If you have a bearded dragon, you will probably want to feed it a variety of greens. Here are some of your options: Broccoli, Endive, Watercress, and Dandelion greens. You may also want to try a blend of these foods. If you’re not sure what greens to feed your beardie, try mixing some of these foods with meat or dried insects.
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Endive
For a variety of beneficial nutrients, feed your bearded dragon endive greens. They can be shredded, mixed with other greens, or even fed as a salad. While this vegetable is high in calcium, it also contains small amounts of fat, so you may need to prepare smaller amounts for your beardie. For best results, feed your dragon small quantities several times per day. In addition, be sure to rotate between different types of greens to avoid boredom.
Endive is part of the chicory family and comes in dark, leafy greens. Their slightly bitter taste can cause intestinal upset in some beardie pets. To avoid unpleasant reactions, be sure to wash endive thoroughly before serving. You can provide your beardie with fresh endive leaves or freeze-dried leaves. Some people chop endive before feeding it to their bearded dragons. They will usually eat the leaves whole, but some beardies may not enjoy the taste. Adding other vegetables will help make endive more palatable.
Broccoli
There are many health benefits of broccoli for bearded dragons, but it can get expensive if fed daily. Herbs such as parsley and sage are excellent choices as they provide different textures, calcium, and phosphorus ratios. While herb salads are tasty, their strong flavor can be overwhelming for your beardie. Be aware that some herbs are high in oxalates and goitrogens, so you should avoid giving your dragon these foods.
Carrot tops are a favorite among beardie dragon owners because they contain vitamins and minerals. They are also a fresh alternative to heavier greens. In addition to broccoli, cactus pads are an excellent source of hydration and nutrition for beardie dragons. Make sure to remove any spines from the cactus pads or prickly pear pads before serving to your beardie. If you are feeding a supplement to your beardie dragon, be sure to cut them into pieces that are no larger than the space between its eyes.
Watercress
If you want to provide your bearded dragon with greens, watercress is an excellent choice. This plant is easy to grow and contains nutrients your dragon needs, including dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. However, it contains oxalates, a type of compound that binds with calcium. If you don’t want your beardie to have calcium deficiency, you can supplement its diet with a calcium supplement.
Fortunately, bearded dragons can eat rocket, a type of leafy green vegetable that is rich in vitamins A, C, and iron. This green is also great for your beardie’s digestive system and may help to maintain its good health. If you plan to feed your beardie rocket on a regular basis, you can feed it two or three times per week. It is not recommended to feed your beardie watercress regularly, as it may contain too much of the chemical, oxalate.
Dandelion greens
A staple diet of dandelion greens for bearded dragons should be based on their high calcium and phosphorus content, as well as their varying textures. Dandelion greens should not be the base of a daily salad; instead, they should be supplemented with other leafy greens rich in calcium, such as mustard greens. This leaves the dandelion greens as a bonus in the daily salad.
Although the dandelion greens may cause vitamin A toxicity in bearded dragons, they are packed with calcium and essential vitamins. Dandelion greens can be used in salads, soups, and teas. For best results, cook dandelion greens until tender, then chop them and add to your beardie’s daily diet. If you do not have dandelion greens in your garden, you can simply cook the greens and add them to your regular salad.
Mustard greens
Mustard greens are excellent for your bearded dragon’s diet, but you have to be sure to cook them properly and check for any possible bugs before feeding them. If you’re worried that your beardie might be allergic to mustard greens, you should skip the meal and opt for a different vegetable. Then, try to serve your beardie small amounts of the greens. Make sure to rinse them well so that they are completely safe to eat.
You can start with freshly cut grass but be careful not to give your beardie greens too often because it could contain bacteria or E. Coli. Mustard greens are an excellent source of calcium and other essential vitamins and minerals for beardie dragons. However, you should feed them as little as possible to avoid goitrogens, nutrient deficiencies, and bloating. Mustard greens are a healthy staple for your beardie dragon’s diet and should be fed to it once or twice a week.
Grape leaves
One of the most common foods for bearded dragons is grapes. However, grapes can be dangerous for your beardie’s digestion because they contain oxalates, an organic compound that binds to minerals in the body. In addition, grapes have a high water and sugar content, which is unhealthy for your dragon’s sensitive gut. Therefore, you should only feed your beardie foods that contain equal proportions of calcium and phosphorus.
Other greens that are excellent for beardies are cilantro and grape leaves. These two vegetables have different textures and have excellent calcium-to-phosphorus ratios. However, if you plan on serving your beardie salads daily, you may end up spending too much money on this food. For your beardie, it’s best to stick to greens that are low in oxalates and high in calcium and Vitamin A. You can also add carrot tops, which are abundant in calcium and vitamin A.
