Yes, your bearded dragon can eat beet greens but it should be done so in moderation. Beets contain a high amount of sugar and should only be given as a treat. The greens on the other hand, are very nutritious and will provide your bearded dragon with various vitamins and minerals that it would normally get from other leafy vegetables such as collard greens and mustard greens.
Beet greens and tops can also help improve your bearded dragons’ digestion by adding roughage to its diet. They contain a high amount of fiber and water which aids in digestion as well as acts as a mild laxative.
Beets also contain high amounts of Vitamin C which are essential for healthy immune system functioning as well as bone growth and repair. Beet greens, on the other hand, are rich in calcium and vitamin A. Check out the vegetable list.
What Is The Nutritional Profile in Beets?
Beets contain vitamin A, B-complex group of vitamins (thiamin or Vitamin B1, riboflavin or Vitamin B2, niacin or Vitamin B3), C and D vitamins.
Calcium is also found in beets but it only makes up 1% of the total content per 100g serving. This calcium is combined with oxalic acid which reduces your body’s ability to absorb it. The greens on the other hand are high in iron, folate and potassium.
How Much Beet Greens Can I Give To My Bearded Dragon?
It is recommended that you feed your bearded dragon no more than 2 teaspoons of beet greens per pound that it weighs. This should be given once a day
What Are The Benefits of Feeding My Bearded Dragon Beets?
Beets contain a high amount of fiber and water which will aid in digestion and act as a mild laxative.
Beet greens also contain high amounts of calcium and vitamin A, both of which are essential for healthy immune system functioning, bone growth and repair.
The greens can help improve your bearded dragons’ digestion by adding roughage to their diet. They contain a high amount of fiber and water.
Can I Give My Bearded Dragon Kale or Collard Greens?
Yes! Just like beet greens, kale and collard greens are very nutritious for your bearded dragon either whole or cooked (steam for 8-9 minutes). Just make sure you remove the thick stems before feeding them to your bearded dragon because they can be difficult to get down.
What Are The Risks of Feeding My Bearded Dragon Beets?
One of the biggest risks of feeding your bearded dragon beets is that they can cause diarrhea if fed in high amounts. This could lead to dehydration and other digestive problems. Be careful not to overfeed it with this particular treat.
Another risk is that beets contain oxalic acid which reduces their body’s ability to absorb calcium and causes kidney stones and gallstones in humans and also in reptiles such as bearded dragons, so you should let them soak or steam the greens for at least 5 minutes before giving it to them because it helps lower the amount of oxalic acid found in these vegetables.
Also, make sure you feed this treat no more than once a day because too much calcium from any source can cause serious health problems such as Metabolic Bone Disease in bearded dragons, also known as MBD.
Vegetables Bearded Dragons Can Eat
- Can Bearded Dragons Eat Collard Greens
- Can Bearded Dragons Eat Corn
- Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cucumber
What Are Some Other Vegetables That I Can Give My Bearded Dragon?
There are a lot of vegetables that you can feed your bearded dragon such as:
- Cabbage
- Turnip greens
- Sweet potato leaves
- Mustard greens
- Collard greens.
All these veggies should be given in moderation to avoid stomach upset and other digestive problems because they contain high amounts of fiber.
What If My Bearded Dragon Won’t Eat Its Greens?
You may have to think outside the box or get creative. You can try steaming the vegetables until soft and tender before offering it to your bearded dragon. Another option is to blend them so they become smoothie-like but still with some green chunks then mix it together with a favorite fruit such as strawberries or bananas that will mask the bitterness from the leafy greens/vegetables.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Beets? – The Conclusion
While it is completely safe and healthy for your bearded dragon to eat beets in small amounts, you may want to think twice before offering this treat. They contain oxalic acid which has been known to cause kidney stones and gallstones in humans and reptiles such as bearded dragons so make sure not to feed too much of it.
Beet Greens (the non-root vegetable) also contains high amounts of calcium and vitamin A which are vital for a healthy immune system functioning, bone growth and repair however if given in high amounts can cause serious health problems such as Metabolic Bone Disease in bearded dragons, also known as MBD due to the fact that they contain a lot of calcium from any source.
So while some level of intake of beets and its greens is safe, just make sure to avoid overfeeding it as the result could be serious health problems such as Metabolic Bone Disease or other digestive problems.