Bearded dragon diet · Fruit
Can bearded dragons eat strawberries?
Yes, bearded dragons can eat strawberries, but only as an occasional treat. Strawberries are sugary and contain more phosphorus than calcium, so a small piece now and then is fine, while a regular serving is not.
Based on USDA nutrition data and veterinary feeding guidance · Data updated October 2026
Nutrition per 100 g
| Nutrient | Amount | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Calcium | 16 mg | Needed for bone growth and strength |
| Phosphorus | 24 mg | Competes with calcium when the diet has too much |
| Ca : P ratio | 0.67 : 1 | Below the 2 : 1 or higher target for the overall diet (WSU; University of Illinois) |
| Total sugars | 4.89 g | Fruit sugar adds calories without much calcium |
| Water | 91.0 g | Mostly water, so it adds moisture but little else |
| Fiber | 2.0 g | Small amount |
| Vitamin C | 58.8 mg | High, but calcium balance is the bigger concern |
USDA FoodData Central, “Strawberries, raw,” SR Legacy, FDC ID 167762. Ratio calculated by us.
For comparison, collard greens, a staple green, have 232 mg of calcium and 25 mg of phosphorus per 100 g (FDC ID 170406), a ratio above 9 : 1. A strawberry pulls the balance the other way.
How to serve strawberries
- 01Choose a fresh, ripe berry, wash it well and cut off the green cap.
- 02Cut it into small pieces your dragon can swallow easily.
- 03Mix a piece or two into a salad of staple greens instead of serving it alone.
- 04Skip canned strawberries, jam and anything with added sugar or syrup.
How often
Fruit of all kinds combined should be a small share of the diet. VCA advises that fruit make up only 10–20% of the plant food and be fed as a treat, and Washington State University’s veterinary hospital suggests under 5% of an adult dragon’s total diet. Strawberries count toward that fruit allowance along with any other fruit you offer.
In practice that means an occasional small piece, not a daily item. Young, growing dragons need their food to be as calcium-rich as possible, so keep fruit especially limited for them.
Similar foods
- Collard greensStaple
- BlueberriesTreat
- RaspberriesTreat
- PapayaTreat
Sources
- USDA FoodData Central — Strawberries, raw (SR Legacy, FDC ID 167762)
- USDA FoodData Central — Collards, raw (SR Legacy, FDC ID 170406)
- VCA Animal Hospitals — Bearded dragons: feeding
- WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital — Bearded dragon husbandry
- University of Illinois Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory — Crickets, roaches, and worms, oh my!
- WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital — Metabolic bone disease in bearded dragons
Data updated October 2026 · How we build these pages