One of the most common reptiles kept as pets are bearded dragons. Although the colors and patterns of these lizards vary, they all have a passion for eating veggies in common. Can bearded dragons, though, consume chives?
An onion variety that is frequently used in cooking is chives. They are a good source of vitamins A and C and have a moderate flavor. They are available all year long and can be eaten either raw or cooked.
Chives are OK for bearded dragons to eat, however they should only be used as a garnish. Chives should only be fed in moderation to bearded dragons because excessive amounts can upset their digestive systems.
Chives are a wonderful source of nutrition, so the lizard can occasionally eat them. Nevertheless, they contain a lot of oxalic acid, which is toxic.
Can bearded Dragons Eat Chives Whether Regularly or Occasionally?
Bearded dragons are able to consume modest amounts of chives on occasion without experiencing any negative health effects. However, the high levels of Vitamin A, calcium, phosphorus, and oxalic acid in these plants could harm the reptile’s health.
Thus, beardies should only consume a tiny quantity of chives infrequently. Much better would be to completely stop giving them this stuff.
What Could Happen if Bearded Dragons Eat Too Many Chives?
As previously noted, chives contain minerals that are toxic to beardies and could lead to the development of health issues like:
1. Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD)
This disease often affects young beardies due of a calcium deficit. Because of this, MBD-affected dragons have weak, brittle, and thin bones, which makes mobility challenging.
While chives contain a lot of calcium, they also contain a lot of oxalic and phosphoric acids, which bind to calcium and hinder its absorption into the circulation. therefore causing illnesses linked to calcium insufficiency.
2. Vitamin A Toxicity
The plant may also be hazardous to your beardies due to the high levels of vitamin A it contains. Beardies may have remarkable weakness and swelling of various body regions, including the neck and eyes, as a result of this illness.
3. Digestion Problems
Acidic foods may cause severe irritation to the stomach lining of these reptiles. As oxalic acid is present in chives, they may cause gastrointestinal distress such as diarrhea.
The inflammation in your pet’s digestive tract may cause severe dehydration and other problems.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Spices Aside From Chives?
Bearded dragons can consume a variety of herbs and spices, including bell pepper, parsley, basil, and lavender. To prevent health issues, kids should only consume these foods seldom and in moderation.
Onions, garlic, and chili peppers are among the spicy spices that beardies should never consume since they are harmful to reptiles and often induce gastrointestinal discomfort.
So, it is best to stay away from meals that include herbs and spices if you are unclear of their impact on your pet’s health. If you want to be sure which herbs and spices your pet may safely consume and which ones they should avoid, contact your veterinarian.
How to Include Spices in Bearded Dragons’ Diet?
Large quantities of spices might be unhealthy for your beardy, but a correct proportion adds taste and nutrients to their food. Thus keep the following in mind while adding these foods to your scaly friend’s diet:
1. Only Serve Spices Safe for Beardies
Decide which herbs and spices, such as bell peppers, lavender, and basil, your scaly companion may eat first. As previously noted, seek a veterinarian’s advice on foods that are suitable for bearded dragons and steer clear of anything harmful to the reptile, such as onions and garlic.
Moreover, watch out for dangerous compounds like pesticides that certain plants may contain. So, always use herbs and spices from your own garden or a reputable supplier to feed your pet.
2. Offer Occasionally in Small Amounts
Your pet should not be exposed to more than a few of these plants. Thus, they should only be used as a garnish on the reptile’s main course. As an added precaution, you should only season your meals with herbs and spices once every few weeks.
3. Don’t Force Feed Your Pet
Never make your bearded friend consume foods containing herbs and spices if they choose to do so. Much like humans, reptiles have certain tastes when it comes to what they eat.
The first step is to introduce one spice at a time to your dragon. If they consume what you give them, you know the dish is delicious.
How to Know if a Bearded Dragon Experiences Poisoning After Eating Spices?
Parsley, basil, lavender, and bell pepper are just some of the plants and spices that bearded dragons may consume. To prevent health issues, people should consume these foods in moderation and only on occasion.
Spicy foods, like as onions, garlic, and chili peppers, are harmful to reptiles and may induce stomach upset in bearded dragons.
