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Can Bearded Dragons eat arugula? Yes, Bearded Dragons can eat Arugula as it is a healthy green that can be fed in small amounts to your dragons once or twice a week at most to round out your dragon’s diet. Just make sure to rinse the arugula well, chop it into bite-sized pieces, and dust with calcium before feeding to your dragon.
Arugula is a leafy green vegetable that is often used in salads. It is packed with nutrients, including vitamins A, C, and K, as well as antioxidants. Some people might be wondering if it is safe for their bearded dragon to eat arugula. In this article, we will take a closer look at the nutritional value of arugula and whether or not bearded dragons can benefit from eating it.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Arugula?
Arugula is a cruciferous vegetable. Its leaves have a spicy and peppery flavor that becomes bitter with age. Wild arugula tends to be more pungent. Vegetable plays an important role in the health of bearded dragons. They make their immune system strong protecting them from many diseases.
It is advised that vegetables should make up a large portion of the diet of bearded dragons as beginner owners of bearded dragons don’t have enough information that how to prepare a balanced diet. Allowing vegetables don’t mean that all vegetables are safe for bearded dragons. They are some vegetables that can harm your bearded dragon.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Arugula Lettuce?
Yes, bearded dragons can eat arugula. Arugula (rocket salad) being the cousin of kale, cabbage and broccoli is a good source of calcium. Bearded dragons should eat arugula lettuce sparingly. Bearded dragons need a balanced diet for their growth. In growing years his diet should be made up of worms, fruits, greens, and vegetables. For young dragons, a higher percentage of their diet should constitute insects and the rest is made from fruit and plants.
Do Bearded Dragons Eat Arugula?
When you are feeding baby dragons give arugula to them because the peppery and spicy flavor is loved by young ones. They are tender also. Mature leaves of arugula are not eaten much as compared to mild flavored arugula. However, when talking about adult ones they should eat more vegetables than insects. You can also include some pre-mixed bearded dragon food into their diet.
Can My Bearded Dragon Eat Arugula?
It depends on the size of your dragon. If you are an owner of baby arugulas they will love to eat arugula in addition to their breakfast. They will love this change. But if you own adult bearded dragons then you should attention to serving a balanced diet rather than feeding arugula alone.
Is Arugula Ok for Bearded Dragons?
Arugula can play an important role in the nourishment of bearded dragons. They are rich in calcium. Calcium is one of the most important minerals in the growth of bearded dragons. Calcium loaded diet can protect young bearded dragons from metabolic bone diseases. 160mg of calcium and 52mg of phosphorus is present 100g of arugula. A high concentration of phosphorus can prevent the absorption of calcium in bearded dragons but arugula contains high calcium to phosphorus ratio.
Arugula Nutritional Information
100g of Arugula
| Water | 92% |
| Sugar | 2.05g |
| Fat | 0.66g |
| Calcium | 160mg |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.6g |
| Phosphorus | 52mg |
| Potassium | 369mg |
| Vitamin C | 15mg |
| Vitamin A | 119µg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.07mg |
| Beta-carotene | 1424µg |
| Vitamin K | 108.6µg |
| Calcium to Phosphorus Ratio | 3:1 |
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Arugula Daily?
No, on daily basis arugula should be avoided. Although arugula is a safe source of calcium for bearded dragons it also has goitrogens. Goitrogens can highly affect the kidneys, liver, and thyroid of your bearded dragon. Therefore, it is recommended that bearded dragons should eat arugula as a part of a balanced diet and not daily.
How Often Can Bearded Dragons Have Arugula?
You should not serve arugula daily to your dragon. They should only be a part of a healthy diet. Arugula should be given only one time to the dragon in a week. The reason for their avoidance is that they contain oxalates. Oxalates can be responsible for binding calcium in the internal system of your dragon causing digestion issues. Although arugula doesn’t contain much sugar if you will feed your dragon arugula with other foods that have high sugar content it would cause tooth problems for your dragon.
What Leafy Greens Are Good For Bearded Dragons?
Leafy greens that are green and form a high percentage of diet can be given to bearded dragons. These include beet greens, mustard greens, collard greens, turnip greens, broccoli, bok choy, alfalfa hay, savory, cilantro, clover, green beans, bell peppers, kohlrabi, watercress, parsley, kale, Swiss chard, escarole, and red or green cabbage.
What Greens Are Bad For Bearded Dragons?
Some greens are highly toxic and poisonous for bearded dragons. They should not be fed even in small quantities. These greens are lettuce, avocados, rhubarb, beet tops, garlic, onion, eggplant, and spinach. Celery and ice burg lettuce with high water content should also be prevented. Besides greens, some insects can also be toxic in small bites. Never feed your bearded dragon an insect that shines like fireflies. Spiders and ticks are also dangerous for bearded dragons.
How Do You Prepare Arugula For Bearded Dragons?
To feed arugula to a bearded dragon is a simple task. Baby arugula leaves are much better as they are tender.
- You can buy fresh arugulas or either grow your own.
- Wash the leaves of the arugula properly to remove dust and germs.
- Cut the arugula into smaller pieces to prevent your dragon from choking.
- You can some other fruit and vegetables like melons or carrots to motivate your dragon.
- Put the salad with arugula in a bowl and serve it to your dragon.
- You should remove the uneaten vegetables in 10-15 minutes.
Arugula can serve as an important calcium source for babies as well as juvenile bearded dragons. The calcium content of arugula is enough for a bearded dragon and there is no need for additional supplements. You can add arugula with other vegetables to add a variety and for changing the menu of your dragon. Young arugulas can be topped with melons, carrots, and other fruits to enhance the taste.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some of the most asked questions:
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Spring Mix?
Yes, bearded dragons can eat frozen or canned spring mix. At first a choosy or picky will not be interested in eating canned food. He prefers only greens and other vegetables but over time, he will become habitual of eating canned spring mix. A benefit of canned or frozen mix spring is that it is available in the supermarkets throughout the year whether in winters or summers. Canned vegetables are more nutritious than fresh ones. They can retain nutrition to the highest level possible.
In Conclusion
So, there you have it! Our final verdict on whether or not bearded dragons can eat arugula. The answer is yes, in small amounts they can enjoy this leafy green vegetable every once in a while without any problems. Just make sure to give them a varied diet with plenty of other healthy options and monitor their eating habits closely to ensure they stay healthy and happy.
