{"id":96289,"date":"2022-04-22T12:22:55","date_gmt":"2022-04-22T12:22:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-bearded-dragons-eat-prickly-pear-pads\/"},"modified":"2022-04-22T12:22:55","modified_gmt":"2022-04-22T12:22:55","slug":"can-bearded-dragons-eat-prickly-pear-pads","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-bearded-dragons-eat-prickly-pear-pads\/","title":{"rendered":"Can bearded dragons eat prickly pear pads?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_17 counter-hierarchy counter-decimal ez-toc-grey\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"display: none;\"><i class=\"ez-toc-glyphicon ez-toc-icon-toggle\"><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1\"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-bearded-dragons-eat-prickly-pear-pads\/#Can_bearded_dragons_eat_prickly_pear_pads\" title=\"Can bearded dragons eat prickly pear pads?\">Can bearded dragons eat prickly pear pads?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-bearded-dragons-eat-prickly-pear-pads\/#Can_my_bearded_dragon_eat_cactus\" title=\"Can my bearded dragon eat cactus?\">Can my bearded dragon eat cactus?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-bearded-dragons-eat-prickly-pear-pads\/#What_kind_of_cactus_are_good_for_bearded_dragons\" title=\"What kind of cactus are good for bearded dragons?\">What kind of cactus are good for bearded dragons?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-bearded-dragons-eat-prickly-pear-pads\/#What_is_the_healthiest_fruit_for_bearded_dragons\" title=\"What is the healthiest fruit for bearded dragons?\">What is the healthiest fruit for bearded dragons?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-bearded-dragons-eat-prickly-pear-pads\/#Can_bearded_dragons_eat_cactus_pads\" title=\"Can bearded dragons eat cactus pads?\">Can bearded dragons eat cactus pads?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-bearded-dragons-eat-prickly-pear-pads\/#Are_prickly_pear_pads_edible\" title=\"Are prickly pear pads edible?\">Are prickly pear pads edible?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-bearded-dragons-eat-prickly-pear-pads\/#How_do_I_give_my_bearded_dragon_cactus_pad\" title=\"How do I give my bearded dragon cactus pad?\">How do I give my bearded dragon cactus pad?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-bearded-dragons-eat-prickly-pear-pads\/#What_cactus_are_safe_for_bearded_dragons\" title=\"What cactus are safe for bearded dragons?\">What cactus are safe for bearded dragons?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-bearded-dragons-eat-prickly-pear-pads\/#Is_cactus_safe_for_reptiles\" title=\"Is cactus safe for reptiles?\">Is cactus safe for reptiles?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-bearded-dragons-eat-prickly-pear-pads\/#How_do_I_prepare_my_bearded_dragon_for_cactus\" title=\"How do I prepare my bearded dragon for cactus?\">How do I prepare my bearded dragon for cactus?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-bearded-dragons-eat-prickly-pear-pads\/#Can_bearded_dragons_eat_fresh_cactus\" title=\"Can bearded dragons eat fresh cactus?\">Can bearded dragons eat fresh cactus?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-bearded-dragons-eat-prickly-pear-pads\/#Can_a_cactus_hurt_a_bearded_dragon\" title=\"Can a cactus hurt a bearded dragon?\">Can a cactus hurt a bearded dragon?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-bearded-dragons-eat-prickly-pear-pads\/#What_succulents_can_I_put_with_my_bearded_dragon\" title=\"What succulents can I put with my bearded dragon?\">What succulents can I put with my bearded dragon?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-bearded-dragons-eat-prickly-pear-pads\/#What_is_the_healthiest_food_for_bearded_dragons\" title=\"What is the healthiest food for bearded dragons?\">What is the healthiest food for bearded dragons?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-bearded-dragons-eat-prickly-pear-pads\/#How_often_should_I_feed_my_bearded_dragon_fruit\" title=\"How often should I feed my bearded dragon fruit?\">How often should I feed my bearded dragon fruit?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-bearded-dragons-eat-prickly-pear-pads\/#What_kind_of_cactus_can_a_bearded_dragon_eat\" title=\"What kind of cactus can a bearded dragon eat?\">What kind of cactus can a bearded dragon eat?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-bearded-dragons-eat-prickly-pear-pads\/#Can_you_eat_prickly_pear_pads_raw\" title=\"Can you eat prickly pear pads raw?\">Can you eat prickly pear pads raw?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-bearded-dragons-eat-prickly-pear-pads\/#What_can_I_do_with_prickly_pear_cactus_pads\" title=\"What can I do with prickly pear cactus pads?\">What can I do with prickly pear cactus pads?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-bearded-dragons-eat-prickly-pear-pads\/#Is_prickly_pear_skin_poisonous\" title=\"Is prickly pear skin poisonous?\">Is prickly pear skin poisonous?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-bearded-dragons-eat-prickly-pear-pads\/#How_do_I_feed_my_bearded_dragon_cactus_pad\" title=\"How do I feed my bearded dragon cactus pad?\">How do I feed my bearded dragon cactus pad?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-bearded-dragons-eat-prickly-pear-pads\/#Can_bearded_dragon_eat_cactus_pads\" title=\"Can bearded dragon eat cactus pads?\">Can bearded dragon eat cactus pads?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-bearded-dragons-eat-prickly-pear-pads\/#What_kind_of_cactus_can_bearded_dragons_eat\" title=\"What kind of cactus can bearded dragons eat?