Can Bearded Dragons Eat Kiwi? Yes, Peeled, Now and Then

Kiwi is safe as a treat

VCA lists kiwi alongside apple, apricot, banana, figs, grapes, guava, mango, melon, peach, pear, raspberry, star fruit, strawberry and tomato as fruits bearded dragons can eat. Kiwi is not toxic to dragons, and its tiny black seeds are soft and eaten along with the flesh.

Like all fruit, kiwi is a treat because it offers little of the mineral content a dragon needs. Its sharp, tangy flavor appeals to some dragons and not others; if yours is not interested, there is nothing lost by skipping it.

Keeping fruit from crowding the plate

The Merck Veterinary Manual identifies metabolic bone disease as the most common bone disease in reptile practice, driven by diets low in calcium relative to phosphorus, too little vitamin D3 and poor UVB lighting. Fast-growing lizards are most affected.

Merck also notes that reptiles can become obese quickly when calories exceed activity. Fruit adds sugar and takes room from greens and insects, so the safest approach is a small piece of kiwi now and then on a diet that is otherwise mostly greens and dusted insects.

How to prepare kiwi

Choose a ripe kiwi that yields slightly to pressure. Peel off the fuzzy brown skin, which is tough and hairy, then cut a thin round and dice it into small pieces. The soft seeds can stay in.

Mix the diced kiwi into the greens and remove any leftovers within a few hours. Do not offer dried kiwi, kiwi juice or fruit cups with syrup. Golden kiwi can be prepared the same way.

Offering food in the warm end of a properly heated reptile terrarium helps digestion; our bearded dragon enclosure guide explains how to set up that gradient.

Offer the food in a shallow dish inside the enclosure and remove leftovers the same day so they do not spoil in the heat; if you are still setting up, see our bearded dragon tanks and reptile supplies.

How much and how often

For an adult dragon, one thin round of kiwi, diced, once every week or two is a reasonable treat. For a juvenile, a piece the size of a fingernail occasionally is enough, since young dragons need mostly insects and finely chopped greens.

Count kiwi together with any other fruit that week. VCA's 10 to 20 percent of the plant portion applies to all fruit combined. Kiwi does not need to be offered at all for a healthy diet.

Signs to watch and when to see a vet

Cut back on fruit if your dragon starts refusing greens, gains weight or becomes less active. Merck notes that slimming an overweight reptile involves reducing calories gradually over many months, so small treats from the start are easier.

See a reptile veterinarian soon for the signs Merck links to metabolic bone disease: poor appetite, lethargy, abnormal walking, a swollen or distorted jaw or limbs, muscle twitching and tetany. Also have a dragon checked if it stops eating for several days outside of brumation.

What to feed most of the time

VCA recommends leafy greens for 80 to 90 percent of the plant portion: collard greens, turnip greens, mustard greens, dandelion greens, escarole, watercress, bok choy, cilantro and parsley. Vegetables such as green beans and bell peppers add variety.

For insects, VCA lists calcium-dusted crickets, mealworms, dubia roaches, silkworms and hornworms, gut-loaded within 12 hours of feeding. Follow VCA's calcium powder routine and provide UVB light.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.