Bearded dragons thrive on a diet of healthy vegetables so it’s a no-brainer that dragon owners want to know if their beardie can eat lettuce. Yes, absolutely! Bearded dragons can eat all different types of lettuce. Romaine, Iceberg, butter and leafy green lettuce are the most common types.
Now, there is a catch. Lettuce is almost 100% water so while it might keep your bearded dragon hydrated, it doesn’t pack a lot of punch in terms of vitamins and minerals. Check out the vegetables bearded dragons can eat.
Lettuce Nutritional Value
Lettuce has almost no nutritional value. One cup of lettuce is estimated to have only six calories in it, with zero fat and zero protein, which means your beardie can’t live on lettuce alone.
Bearded dragons are omnivores which means that they need a balance of vegetables, fruit, grains and insects in their diet. Just like humans, bearded dragons benefit from edible plants but they’re not enough for an entire dragon diet.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Iceberg Lettuce?
Iceberg lettuce, which is probably the most commonly eaten variety of lettuce in America, does not include a lot of nutrients that a bearded dragon needs. It has zero protein and very little calcium, which isn’t good when your beardie’s body is growing rapidly and needs to stay healthy.
For this reason, it may be best to avoid iceberg lettuce. If you do feed your beardie this type of lettuce, add some supplements such as kale or dandelion leaves into the diet so that your bearded dragon gets the food it needs for optimal health.
Vegetables
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Can Bearded Dragons Eat Romaine Lettuce?
Romaine also has zero grams of protein and only a little bit of calcium however, it is the healthiest of all the lettuces. Its calcium content is relatively higher than other lettuce, making it great for your beardie’s skeleton.
At the same time, it’s filled with antioxidants which means that if your bearded dragon does eat romaine, it will be healthier and stronger. It also possesses vitamins such as A, C and K.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Butter Lettuce?
Butter lettuce is probably the most diverse in terms of nutrients and benefits for your bearded dragon. It has zero protein but high amounts of calcium which is great when paired with vitamins such as A, B, C and K.
Butter lettuce packs more fiber into each bite than most other lettuce which makes it a good choice of green food for bearded dragons. One cup of butter lettuce has 6% of the recommended dietary allowance of protein.
It also contains vitamin A- three times the amount in iceberg lettuce- so it can help keep your beardie healthy during evolution when their skin may become more transparent. However, you shouldn’t feed them butter lettuce very often
This type of lettuce also contains magnesium and iron to help your beardie stay healthy. The best part about this type of lettuce is that, unlike romaine lettuce which can be bland, butter lettuce comes with its own unique flavor it doesn’t need to be paired with anything.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Leafy Green Lettuce?
Leafy green lettuce is the least common of all these types of lettuce, at least in the United States. It is great for your beardie because it’s filled with calcium and magnesium while also having some protein.
Bearded dragons don’t always need a specific type of food but when they do, you’ll be happy to know that leafy green lettuce can deliver on both nutrients and taste.
However, it’s hard to find in most grocery stores so if you see it then stock up!
Are There Any Other Types of Lettuce I Can’t Feed My Bearded Dragon?
Although iceberg, romaine and butter lettuce are the most common types of lettuce you’ll come across at your local grocery store, there are a few other varieties that aren’t great for bearded dragons.
Red lettuce is typically too acidic for your bearded dragon’s stomach and isn’t good for any animal. It’s especially bad if it’s combined with iceberg or romaine because the acidity can increase, making it very dangerous.
Iceberg, romaine and butter lettuce are the only three types of lettuce that you should be feeding to your beardie. These three lettuces not only give your pet all of the nutrients that they need but also come in flavors that they’ll love!
What Can I Feed My Bearded Dragon Along With Lettuce?
This is a question that every owner should ask. There’s nothing wrong with throwing a few lettuce leaves in your bearded dragon’s enclosure as an occasional treat but it shouldn’t be their main source of food.
You can easily work around this by feeding your dragon fresh vegetables and meat. This means they get the nutrition from the veggies and you still get to eat those delicious, crispy crickets!
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Lettuce? – The Conclusion
In summary, it is absolutely okay to give your bearded dragon lettuce as a treat from time to time.
However, as with any pet, you must remember that they need a healthy diet to survive and thrive, so make sure the rest of their food is nutritious enough to make up for those times you gave them lettuce!