Bearded dragons are renowned pets, and many people know about their eating habits. They are not picky eaters and mostly like to eat worms or small animals. However, diversity in their diet is very crucial to fulfill their nutritional needs and maintain their health.
Let us take an example! As a human being, if you eat one foodstuff daily, will you like its taste or remain healthy by eating it? Of course, your answer will be in negation, and this specific food will not be your favorite anymore. Furthermore, you will become nutritional deficient because a particular food does not contain every vitamin, mineral, fiber, etc.
The same case is with bearded dragons. They like to eat something new to avoid being bored and maintain their health with different food items.
If you are parenting a bearded dragon and not sure how to maintain their health needs through a proper diet, then no need to look further; this article will walk you through some of the best greens that you can serve to your bearded dragon.
So let us get started!
Best Greens That You Have to Feed Your Bearded Dragon
There are various best greens to serve bearded dragons. They will be delighted to eat the best greens because of their taste, softness, and texture. Some of them should provide to dragons regularly, and others must give occasionally. The list of adequate greens to feed regularly for your reptiles is present below.
- Alfalfa
It is one of the best greens for serving bearded dragons with high-quality nutrients. Alfalfa contains fibers and vitamins A & C that boost the immune system of bearded dragons. Alongside this excellent immunization support, these nutrients assist in developing better eyesight for these beautiful pets.
In addition, you should also be careful about the supply quantity of this benignant green. For example, you can provide sprouts in a minimal amount after a few weeks because they contain high phosphorus. However, you can add other parts of this green to the diet chart for serving with them regularly.
- Collard Greens
With a balanced volume of calcium to phosphorus, it is another healthy green for bearded dragons. These supplements aid bearded dragons to stay strong for a long time. Furthermore, it comprises fibers, and vitamins A, C, E, and K, but sugar and calories are very low in these best collard greens.
Moreover, this folate-rich green keeps away diseases like anemia, diarrhea, numbness and tingling in the feet and hands, muscle weakness, sense of taste, etc., from bearded dragons. Therefore, veterinary doctors advise providing collard greens for bearded dragons. They also prefer this green for their pet’s staple diet.
- Dandelion Greens
Bearded dragons like to eat dandelion greens, and these are excellent food for them too. A large sum of calcium is present in them and makes the bones stronger in these pets. A little phosphorus is also found in dandelion greens for their better growth. Vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K also exist in these fantastic greens and help to enjoy many years of life to bearded greens.
Like collard greens, you can also include dandelion greens in the bearded dragon food list. The pro point to notice is that they become the favorite food of your great pet after his first taste and will prove very fruitful for them after some time.
- Mustard Greens
Like other greens, Mustard Greens are also suitable for these pets. They have a high level of calcium in themselves. Alongside it, a minor quantity of phosphorus is incorporated in mustard greens.
The most crucial benefit of this food to bearded dragons is that they prevent the onset of Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). This life-threatening condition takes birth in those bearded dragons who eat low-calcium food and phosphorus-rich food. Therefore, you can serve them with this healthy green to protect your bearded greens from this harmful disease.
A small number of vitamins and fibers are also present in mustard greens, hindering the deficiency of other nutrients in these bearded dragons. So try to give this green to these pets for their better health.
- Endive or Escarole
From the crunchy bitter heart to the dark curly leaves, you can serve endive or escarole to your pets, bearded dragons. It consists of some quantity of calcium which can cherish and make the bones of your pets very efficiently.
If you are worried about its quantity for serving daily, experts advise that you provide endive or escarole after mixing with other greens. The reason behind this mixing is to lessen the effect of oxalates present in themselves. This mixture will also become a favorite salad of your bearded dragon within a few days.
- Prickly Pear Cactus
It is a kind of American Ornamental plant that is very excellent for bearded dragons. It endeavors edible fruits that can fulfill somewhat dietary needs of your fantastic pets.
When you start to serve your bearded dragons with this diet, you have to be careful. First of all, you should separate the spines of these greens. Or you can avail yourself of a pack of prickly pears that is free from spines from a pet store.
The excellent point about prickly pear cactus is that you can give both fruits or pads to bearded dragons, according to you, because they can eat both.
- Squash
It is the best green for your bearded dragon for the winter as well as the summer season. Squash is present in various varieties that vary according to the area where you live and grow them in your garden. Yellow squash, zucchini, buttercup, and spaghetti are some popular squashes. All these types are safe for bearded dragons.
Before giving squash to them, make sure that you have peeled off the rind and provided only flesh. This softer body of squashes is easily chewable, and bearded dragons enjoy eating them without any difficulty. In addition, you can give them these squashes daily but be careful about their quantity which should be moderate.
