Can Bearded Dragons Eat Grapes
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Can Bearded Dragons Eat Grapes

Grapes are a favorite snack and common garnish for many meals. But how healthy are grapes for bearded dragons and how much can you safely feed your beardie?

The quick answer is, yes bearded dragons can eat grapes. However, some varieties are better than others and you will want to limit the amount of grapes served due to their nutrition. Read below for the complete overview.

Grapes Nutrition Overview

Below is the reptile nutrition label for grapes. We created this label using data provided by the USDA and other nutrition sources.

Reptile Nutrition

Grapes (American)Per 100g Serving
Core
Calories67Cal
Water Content81.3g
Carbohydrates17.15g
Total Carbohydrate17.15g
Fiber, total dietary0.9g
Sugars16.25g
Fat0.35g
Total Fat0.35g
Total saturated0.114g
14:00.003g
16:00.098g
18:00.013g
Total monounsaturated0.014g
18:10.014g
Total polyunsaturated0.102g
18:20.079g
18:30.024g
Proteins0.63g
Protein0.63g
Alanine0.026g
Arginine0.046g
Aspartic acid0.077g
Cystine0.01g
Glutamic acid0.131g
Glycine0.019g
Histidine0.023g
Isoleucine0.005g
Leucine0.013g
Lysine0.014g
Methionine0.021g
Phenylalanine0.013g
Proline0.021g
Serine0.03g
Threonine0.017g
Tryptophan0.003g
Tyrosine0.011g
Valine0.017g
Minerals
Calcium, Ca14mg
Copper0.04mg
Iron0.29mg
Magnesium5mg
Manganese0.718mg
Phosphorus, P10mg
Potassium, K191mg
Selenium0.1μg
Sodium2mg
Zinc0.04mg
Vitamins
Vitamin A, IU100IU
Vitamin A, RAE5μg
Alpha-carotene1μg
Beta-carotene59μg
Lutein + Zeaxanthin72μg
Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)0.092mg
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)0.057mg
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)0.3mg
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)0.024mg
Vitamin B60.11mg
Vitamin B9 (Folate)4μg
Folate (from food)4μg
Folate (dietary equivalent)4μg
Vitamin C4mg
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)0.19mg
Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone)14.6μg
Choline5.6mg
Other
Oxalates2mg
pH4
Nutrition Scores
Ca:P Ratio1.4:1
Ca:P RatingGood
Safe to FeedOnce per week
HealthinessUnhealthy

Notes/Instructions: Remove stem and any seeds. Cut in half.
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Grape Health Concerns

Overall, the average grape isn't necessarily healthy or unhealthy. They provide a few nutritional benefits, but fewer than other fruits and veggies. With that said, we've found the below health concerns.

Choking Hazard

Grapes are just the right size and shape to make them a coking hazard for bearded dragons. You should cut grapes in half to reduce the risk of coking or impaction (blockage of digestive tracks).

High Sugar Content

Nearly 16% of a grape's weight is sugar, which is very high. To put this in perspective 9% of Coca-Cola's weight is sugar, so grapes contain roughly 50% more sugar than cola (by weight). Bearded dragons can handle a little sugar, but too much sugar overtime can lead to mouth decay and digestive issues.

Which Grapes are Best?

There are many varieties of grapes. Some are better for wine, some for snacks, and others both. For simplicity we will break down grapes into two different categories. American grapes and European grapes. Unfortunately, green grapes, purple grapes, and red grapes are common colors in both European and American styles so you may need to reference the grape name when purchasing in stores to identify the correct variety.

American Style Grapes

These are grapes native to North America and are often called "slip-skin" grapes since they have a soft skin which can easily be peeled away from the fruit. American grapes are the healthiest for bearded dragons since they have more calcium than European grapes. Examples of American grapes include:

Catawba Grape
Concord Grape
Isabella Grape
Muscadine Grape
Niagara Grape

European Style Grapes

These are grapes native to Europe and are considered the best varieties for winemaking. European grapes normally have a tight skin and contain less calcium than the American varieties. This means bearded dragons fed European grapes will need to be served with foods high in calcium like arugula or kale to help offset the calcium imbalance. Examples of these grapes include:

Chardonnay
Flame Seedless
Thompson Seedless
Zinfandel

How to Feed Grapes to Bearded Dragons

Due to the high sugar content of grapes we recommend using them as treats. Too many grapes can give your bearded dragon far too much sugar and may lead to digestion issues. Feeding a few grapes to your bearded dragon once or twice a week should be fine, just try to limit the serving size and follow the preparation instructions below.

Don't worry about peeling the skin from grapes. Bearded dragons should be able to digest grape skins without any issues.

How to Prepare Grapes

Follow these instructions for all varieties of grapes. You should first wash your grapes to remove any loose debris and chemicals the grapes may have come in contact with at the store or during transportation.

Only feed your bearded dragon a few grapes, so pick and choose the desired grapes. Verify the stem has been completely removed from each grape and cut the grape in half. Cut the grapes into quarters if they are still too large for your beardie (cut until the grape is no larger than the distance between your bearded dragon's eyes).

Remove all seeds from the grapes (if the variety contains seeds). Mix in with other food and serve to your bearded dragon.

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