\">What kind of cactus can bearded dragons eat?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-bearded-dragons-eat-prickly-pear-pads\/#What_kind_of_cactus_can_I_put_in_my_bearded_dragons_tank\" title=\"What kind of cactus can I put in my bearded dragons tank?\">What kind of cactus can I put in my bearded dragons tank?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-bearded-dragons-eat-prickly-pear-pads\/#Can_Beardies_have_cactus\" title=\"Can Beardies have cactus?\">Can Beardies have cactus?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-bearded-dragons-eat-prickly-pear-pads\/#Are_cactus_safe_for_bearded_dragons\" title=\"Are cactus safe for bearded dragons?\">Are cactus safe for bearded dragons?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_bearded_dragons_eat_prickly_pear_pads\"><\/span>Can bearded dragons eat prickly pear pads?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Prickly Pear (Opuntia Cactus) <b>Prickly pear is one of the cacti bearded dragons enjoy eating. Although native to the American&#8217;s, it&#8217;s been dispersed worldwide by humans. The plants are grown as human food and used as decorative plants in homes.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_my_bearded_dragon_eat_cactus\"><\/span>Can my bearded dragon eat cactus?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Prickly pear cacti are not only edible for bearded dragons, but some keepers offer their lizards prickly pear cactus pads specifically as food.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_kind_of_cactus_are_good_for_bearded_dragons\"><\/span>What kind of cactus are good for bearded dragons?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Prickly pear cactus<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_healthiest_fruit_for_bearded_dragons\"><\/span>What is the healthiest fruit for bearded dragons?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>The following fruits are good options to feed your bearded dragon:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Apples.<\/li>\n<li>Bananas.<\/li>\n<li>Blueberries.<\/li>\n<li>Grapes.<\/li>\n<li>Strawberries.<\/li>\n<li>Watermelon.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_bearded_dragons_eat_cactus_pads\"><\/span>Can bearded dragons eat cactus pads?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cactus? <b>Bearded dragons can eat cactus. These plants are a perfect staple food for your pet.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_prickly_pear_pads_edible\"><\/span>Are prickly pear pads edible?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>There are two edible parts of the prickly pear plant: the pad, or nopal, of the cactus which is often treated as a vegetable, and the pear, or fruit.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_give_my_bearded_dragon_cactus_pad\"><\/span>How do I give my bearded dragon cactus pad?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Prickly pear cactus<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_cactus_are_safe_for_bearded_dragons\"><\/span>What cactus are safe for bearded dragons?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Opuntia cacti are naturally high in calcium, moisture, and other minerals which are a great snack for your Dragon. With their thick protective skin it will take your dragon some work to get this cacti down to the stump. These cacti are spineless and 100% harmless to your dragon.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_cactus_safe_for_reptiles\"><\/span>Is cactus safe for reptiles?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The Christmas cactus is a nutritious succulent for most reptile species. <b>They are safe for reptiles since they don&#8217;t have spines on the stem.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_prepare_my_bearded_dragon_for_cactus\"><\/span>How do I prepare my bearded dragon for cactus?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>AcocantheraAmaryllisAzaleaPeriwinklePeyotePoison hemlockPoison oakPoison sumacPokeweedPrimrosePrivetRed mapleRosary peaShamrock plantSnowdrop13 more rowsx26bull;10-Oct-2016<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_bearded_dragons_eat_fresh_cactus\"><\/span>Can bearded dragons eat fresh cactus?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Opuntia cacti are naturally high in calcium, moisture, and other minerals which are a great snack for your Dragon. With their thick protective skin it will take your dragon some work to get this cacti down to the stump. These cacti are spineless and 100% harmless to your dragon.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_a_cactus_hurt_a_bearded_dragon\"><\/span>Can a cactus hurt a bearded dragon?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>So after some time and nutritional analysis we found that <b>chopped up fresh cactus leaves are a fantastic staple for your Bearded Dragons! After some experimenting (making sure our beardies would eat them) we found that cactus was a huge success!<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_succulents_can_I_put_with_my_bearded_dragon\"><\/span>What succulents can I put with my bearded dragon?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Although bearded dragons would likely encounter cacti in their native habitat, <b>having them in their enclosure can be dangerous.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_healthiest_food_for_bearded_dragons\"><\/span>What is the healthiest food for bearded dragons?