While it does offer a little Vitamin A, C, and K, folate, and potassium, all of which your beardie needs, it is just not very nutrient dense, and not a great source of calcium. Possibly the most popular salad lettuce, iceberg lettuce is very lacking in nutrients where bearded dragons are concerned. This is the case with similar lettuce varieties as well, like iceberg lettuce. It has some, but not enough to make it worth much in your beardie’s diet. The other reason that romaine is not a great staple green for bearded dragons-it’s not rich in calcium. Your beardie will enjoy more nutrients in the same amount of food. If you are going to make your dragon a salad, you could opt for arugula, kale, and collard greens instead of a romaine lettuce spring mix. There is so much water in romaine lettuce and comparatively so little nutrients. The issue really is that bearded dragons should be feasting on vegetables that are a lot more nutrient dense. The problem with giving your bearded dragon romaine lettuce isn’t that it will be harmful necessarily (besides that it can cause diarrhea in large amounts). A bit of cabbage, strawberry, apples, grapes, cucumber, raspberry, or blackberry will work just as well, and offer a little more nutritional value than romaine lettuce. However, there are more nutritious options you can consider before giving your dragon romaine lettuce. (Foods that have more phosphorus than calcium can cause metabolic bone disease, so romaine lettuce is in the clear where that’s concerned.)Īdditionally, romaine lettuce is made up of 95% water, so it is technically available as an option if your beardie needs a quick hydration boost. Romaine lettuce has a beardie-safe calcium to phosphorus ratio, at 1.1:1. However, just because it is more nutritious than the other lettuces doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a great vegetable for your bearded dragon to eat.Īs far as nutrients go, romaine lettuce contains Vitamins A, C, and K as well as some calcium, folate, potassium, and magnesium. So if you are going to feed your bearded dragon lettuce, romaine would be the best choice. Of the popular salad lettuces, romaine offers the most nutritional value for bearded dragons and humans alike. With a refreshing crunch, romaine is a great option for salads, tacos, and more. We’ll take a look at a few of the popular varieties you often find in salads and determine if bearded dragons can (or should) eat them. Some varieties are less valuable for them than others. Despite its value and popularity in the human diet, lettuce is not the best vegetable for bearded dragons. Lettuce is famous for being rich in water and low in calories while still offering vitamins and minerals. As you dig into your next salad, you might wonder, what salad can bearded dragons eat? Can bearded dragons eat lettuce? If so, what kind of lettuce can a bearded dragon eat? Is Lettuce Good for Bearded Dragons? Not to mention all sorts of salad lettuces, like romaine lettuce, iceberg lettuce, green leaf lettuce, and butter lettuce. But sometimes this can raise a lot of questions-after all, there are so many greens to choose from! There’s spinach. However, as long as you thoroughly wash it, your romaine lettuce is safe to consume as long as it has not been recalled, of course.“Bearded dragons need to eat their greens.” It’s something you probably hear a lot as a Dragon Keeper. Since the structure of romaine lettuce is much more open compared to a tight head of iceberg lettuce, it is more susceptible to contamination, which is what has often led to romaine lettuce recalls over the past few years (source: North Dakota State University). Also, make sure you store your lettuce in the fridge as soon as possible after purchase.īut what about eating lettuce when you are dining out or getting carry-out? Since you cannot be sure that lettuce on sandwiches, salads, and other items purchased from restaurants has been adequately washed, it is best to avoid lettuce at restaurants if you want to avoid all risk of food poisoning. When choosing lettuce from the grocery store, including romaine lettuce, avoid any products that are damaged or bruised (source: CDC). Following the guidelines mentioned above, wash your romaine lettuce thoroughly under clean running water, even if it is pre-bagged, and avoid cross-contamination with raw and undercooked meats and eggs. Like iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce is also safe when pregnant if it is washed well.
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