Bearded dragons are a popular pet reptile species that require a balanced and nutritious diet to maintain their health and well-being. As a responsible owner, it’s essential to understand what foods are safe and suitable for your bearded dragon to eat.
One common question among bearded dragon owners is whether or not they can eat cabbage. In this article, we’ll explore the nutritional value of cabbage, the potential risks and benefits of feeding it to your bearded dragon, and the recommended ways to incorporate it into their diet.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cabbage
Cabbage can be included in the occasional diet of bearded dragons. Cabbage is high in vitamins and minerals, but feeding too much can be harmful to their health. It’s important to balance their diet with both protein and vegetables.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Green Cabbage
Green cabbage can be included in the diet of Bearded dragons in small quantities. It’s a nutritious and affordable vegetable that contains Vitamin C, potassium, and iron, which are all beneficial for your beardie’s health. Green cabbage is also low in fats, sugars, and oxalates. The best part is its calcium to phosphorus ratio, which is 2:1, making it great for bone health and development.
How Much To Give Bearded Dragon Green Cabbage
Bearded dragons can have green cabbage once a week as part of a balanced diet. If your bearded dragon eats other goitrogenic vegetables, only give cabbage once every two weeks.
It’s a great addition to green mixes and pairs well with protein sources like roaches and crickets, but it should not be a staple in their diet.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Red Cabbage
Yes, bearded dragons can eat red cabbage, which is also known as purple cabbage. It is more nutritious than green cabbage and contains vitamins C, K, and B6, as well as fiber, manganese, and magnesium.
Red cabbage is low in fat and sugar, which can help prevent obesity, diabetes, and weight gain in bearded dragons. The calcium to phosphorus ratio in red cabbage is not as high as in green cabbage, but it is still a good source of calcium.
How Much To Give Bearded Dragon Red Cabbage
Red cabbage is a suitable food for bearded dragons to consume multiple times per week because of its high nutritional value. However, it’s important not to overdo it and to also incorporate other greens and vegetables into their diet. Red cabbage should not be the only source of nutrition for bearded dragons.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Napa Cabbage
Napa cabbage, which is also known as Chinese cabbage, is safe for bearded dragons to consume. It has a similar nutrient profile to other types of cabbage and is high in Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and fiber. The calcium to phosphorus ratio is also acceptable, which can help prevent skeletal issues like metabolic bone disease.
How Much To Give Bearded Dragon Napa Cabbage
Bearded dragons can eat Napa cabbage once a week, as it is similar to standard green cabbage. It’s important to offer a variety of greens and vegetables to ensure a balanced diet.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Raw Cabbage
Bearded dragons can eat raw cabbage, and it is actually recommended to serve most greens and veggies to your pet in their raw state. Raw greens and vegetables maintain a greater nutrient content due to the preservation of their natural state, compared to cooked ones.
Cooking can decrease key nutrients like calcium. As long as the food is easy for your bearded dragon to eat, it is best to serve it raw.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cooked Cabbage
While it is technically possible for bearded dragons to eat cooked cabbage, it is not recommended as cooking can decrease the nutrient content of the cabbage. For example, napa cabbage contains far less calcium when cooked than it does when raw. If you are cooking cabbage for your family and want to feed some to your dragon, it is best to separate a portion before cooking if possible.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cabbage Leaves
Bearded dragons can eat cabbage leaves safely. However, it’s important to wash the leaves thoroughly before offering them to your dragon, as some varieties may contain more dirt and soil than others. Make sure the leaves are clean and free of any contaminants before feeding them to your bearded dragon.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cabbage Stalks
It’s not recommended to feed your bearded dragon cabbage stalks because they are tough and hard to digest. The stalks can also cause digestive issues and potentially lead to choking. Stick to feeding your bearded dragon the main part of the cabbage to ensure their health and safety.
Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Cabbage
Cabbage can be given to baby bearded dragons in moderation as part of their diet. Cabbage, especially bok choy cabbage, is high in calcium which is important for the bone growth of young bearded dragons.
However, their diet should primarily consist of insects and protein with a smaller amount of greens and veggies when they are young, and the plant-based diet should increase as they get older.
A good ratio is 80% insect-based and 20% plant-based for young beardies and 60% insect-based and 40% plant-based for adults.
Why It’s Important To Limit Their Intake
While bearded dragons can eat cabbage and it can be a healthy addition to their diet, it’s important to limit their intake due to the presence of goitrogens. Goitrogens can interfere with the thyroid gland and cause abnormal enlargement, leading to health issues and a drop in hormone production.
