When choosing staple greens for your bearded dragon, calcium and phosphorus are not the only criteria you should consider. There are other factors, too, such as the amount of oxalates present. As a result, dandelion greens aren’t an ideal base for a salad and should be supplemented with other greens rich in calcium. For example, mustard greens are a good choice if you want to add a little variety to your bearded dragon’s diet. Also, they contain high levels of vitamin K, C, and A, making them an excellent addition to your daily salad.
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Dandelion leaves
Whether picked from your garden or in the wild, dandelion leaves make an excellent staple diet item for bearded dragons. These soft leaves have minimal risk of impaction and choking, and they are an excellent choice for bearded dragons. You should avoid picking dandelion leaves along the road, as they could have been treated with herbicides or pesticides.
While dandelion leaves are nutritious, they are not suitable as the only staple green for your beardie. While dandelion greens are rich in calcium, it is best to serve them with other greens that contain higher levels of calcium. You can also serve dandelion greens with endive and escarole, which add texture and nutrients to your beardie’s salad.
Endive
If you’re looking for a staple green to feed your bearded dragon, endive might be the answer. Although it may not have traditional vegetables, endive does contain a good amount of Vitamin K and Folic Acid. It’s safe for your beardie to eat endive as part of a balanced diet. Just be sure to cut off the bitter outer leaves. Lastly, make sure you know how to properly care for your beardie.
Endive is a dark green vegetable from the chicory family, and the leaves are slightly bitter. Before feeding endive to your beardie, be sure to wash it thoroughly. You can feed endive fresh or frozen. Chopped endive is another option, although your beardie may not like the bitter taste, so consider mixing the vegetable with other vegetables. Endive can be purchased at local farmers’ markets or grocery stores.
Escarole
Escarole is a nutritious and low-calorie green that is a staple for many pet owners. It has low sodium and low calorie content, making it a good choice as the main component of a daily salad. Escarole is often combined with other dark green vegetables, such as spinach and kale, to provide a balanced diet for your beardie. Using raw plant material is ideal for your dragon, since cooking decreases the amount of vitamins and minerals in the green.
Other healthy vegetables for your beardie include kale, dandelion leaves, and escarole. While some of these are toxic to bearded dragons, they are rich in vitamin A and calcium. Using a combination of these two vegetables in a salad will ensure your beardie eats a variety of different types of vegetables and won’t become picky about which one he prefers.
Kale
You should feed your Bearded Dragon a variety of vegetables and fruits, if you want to ensure that he gets enough calcium. Kale and collard greens are among the best choices, but you can also feed him insects. Be sure to cut insects into pieces no bigger than the space between his eyes, and do not give your beardie too many at once. The best insects to feed your Beardie are Dubia roaches and phoenix worms.
Kale is a nutritious green that is packed with vitamins and minerals. However, be sure to cut it into smaller pieces, so that your beardie won’t choke. You can also feed him directly by placing the kale leaves in a feeding bowl. The beardie can eat the kale leaves by licking your finger, or you can place them in the bowl. Alternatively, you can place a few pieces in the feeding bowl, and give your beardie a few bites.
Mustard greens
Mustard greens are an excellent source of nutrition for bearded dragons. Be sure to prepare them properly and regularly check them for bugs and worms before feeding them. Not only are mustard greens delicious, but they also provide valuable vitamins, minerals, and fiber to your pet. You can gradually increase the amount of Mustard Greens you give your beardie until they begin to enjoy them and grow healthy and strong.
Mustard greens are rich in calcium, a nutrient that your reptile needs to develop strong and healthy bones. A cup of mustard greens provides 70 mg of calcium. Since mustard greens are a healthy raw green, you can feed your beardie this vegetable multiple times each week. The high calcium and phosphorus ratio also means they’re safe to eat multiple times a week. Moreover, you can also feed them a little more often, as long as they get the necessary amount of calcium.
