
Despite their nutritional benefits, due to the drawbacks mentioned above, reptile experts don’t recommend feeding pears to bearded dragons too often or in large amounts. So you should feed pears in small quantities as a part of fruit or vegetable salad, and once or twice per week only.
Tips To Prepare Pears For Your Bearded Dragon
While selecting the pears for your bearded dragon, only select properly ripened and fresh pears. Fully ripped pears are softer, sweeter, and juicier; your beardie will enjoy eating them. Wash the pears well, peel them, and cut them into small pieces before offering them to your bearded friend.
Can You Let Your Bearded Dragons Eat Pear Skin, Stems, Or Seeds?
You should not allow your bearded reptile to eat a pear’s skin, stem, and seeds. These things are tough and hard to chew and can cause digestive disturbance. In addition, the pear’s skin may also contain residues of pesticides or other sprays that are toxic for the beardies.
Conclusion
Due to their omnivorous nature, bearded dragons enjoy eating fruits and vegetables along with insects. As far as pears are concerned, bearded dragons can safely eat pears. However, don’t feed more than a few tiny pieces twice a week to avoid different health issues associated with eating too many pears.