Since nearly all varieties of cabbage are goitrogenic, there’s always a risk of complications. However, your bearded dragon can still eat cabbage and other goitrogenic vegetables without issue, as long as their intake is limited.
Nutritional Value Of Cabbage
Cabbage is a nutritious vegetable that is high in vitamins C and K, as well as fiber and antioxidants. It is also low in calories and carbohydrates, making it a great addition to a healthy diet.
The nutritional value of cabbage can vary depending on the variety, but common cabbage varieties are generally high in vitamin C, vitamin K, and fiber.
Nutritional Information For Cabbage Per 100g
Note: We Have Included The Most Relevant Nutritional Information Only
| Name | Amount | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Water | 92.18 | g |
| Energy | 25 | Kcal |
| Protein | 1.28 | g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.1 | g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 5.8 | g |
| Fiber | 2.5 | g |
| Sugars | 3.2 | g |
| Calcium, Ca | 40 | mg |
| Iron | 0.47 | mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 26 | mg |
| Sodium, Na | 18 | mg |
| Vitamin C | 36.6 | mg |
| Vitamin D (D2+3) | 0 | µg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.124 | mg |
| Vitamin A RAE | 5 | µg |
| vitamin A IU | 98 | µg |
| Beta Carotene | 42 | µg |
| Vitamin E | 0.15 | mg |
| Vitamin K | 76 | µg |
Which Type of Cabbage Is Healthiest
Red cabbage is the healthiest type of cabbage to feed your bearded dragon. It contains fewer goitrogens compared to green and napa cabbage, making it safe to feed a few times a week.
Red cabbage is also rich in essential vitamins and nutrients, including Vitamin B6, folates, Vitamin K, and antioxidants, which are present in higher levels than other types of cabbage. Its nutrient content makes it a great addition to your bearded dragon’s diet.
Five of the most common varieties of cabbage are compared side-by-side in the post to help determine which is the healthiest for bearded dragons to eat.
Common Cabbage Varieties For Bearded Dragons
Note: We Have Included The Most Relevant Nutritional Information Only
| Name | Green (Kimchi) | Red | White (Bok Choy) | Savoy | Napa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | 94.3 g | 90.39 g | 95.32 g | 91 g | 94.39 g |
| Energy | 15 kcal | 31 kcal | 13 kcal | 27 kcal | 16 kcal |
| Protein | 1.1 g | 1.43 g | 1.5 g | 2 g | 1.2 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.5 g | 0.16 g | 0.2 g | 0.1 g | 0.2 g |
| Carbohydrate | 2.4 g | 7.37 g | 2.18 g | 6.1 g | 3.23 g |
| Fiber | 1.6 g | 2.1 g | 1 g | 3.1 g | 1.2 g |
| Sugars | 1.06 g | 3.83 g | 1.18 g | 2.27 g | 1.41 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 33 mg | 45 mg | 105 mg | 35 mg | 77 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 24 mg | 30 mg | 37 mg | 42 mg | 29 mg |
How to Prepare Cabbage For Your Bearded Dragon
Bearded dragons can eat cabbage, but it’s important to follow these steps to ensure it’s prepared correctly.
Choose the Right Cabbage
Select a suitable variety of cabbage and source raw and organic greens. Avoid canned or frozen cabbage, as the nutritional density is negatively impacted by cooking and freezing processes. Raw cabbage is best.
Wash & Remove Stalks
Thoroughly wash the leaves and remove the stalks. Cabbage stalks are too firm for bearded dragons to eat and can cause digestive problems.
Chop & Serve
After washing and de-stalking the cabbage, chop the leaves into small pieces that your bearded dragon can easily manage. Add the cabbage to a medley of greens and serve on a platter. It is important to monitor the health of your lizard after their first consumption of cabbage.
Monitor your lizard’s health
Keep an eye on your bearded dragon’s health after introducing cabbage into their diet. If you notice any issues, stop feeding them cabbage and seek veterinary assistance.
By following these steps, you can safely introduce cabbage into your bearded dragon’s diet. If you encounter any issues, lay off the cabbage and seek veterinary assistance.
Health Benefits of Feeding Cabbage
Cabbage is a great addition to a dragon’s diet, as it provides numerous health benefits.
Vitamin C and Immune System Boost
Green and red cabbage are rich in vitamin C, which can help absorb acid and strengthen the dragon’s immune system. This can also aid in growth and reproduction.
Calcium and Phosphorus Ratio
The calcium to phosphorus ratio of cabbage falls within the range of 1:0.7 to 1.02, which is considered suboptimal. However, having more calcium is still beneficial, as phosphorus can prevent the absorption of calcium and cause health issues.
