You may already know that a bearded dragon can eat leafy greens like kale and romaine lettuce, but have you ever considered giving it Arugula?
Can Arugula be fed to bearded dragons?
Is it wise for them to try if they can, though? In this article, we’ll delve into these topics and more to get the answers you want.
Read on to find out why arugula is so great for your bearded dragon’s diet.
Affiliate links are used in this content. When you make a purchase after clicking one of our links, we get a small compensation.
Short on time? Here is a table contrasting some of our favorite options.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Arugula?
Arugula is safe for bearded dragons to consume. Bearded dragons may benefit from the calcium in arugula or rocket salad. Bearded dragons may eat arugula in moderation, however the plant contains goitrogens that are poisonous to the animals. High quantities of goitrogens have negative effects on the thyroid, liver, and kidneys of bearded dragons.
Bearded dragons need a varied diet that includes things like insects, worms, and plants like fruits, veggies, herbs, and even flowers. Your juvenile bearded dragon’s diet should consist mostly of insects and just partially of plant matter.
Baby or young arugulas are best for feeding bearded dragons since they are soft, peppery, and have a mild taste that bearded dragons love more than the stronger flavor of adult arugula leaves.
What Leafy Greens Are Good For Bearded Dragons?
Bearded dragons can safely and healthily consume a variety of leafy greens, including but not limited to turnip greens, mustard greens, escarole, collard greens, parsley, beet greens, alfalfa hay, bok choy, broccoli, clover, watercress, cilantro, red or green cabbage, green beans, kohlrabi, kale, bell peppers, and dandelion.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Arugula Daily?
Bearded dragons may safely use rocket or arugula as a calcium source. A regular diet of arugula might be harmful to a beaded dragon’s thyroid, liver, and kidneys because to the presence of goitrogens in the vegetable. Consequently, arugula shouldn’t be fed to bearded dragons on a regular basis, but rather as part of a varied and balanced diet.
Is Arugula Healthy To Bearded Dragons
| Nutrient | value |
|---|---|
| Water | 91.7 g |
| Sugar | 2.05 g |
| Fiber | 1.6 g |
| Protein | 2.58g |
| Calcium | 160 mg |
| Phosphorus | 52 mg |
| iron | 1.46 mg |
| zinc | 0.47 mg |
| selenium | 0.3 µg |
| Vitamin C | 15 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.044 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.073 mg |
| Vitamin A | 119 µg |
| Beta Carotene | 1420 µg |
| Vitamin E | 0.43 mg |
| Vitamin K | 109 µg |
Benefits Of Feeding Arugula To Bearded Dragons
Calcium Phosphorus Ratio
Bearded dragons need a lot of calcium to reach their full size and potential.
Metabolic bone disease may be avoided in young bearded dragons by feeding them a diet rich in calcium.
Vegetables and fruits are a great source of calcium for bearded dragons, but there are two things to keep in mind.
Bearded dragons can’t get enough calcium since their bodies contain high quantities of oxalate and phosphorus.
Calcium oxalates are produced when calcium interacts with oxalates, whereas calcium phosphates are produced when calcium reacts with phosphorus.
Because of the competition between these two molecules for calcium absorption, a 1:1 or 2:1 ratio of calcium to phosphorus is advised.
Produce with a greater phosphorus-to-nitrogen ratio is still acceptable, but only on a limited basis.
Nevertheless, due to their high oxalate content, fruits like avocado and vegetables like spinach should be avoided.
In contrast to phosphorus, calcium is abundant in arugula. Arugula is a complete and balanced meal, therefore you may give it to newborn bearded dragons.
Water
Bearded dragons who have trouble drinking from a bowl may be kept hydrated by giving them food with a high water content.
Read this post for more information on how to keep your bearded dragon well-hydrated.
A bearded dragon of roughly 300 grams in weight requires about 10 cc of water each day as a general guideline.
