Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cabbage?
Bearded dragons require a varied diet to thrive. This should include greens and vegetables that are low in both fat and sugar content.
Raw cabbage can provide your pet with essential vitamins, such as Vitamin C, A and fiber; plus it contains calcium in abundance! But be wary that raw cabbage may contribute to goitrogenicity if consumed regularly as an additional food source.
can bearded dragons eat cabbage
Raw
Bearded dragons will eat raw cabbage leaves as long as they have been properly washed. Cut them up into small pieces and mix with other veggies before giving it to your reptile; washing will help eliminate any dirt, pesticides or chemicals on its surface that might contaminate it.
Raw cabbage offers moderate levels of calcium, making it an excellent addition to a reptile's diet when combined with foods rich in this mineral like collard greens, bok choy, turnip greens, mustard and dandelion greens, alfalfa hay or chow, parsley and Swiss chard.
Most varieties of cabbage offer an ideal calcium to phosphorus ratio for reptile skeletal health. Savoy cabbage does have an undesirable higher ratio of phosphorus to calcium which should only be fed occasionally.
Care should be taken to limit how much cabbage your beardie receives as too much may lead to bloat, an issue associated with high fiber foods such as legumes and fruit.
Cooked
Feeding cooked cabbage as part of your beardie's diet is fine as long as it does not become the sole food source. Cabbage provides essential vitamins such as C and A while also offering iron, potassium, calcium phosphorus and fiber benefits. When providing cabbage to your beardie for consumption it should always be combined with other vegetables and greens so they receive an array of essential nutrients.
Napa cabbage (also referred to as Chinese cabbage) can also be fed to beardies and offers similar nutrition without goitrogens that could harm their thyroid glands.
Ideally, when providing cooked cabbage to your beardie, only give small portions each day as too much may cause issues with its digestive tract. Also ensure to regularly rinse their leaves to remove dirt and soil particles; and mix it in with other greens such as bok choy, collard greens, mustard turnip greens dandelion greens parsley basil fennel watercress etc.
Leaves
Bearded dragons can consume cabbage leaves, but these must first be thoroughly washed to remove pests, fungi and bacteria which can pose health threats to reptiles. Also, these leaves tend to contain dirt which could potentially cause digestive issues for your pet; so for best results provide them in bite-size pieces.
Green and napa cabbage provide moderate levels of calcium for reptiles. You can incorporate both into a balanced diet alongside other leafy greens like bok choy which has an ideal calcium to phosphorus ratio.
Though all varieties of cabbage are relatively low in fat content, it is still wise to limit how often your reptile feeds on it as this could easily lead to obesity in them. They are also relatively low in sugar content - beardies should get their necessary fat and sugar needs through high quality insects or other sources in their diets.
Savoy
Bearded dragons are omnivorous reptiles, yet require a substantial portion of plant-based foods for healthy development and growth. Leafy greens provide abundant essential vitamins and nutrients - these should make up a good part of their diet; some examples include collard greens, turnip greens, kale, bok choy and alfalfa hay or chow.
Prior to feeding a bearded dragon cabbage, it is crucial that it is thoroughly cleaned in order to eliminate residue and debris that could potentially cause digestive issues down the line. You should also remove stalks as these tend to be too tough for most dragons to chew through and digest.
While most varieties of cabbage are safe for beardie reptiles, savoy cabbage contains lower levels of calcium and more phosphorus compared to its counterparts - which could put your reptile at risk of metabolic bone disease if eaten frequently.
No matter which variety you opt for, it's essential that you give it in small doses. Cabbage contains low amounts of fat and should make up no more than 30% of their diet. Combine cabbage with other high-protein veggies as well as various insects for a complete and balanced meal.
Napa
Napa cabbage (also referred to as Chinese cabbage) provides an ample source of calcium per serving and should be introduced gradually into your reptile's diet for best results; excess consumption could result in bloat.
As a rule of thumb, raw greens and vegetables should account for 80% of your bearded dragon's diet, as these provide essential vitamins and minerals. They should also be combined with foods that provide an appropriate balance of proteins, carbs and healthy fats.
Collard greens, mustard greens, bok choy, turnip greens, alfalfa hay or chow, kale, parsley Swiss chard watercress clover savory kohlrabi and red cabbage can also be included as food sources in your beardie's diet. However, all foods should be thoroughly washed first to prevent choking hazards; and placed into shallow clean dishes so your beardie can easily eat from them.