Low in Oxalic Acid
Cabbage contains a relatively low amount of oxalic acid, which aids in the absorption of calcium for the beardie. However, the oxalate levels in their overall diet should still be considered.
Rich in Nutrients
Cabbage varieties are packed with nutrients that can help keep the heart and bones healthy. It’s a great treat to add to the dragon’s diet.
Dietary Fiber
Cabbage is also high in dietary fiber, which can benefit the gut. However, too much can lead to diarrhea, so it should be fed in moderation.
Risks of Feeding Bearded Dragons Cabbage
Feeding your bearded dragon cabbage comes with certain risks that should be considered before including it in their diet. These risks include choking hazards, digestion problems, imbalanced calcium to phosphorus ratios, and potential infestations.
Choking Hazard
Cabbage can be a choking hazard, especially for younger or smaller bearded dragons. To avoid this, it’s recommended to cut the cabbage into smaller, more manageable pieces before feeding it to your pet.
Digestion Problems
Cabbage contains fiber, which can cause digestion problems, diarrhea, and loss of appetite if consumed in large amounts on a regular basis. It’s important to monitor your bearded dragon’s digestion and adjust their diet accordingly.
Calcium to Phosphorus Ratio
Bearded dragons require a higher intake of calcium than phosphorus in their diet, but phosphorus is still essential for healthy bones. Cabbage has varying ratios of calcium to phosphorus, which makes it important to supplement your bearded dragon’s diet with calcium to maintain the proper ratio and prevent metabolic bone disease.
Infestations
Cabbage and other vegetables with large leaves can harbor pests, fungi, and bacteria. To prevent potential infestations, it is advisable to thoroughly wash and examine cabbage before feeding it to a bearded dragon.
How Often Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cabbage
Bearded dragons can consume cabbage once a week or every other week, especially if their diet includes other foods that contain goitrogens like kale. To effectively eliminate pesticides, it is recommended to wash cabbage thoroughly and discard the outer leaves.
Feed only a small handful of the fresh inner cabbage leaves, depending on the type of cabbage you’re feeding. It can be added as a topper to their salad mix.
Alternative to Cabbage for Bearded Dragon
If you’re looking for alternatives to cabbage for your bearded dragon, there are plenty of other greens and veggies that are high in calcium and great for their health. Some options include collards, grape leaves, dandelion greens, turnip greens, and watercress.
We’ve compiled a table comparing the nutritional value of each option so you can decide which ones to add to your beardie’s salad bowl.
FAQs
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Savoy Cabbage?
Bearded dragons can eat savoy cabbage, but it should only be given in moderation. This type of cabbage has imbalanced calcium to phosphorus ratio, so it’s not recommended to feed it to your bearded dragon regularly.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Chinese Cabbage?
Yes, bearded dragons can eat Chinese cabbage, also known as ‘boy choy’. It’s actually very healthy for them because it contains high levels of calcium and other key nutrients. It’s a great addition to a bearded dragon’s diet.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Purple Cabbage?
Yes, bearded dragons can eat purple cabbage (also known as red cabbage) as part of their diet. It contains moderate levels of nutrients that are healthy for them, including calcium.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat White Cabbage?
Yes, bearded dragons can eat white cabbage, which is also known as green cabbage. It provides important nutrients like calcium and can be part of a healthy diet for these reptiles.
Is Cabbage bad for bearded dragons?
Cabbage is not bad for bearded dragons as long as it is fed in moderation. However, cabbage contains goitrogens which can be harmful to tortoises if they are fed too much. To avoid health complications, it is recommended to feed cabbage to bearded dragons moderately.
How do I know if my bearded dragon likes cabbage?
The only way to know if your bearded dragon likes cabbage is to give it to them and see how they react. Start with a small amount mixed with other veggies and experiment with different combinations. Your dragon will most likely enjoy it!
How much cabbage is too much?
It’s best to give small amounts of cabbage, just enough to add to a salad. Cabbage alone is not a substantial meal, so be sure to provide other foods as well. Eating too much cabbage can cause digestive issues such as bloating and gas.
Can Bearded dragons eat sweetheart cabbage?
Yes, bearded dragons can eat sweetheart cabbage. It’s similar to green cabbage and can be given to them occasionally without any harm.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while bearded dragons can eat cabbage, it’s important to do so in moderation and with caution. As with any new food, introduce it slowly and monitor your pet’s reaction. With the right care and attention, your bearded dragon can enjoy a varied and nutritious diet that includes cabbage and other healthy greens.
