Hibiscus bushes provide us with more than simply beautiful blooms for our landscapes. In the form of drinks, they are also eaten as food. The crimson herbal tea you drank could have been made with hibiscus. Hibiscus, long revered as a traditional medicine in many cultures, is now being shown to offer potential health benefits.
Curious whether hibiscus blooms are edible for bearded dragons. Just stop being perplexed! For some reason, bearded dragons love Hisbiscus flowers. In addition to being a safe food for bearded dragons, hibiscus blossoms have several beneficial effects on their health.
Can Bearded Dragons Safely Eat Hibiscus Flowers?
Hibiscus blooms are safe for bearded dragons to consume. Despite their delicate appearance, these blossoms conceal a surprising nutritional punch. Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Iron, and Calcium May Be Found in Hibiscus Flowers.
It is true that hibiscus flowers contains trace amounts of oxalates, but experts agree that this is not cause for alarm since not only would a bearded dragon have to consume an enormous amount of flowers for them to become harmful, but the blooms themselves contain only a trace amount.
Do Bearded Dragons Enjoy Eating Hibiscus Flowers?
While hibiscus blossoms are a common favorite among bearded dragons, this is by no means a universal truth. There are bearded dragons that like it and bearded dragons who don’t. Most folks I’ve spoken to about this issue agree that hibiscus blooms are a tasty treat for most bearded dragons.
What about hibiscus blossoms, can bearded dragons eat them?
Start with a little piece of hibiscus flower and observe your bearded dragon’s response to see whether you should feed them more. If your bearded dragon seems to like it, you may increase the number of pieces over time. You shouldn’t feed your bearded dragon only on hibiscus blossoms, despite their health benefits, but you may include them in their diet on occasion.
Growing your own hibiscus plants for your bearded dragon is a hobby that some people enjoy doing as a family. If you do this, watch the flowers closely and remove them once they begin to wilt to prevent the dragon from ingesting any rotten or otherwise unfit blossoms.
Are hibiscus flowers safe for Bearded Dragons to eat?
The internet is rife with videos giving advice on what to feed your Bearded Dragon, some of which are even endorsed by veterinarians. But, in one video, a Beardie can be seen chomping down on a hibiscus. The Beardie’s head is being encircled by the curling petals as it chomps down. This hilarious and cute anecdote proves without a reasonable doubt that Bearded Dragons like munching on hibiscus blossoms.
What kinds of hibiscus flowers can Bearded Dragons eat?
While there are many different types of hibiscus flowers, only a select handful should be given to your Bearded Dragon. Those from the tropics or the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis genus will do just well. China Rose, Chinese Rose, Rose Mallow, and Shoeblack Plant are just a few of the many names that this plant is known by.
There’s a good chance that blue hibiscus is OK for your Beardie, too. Yet, this flora isn’t related to the aforementioned hibiscus species. The lilac family also includes the blue hibiscus.
Be Cautious About Sourcing
Take in mind that you can’t simply offer any hibiscus flower you find outdoors to your Beardie if you decide to give it one. Be sure there are no fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, or herbicides on it. Be very careful about feeding your lizards any lizards that you find in the wild, on the side of the road, or even in your own garden.
Commercially grown flowers have been treated with fertilizer and sometimes include insecticides, herbicides, and plant growth regulators applied topically. If you want to feed your Bearded Dragon hibiscus, you must be absolutely certain that it is a natural, organic product.
Before Giving Hibiscus to your Bearded Dragon
Be care to wash the petals and leaves of the hibiscus flower in warm water after you’ve located one that is suitable for your Beardie. Plant it in new soil and let it sit for a few days to dilute any lingering pesticides.
How often should Bearded Dragons eat hibiscus flowers
Feeding your Beardie hibiscus flowers, or any other kind of flower, should always be done in moderation. Make sure they are getting a healthy dose of both plant- and animal-based proteins in their daily diet.
Although flowers can have a role, it’s important to provide your Bearded Dragon with a varied diet full of essential nutrients for optimal health. Thus, a bouquet of flowers need to be a special occasion. Feeding your lizard hibiscus more than twice a week is not recommended.
Monitor After Feeding Flowers
Beardies are sensitive to plant foods, so it’s important to watch them closely after they consume hibiscus or any other flowers to see how they respond. Hibiscus blooms are perfectly OK for them to consume, although your Beardie may not like the flavor.
Take note of the following red flags. Stop feeding your Bearded Dragon hibiscus blossoms if you see any of the following after doing so:
- Diarrhea
- Soft Stool
- Changes in Feces; Urination
- Labored Breathing
- Changes in General Respiration
- Excessive Water Drinking
- Excessive Rubbing of the Face or Mouth
- Hypersalivation
- Increased Activity
- Weight Loss
- Lethargy
Is there anything else that can contribute to a Bearded Dragon’s intolerance to hibiscus flowers?
Nevertheless, there are exceptions to the rule and hibiscus may not always be suitable for Beardies to consume. Hibiscus blooms should be given to adult Beardies rather than younger birds. Reptile hatchlings have a higher protein and meat need than adult lizards.
Their tolerance for hibiscus blossoms varies depending on a number of factors, including the Beardie’s age, size, water intake, the season, their body temperature, their general health, any prior health concerns, and so on. These factors will influence how the lizard’s general system and health respond to the flowers.
Can Bearded Dragons eat any other flowers besides hibiscus flowers?
Bearded Dragons may safely consume a wide variety of flowers in addition to hibiscus. A good rule of thumb is to not feed your lizard any flowers you are unsure about. This is a short selection of common flowers that may be safely fed to Beardies by their owners:
- Astilbe
- Borage
- Carnation
- Chamomile
- Chinese Lantern
- Red or White Clover
- Dahlia (flower head only)
- Daylilies
- Geranium
- Impatiens
- Johnny Jump Ups
- Lilacs
- Hollyhocks
- Nasturtiums
- Pansies
- Petunia Hybrids
- Phloxes
- Roses (petals only)
- Violets
- Yucca (flowers only)
Conclusion
Keep in mind that your bearded dragon, like any other animal, is an individual with specific nutritional requirements. Bearded dragons may benefit from eating hibiscus blossoms due to their high nutritional value. Carefully observe your dragon after introducing these flowers to its diet, and discontinue feeding them if any negative effects appear.
Keep in mind that not all bearded dragons have the same nutritional requirements. Hence, if you want to supplement your bearded dragon’s diet, hibiscus flowers are a good choice. In any case, it’s best to introduce it as a special treat once in a while rather than make it a regular part of their diet.
Hibiscus blossoms are a great way to spice up your bearded dragon’s diet and provide them with a few extra micronutrients.