This includes both the water they consume directly and the water they absorb via their diet.
Fiber
Omnivorous reptiles, such as adult bearded dragons, who primarily consume plant matter, benefit greatly from dietary fiber since it aids in the digestive process.
The chitinous insect exoskeleton may be degraded with the help of fiber. Bearded dragons benefit from improved gut bacteria thanks to fiber.
Protein
While the amount is small, bearded dragons may get some protein from arugula. Bearded dragons need a lot of protein to thrive and develop properly.
Bearded dragons, and especially young bearded dragons, may benefit from a healthy dose of these nutrients if you feed them arugula.
Vitamins And Other Minerals
Bearded dragons, like other animals, need a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, and vitamins to be healthy and perform at their best.
Negative health consequences have been linked to vitamin deficiencies. Some of the nutrients that arugula offers bearded dragons are listed in the table above.
Bearded dragons need vitamin supplements, but an oversupply might be harmful to their health.
It is preferable to provide certain vitamins, such Vitamin A, in their precursor form, beta carotene.
Beta carotene surpluses are eliminated, but Vitamin A surpluses are retained in the liver. Vitamin A toxicity occurs when too much vitamin A is consumed.
Possible Side Effects Of Arugula
Sugar
There are always advantages and disadvantages to everything. Even arugula has both positive and negative qualities.
Bearded dragons may develop tooth decay if they are given a diet that includes arugula and other foods with a high sugar content, even though arugula alone has a relatively low sugar level.
Arugula is versatile enough to be fed either as a staple meal (i.e., every day) or as a supplement (i.e., in rotation with other foods like squash). Furthermore, arugula should be fed less sweet vegetables.
Goitrogens
Arugula, like many other leafy greens, contains goitrogens. Goitrogens, when present in large enough quantities, may be deadly to all reptiles, including bearded dragons.
Bearded dragons are able to excrete low quantities of goitrogens without any ill effects. When their levels rise, though, they will begin to disrupt the thyroid, liver, and kidney.
Thus, it is recommended that bearded dragons not be fed a diet high in cruciferous vegetables, especially when fed all at once. You may do this by feeding your bearded dragon a varied diet of veggies, flowers, weeds, and leafy greens.
How To Feed Arugula To Bearded Dragon
- Arugula may be grown at home or purchased already harvested.
- Tender and flavorful young arugula is ideal.
- Thoroughly washing the leaves
- Divide them up into bite-sized chunks
- Dragons may be enticed to eat by offering them carrots or melons.
- Mix the ingredients in a dish, then sprinkle or spray
- Take out the leftover vegetables after 10 or 15 minutes.
How Often Can Bearded Dragons Eat Arugula?
You shouldn’t give your pet arugula leaves on a regular basis, as was explained previously. Greens are an important element of a balanced diet and should be included regularly.
The lizard’s diet should include arugula leaves no more often than once per week. The oxalate chemicals in the Arugula are to blame for this.
Thyroid, liver, and kidney damage may result from exposure to the goitrogens.
When calcium combines with oxalate, it forms a chemical that irritates the digestive tract. The lizard experiences stomach discomfort as a result of this chemical as well.
Can Bearded Dragon Eat Baby Arugula?
Baby Arugula is safe for Bearded dragons to consume.
Baby arugula? Explain please. Baby arugula refers to young, tender leaves of arugula that are picked before they develop. Bearded dragons like the flavorful and nutrient-rich leaves.
Conclusion
Young bearded dragons may benefit greatly from the calcium in arugula. Arugula’s high ratio of calcium to phosphorus means that it may be consumed alone without the need for additional calcium or phosphorus.
Mixing arugula with other vegetables is a great way to spice things up and provide some welcome variety to your veggie intake.
Due to the sour flavor of arugulas, you may top it with a fruit like a melon, carrot, or apple to make it more palatable for the bearded dragon. Young arugulas are soft and will be easy for the bearded dragon to consume.