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Protein: Bearded dragons enjoy <b>live mealworms, waxworms and crickets that have been gut loaded, which means fed lizard-friendly vitamins and nutrients. Young beardies should eat once a day; adults may only need to dine every two days. If beardies don&#8217;t finish their entire meal, try feeding them less next time.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_often_should_I_feed_my_bearded_dragon_fruit\"><\/span>How often should I feed my bearded dragon fruit?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Between 4 and 12 months of age, give them 10-15 Dubias twice daily, working your way down to one feeding by the time they&#8217;re one year old. For an adult bearded dragon that is 18 months and older give them 10-20 Dubias just one to three times a week, depending on their weight.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_kind_of_cactus_can_a_bearded_dragon_eat\"><\/span>What kind of cactus can a bearded dragon eat?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Opuntia cacti<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_you_eat_prickly_pear_pads_raw\"><\/span>Can you eat prickly pear pads raw?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Prickly pear pads, known as nopales in Spanish, are edible. In fact, they&#8217;ve been food for thousands of years among Southwestern indigenous cultures. Fresh ones are available year-round in Mexican markets and some grocery stores. Choose small or medium-size, firm pads.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_can_I_do_with_prickly_pear_cactus_pads\"><\/span>What can I do with prickly pear cactus pads?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>No. Although there are many different forms of cactus fruits, <b>none of them is toxic. All cactus fruits are safe to eat. The only difference you may notice among fruits from different cacti species is that some are more bitter and sour than others.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_prickly_pear_skin_poisonous\"><\/span>Is prickly pear skin poisonous?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>So, a cactus pad has a <b>mildly sour taste, which is close to that of asparagus or green beans and other vegetables. The most common edible cacti are the Opuntia species, of which the Prickly pear cactus is famous for its fruit too. The cactus pads have a sour taste, whereas the fruit is more of a bubbly punch.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_feed_my_bearded_dragon_cactus_pad\"><\/span>How do I feed my bearded dragon cactus pad?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Vertically slice the prickly skin before peeling it off. After that, Peel the whole pad and then cut the pieces into bits. You can place the pieces in a container and sprinkle some calcium, then shake. Always try to chop off as much skin as you can.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_bearded_dragon_eat_cactus_pads\"><\/span>Can bearded dragon eat cactus pads?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Since the plant is abundant in some areas, many bearded dragon owners want to know if the prickly pear cactus is safe for their beardie. <b>Prickly pear cactus is highly nutritious and completely safe to feed a bearded dragon as long as the spines are removed<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_kind_of_cactus_can_bearded_dragons_eat\"><\/span>What kind of cactus can bearded dragons eat?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Opuntia cacti<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_kind_of_cactus_can_I_put_in_my_bearded_dragons_tank\"><\/span>What kind of cactus can I put in my bearded dragons tank?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Prickly pear cacti are not only edible for bearded dragons, but some keepers offer their lizards prickly pear cactus pads specifically as food.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_Beardies_have_cactus\"><\/span>Can Beardies have cactus?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>So after some time and nutritional analysis we found that <b>chopped up fresh cactus leaves are a fantastic staple for your Bearded Dragons! After some experimenting (making sure our beardies would eat them) we found that cactus was a huge success!<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_cactus_safe_for_bearded_dragons\"><\/span>Are cactus safe for bearded dragons?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Prickly pear cacti are not only edible for bearded dragons, but some keepers offer their lizards prickly pear cactus pads specifically as food.<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Table of Contents Can bearded dragons eat prickly pear pads?Can my bearded dragon eat cactus?What kind of cactus are good for bearded dragons?What is the healthiest fruit for bearded dragons?Can bearded dragons eat cactus pads?Are prickly pear pads edible?How do I give my bearded dragon cactus pad?What cactus are safe for bearded dragons?Is cactus safe&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"spay_email":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-96289","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96289"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=96289"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96289\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=96289"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=96289"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=96289"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}