Can Bearded Dragons Eat Blackberries?

Yes, bearded dragons can have blackberries when they’re fresh, plain, washed, and given in small amounts. Just remember that blackberries are a dessert for beardies and don’t belong on the everyday menu. 

While the sugar in blackberries is naturally occurring, it’s still more sugar than bearded dragons are used to. Feeding fruit too often can crowd out more nutritious foods, add unnecessary calories, and may contribute to weight gain or digestive upset over time. 

If you’d rather give your beardie something that’s a more natural fit for their diet, these lizard treats are better options: 

Blackberries aren’t a necessary part of a beardie’s diet, but they do have some small benefits when given in moderation. 

Blackberries can offer: 

• A juicy snack: Because they’re naturally high in water, blackberries can provide some hydration.  
• Naturally occurring nutrients: Blackberries contain small amounts of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, though not in high enough amounts to replace nutrient-rich greens. 
• Treat-time variety: A little fruit variety can make snack time more interesting without changing the whole diet. 

Blackberries can be bad for bearded dragons, but they’re usually only a problem if you give them too much. 

These are the biggest concerns: 

• Too much sugar: Even natural sugar adds up. Feeding fruit too often can make the diet less balanced and contribute to bacterial overgrowth, digestive upset, and dental disease. 
• Too much fruit overall: If your beardie fills up on blackberries, there’s less room for the leafy greens and insects that provide the nutrients they really need. 
• Digestive upset: Blackberries contain both water and natural sugars, so too many at once can leave some beardies with loose stools or a temporarily reduced appetite. If your beardie isn’t eating, they may miss out on the balanced nutrition they need to stay healthy. 

For most adult bearded dragons, one small blackberry every two to four weeks is really enough. All fruit, including blackberries, should make up no more than 5% of a beardie’s overall diet. 

If your pet is young, overweight, or has a sensitive digestive tract, your veterinarian may recommend offering fruit even less often. 

Blackberries don’t need much prep, but a couple of simple steps can make treat time even safer. 

If you want to share blackberries with your bearded dragon: 

• Wash them first. 
• Toss any berries that are moldy, leaking juice, or starting to collapse. 
• Tear or cut larger berries into bite-size pieces. 
• Offer only a very small amount. 
• Serve them plain, with no syrup, sugar, or toppings. 

One extra blackberry probably isn’t cause for alarm. But if your beardie got into more fruit than you intended, the most likely outcome is temporary stomach upset rather than a true emergency. 

Watch for signs such as: 

• Loose stool 
• Reduced appetite 
• Bloating 
• Lethargy 

Call your veterinarian if: 

• Your beardie ate a large amount of fruit. 
• The blackberries came from jam, pie, or other dessert. 
• Your bearded dragon stops eating or seems weak. 
• Digestive upset lasts more than a day or seems severe. 

If you’re unable to reach your veterinarian and you’re concerned about how many blackberries your beardie ate, you can also contact the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661). 

Blackberries aren’t the only fruit your beardie can enjoy from time to time. You can also share small amounts of these other beardie-friendly fruits: 

• Apples 
• Bananas 
• Blueberries 
• Grapes 
• Strawberries 
• Watermelon 

Baby beardies can have a tiny bite of blackberry once they’re eating fruits, but it’s not something they need.  

During their first year, properly sized, gut-loaded insects should still make up most of their diet, with greens gradually becoming more important as they mature. 

Yes, bearded dragons can have frozen blackberries as long as they’re fully thawed and served plain. Fresh berries are usually easier to portion, but thawed frozen blackberries work just fine in a pinch. 

Definitely skip the jam. Blackberry jam has far more sugar than your beardie should have.