If you’re not sure how certain herbs and spices may affect your pet’s health, you should probably avoid serving them to them. You may consult with your vet to verify which spices and herbs are suitable for your pet to consume.
What Plants Can Bearded Dragons Eat?
It is safe for bearded dragons to eat a wide variety of vegetation, including fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
Cabbage, kale, squash, and green beans are some examples of vegetables they can consume. Vegetables with a high acid content, like eggplant, and those with little nutritional value, such iceberg lettuce, should be avoided.
Fruits like melons, apples, and bananas are also suitable for bearded dragons. A maximum of 20% of your pet’s diet should come from these foods. Furthermore, pineapple and citrus fruits, which are high in acidity, should be avoided.
Roses, lavender, sunflowers, carnations, and hibiscus are among the edible flowers that dragons may sometimes consume. But, you should stay away from flowers like buttercup and ivy that might be harmful to your pet.
Why Is Too Many Chives Harmful To Bearded Dragons?
Since that chives are regarded as a nutritious food for humans, it stands to reason that they would be advantageous for bearded dragons as well. But, chives are quite strong in oxalic acid, as was already said, and if you give your dragon too much of them, this can be very hazardous.
Oxalic acid can also interfere with a bearded dragon’s ability to digest food. Your dragon may start to lose weight if he has trouble digesting chives, which could cause other issues in the future.
Calcium Deficiency
Bearded dragons need calcium in order to properly develop and grow. They risk developing various health issues later in life if they don’t receive enough calcium, which will prevent their bones from developing properly.
For this reason, it’s crucial to ensure that your bearded dragon eats a balanced diet that’s high in calcium.
Metabolic Bone Disease
Metabolic bone disease is more common in young bearded dragons who consume a diet high in oxalic acid-rich plants like chives.
When reptiles don’t obtain enough calcium in their diets, they get metabolic bone disease. The symptoms include fatigue, lack of appetite, and perhaps convulsions.
Kidney Stones
In addition to being a risk factor for developing kidney stones, chives pose a threat to bearded dragons. Struggling with the discomfort and complications of kidney stones without treatment is no laughing matter.
Chives may be beneficial to human health, but they should be avoided while feeding a bearded dragon.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Chives Flowers?
In addition to being edible, chives blossoms are a wonderful source of nutrients and have a mild onion flavor, unlike their stems. The blossoms are mainly utilized for savory recipes and are actually rather crunchy.
But how well do they do with bearded dragons? Despite the lack of data, it makes sense that bearded dragons might consume chives blooms without any issues.
Bearded dragons should only be given chives blossoms in very small amounts, just like the stems. They only require a tiny pinch or two to get the rewards of these strong blossoms.
Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Chives?
Baby bearded dragons shouldn’t consume chives, so no. While they are still growing and developing, they require a diet rich in calcium to support the development of their bones.
Chive can be advantageous for adult lizards, but too much of it may upset the body chemistry of a young dragon.
Baby turtles who eat chives run the risk of developing bone illness and shell deformity.
The best diet for them is live mealworms or crickets, which will give the baby the ideal ratios of protein and other minerals required for growth.
However, since it is not a staple of their diet, adults should only have it occasionally.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cooked Chives?
Indeed, cooked chives are edible to bearded dragons. The issue with this is that when they are cooked, part of their nutritious content is lost.
Having said that, chives are a kind of onion, and heating them will weaken their flavor and reduce their potency.
But if your dragon won’t eat chives, don’t keep adding them to their meal—just as with any other food. It’s better to feed beardie chives uncooked if you’re providing them to your pet for their nutritional worth.
Summary
Chives are a fantastic vegetable to include in your bearded dragon’s diet, as you can see! Young dragons shouldn’t consume them, though, as doing so could develop metabolic bone disease or other health issues.
Adult lizards can safely consume them, but only as rewards, and they shouldn’t make up more than 5% of their daily diet.
Chives are excellent if added to the right vegetables because they are also nutrient-dense, which will help your pet even more.
In order to prevent the loss of any nutrients while cooking, it is recommended to serve chives raw or very lightly cooked.
While giving this healthful delicacy, the benefits of chives outweigh the hazards; nonetheless, moderation is still a must. You can ensure the long-term health and happiness of your bearded dragon by following these suggestions.