- Turnip Greens
If you want to provide a diet that comprises a balanced ratio of calcium and phosphorus to your bearded dragons, turnip greens are the best choice for you. Next, it has plenty of vitamins and fibers that help to regulate the digestive system of your cute pets, bearded dragons.
In addition, turnip greens are delicious as well as soft. Therefore, these pets love to eat them primarily because of their softness.
If we talk about how many turnip greens you can serve, the answer is to present an adequate or standard amount of these greens provided to them.
Know About: Top 10 Best Bearded Dragon Substrates
Some Greens That You Can Give As an Occasional Treat
Aside from the best greens for bearded dragons’ staple diet, some greens are also preferable to give to these pets as an occasional treat. The top three greens that you can serve to your bearded dragons frequently are explained below.
- Aloe Vera
It is the best-serving food to give to your bearded dragon. Firstly, you must provide aloe Vera to your pets before adding it as a part of their diet. If they like this green stuff, you can make this food choice an optional diet that you can give after some weeks.
The drawback of aloe vera is that if your bearded dragon eats it in a heavy amount, he may suffer from diarrhea. In addition, it does not contain any nutritional value in itself. Therefore, most experts advise against adding this stuff to the diet plan of bearded dragons.
- Broccoli
Broccoli is enriched with different vitamins and a small number of minerals. Both of them are very beneficial for the health of your bearded dragon. However, it contains many oxalates in itself that are dangerous for your pets.
Because of the above-mentioned negative points, many experts recommend using this green very limitedly. For example, you can serve broccoli to your bearded dragons after two weeks in a minimal amount. If you do not follow this instruction and serve them regularly with this green, your pets can fall prey to different diseases that can become the reason for their death.
- Cilantro
This green herb is another good choice for giving an occasional treat to your bearded dragon. Cilantro consists of antioxidants, calcium, potassium, manganese, and Vitamins A, C, and K, but their quantity is meager.
On the other hand, it has some oxalates too that can be harmful to your bearded dragon. Besides, Cilantro does not contain enough nutrients, which is another cause to make it often served after mixing with other salads. Therefore, please take it as an occasional staple instead of providing it regularly to your bearded dragon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do bearded dragons eat in the wild?
The diet of bearded dragons is quite different in the wild as compared to that of captivated ones. In the wild, they are active predators and prefer to eat worms or insects. According to rough data, 75% of worms are part of their food in the forest. If they find any greens, they also enjoy eating them. A list of foodstuffs that bearded dragons eat in the wild is given below.
- Crickets
- Cockroaches
- Mice
- Mealworms
- King worms
- Rocket
- Coriander
- Parsley
- Sweet Potatoes
- Watercress
Is kale good for bearded dragons?
Yes, you can feed your bearded dragons with leafy green kale, but you have to serve it very occasionally. Although it has the correct ratio of calcium and phosphorus, it contains a lot of water which can create diarrhea in your pet. Therefore, experts advise giving kale to your fantastic pet as a treat only.
Can bearded dragons eat spinach?
Yes, bearded dragons can eat spinach. However, you have to serve them in a minor amount. Spinach contains calcium and various trace minerals too. Alongside them, some oxalates are also a part of this green, so serve spinach occasionally. On the other hand, your bearded dragon can become nutrient deficient if you add spinach only to its diet plan. So be careful and provide a balanced and nutritionally rich diet.
What are the best fruits for bearded dragons?
According to an estimation, 10 percent of the diet of bearded dragons comprises fruits. They are enriched with more water and sugar content as compared to vegetables. You can add fruits occasionally, but not regularly. If you feed them sparingly, bearded dragons may face gastrointestinal problems. Some of the top mixers to add frequently to the diet chart of bearded dragons are present below.
- Melon
- Berries
- Grapes
- Figs
- Peaches
- Apples
The most crucial point to keep in mind is not feeding them with fruits like citrus, rhubarb, etc., because they are poisonous for bearded dragons.
What’s included in the baby Bearded Dragons diet?
Baby Bearded dragons prefer to eat insects over greens. The pro tip is that you should provide an adequate amount of insects as well as greens. Furthermore, it would help if you munched both of these food varieties. After serving, they will choose what to eat according to their choice. Make sure you serve them three times a day.
Summary
Bearded dragons are somewhat challenging pets to have due to their feeding habits. They require a lot of attention and diversity in food. It would be best to be careful with their calcium and phosphorus intake to stay away from dangerous diseases.
The best advice is to make a diet chart for your bearded dragons and follow it strictly. If you notice irregular behavior like itching or lack of appetite in your bearded dragon, quickly consult to reptile consultant.
In this article, we have provided a complete guide on staple best greens and occasional greens. We hope you enjoy this reading and have grabbed benignant knowledge from this piece of information.
Read More: Top 12 Best Insects For Bearded Dragons
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