ᐅ Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cabbage?

Bearded Dragon Care – Bearded Dragons And Cabbage

When looking for a vegetable that’s popping with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, why not reach for some cabbage? Of the four main varieties of cabbage – red, green, napa, and savoy – are any safe for your bearded dragon? Can bearded dragons eat cabbage?

In this post, we will answer that very question, so you can feel confident before feeding your bearded dragon cabbage.

Nutritional Value Of Cabbage For Bearded Dragon

Nutritional Information For Cabbage per 100g

Nutrient Names	Amounts
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	40mg
Iron	0.47 mg
Phosphorus	26 mg
Sodium	18 mg
Vitamin C	36.6 mg
Vitamin D (D2+3)	0ug
Vitamin B6	0.124 mg
Vitamin A RAE	5 ug
Vitamin A IU	98 ug
Beta Carotene	42 ug
Vitamin E	0.15 mg
Vitamin K	76 ug

The good news after viewing the above table is that cabbage is safe for your bearded dragon and can be offered regularly in your beardie’s diet.

Keep in mind that there are different kinds of cabbage. Red cabbage, green cabbage, savoy cabbage, napa cabbage, and more.

Benefits Of Feeding Your Bearded Dragon Cabbage

Food you offer your bearded dragon plays a significant role in their overall health and well-being. As a bearded dragon owner, you must remain updated about the nutritional benefits of the food you offer to your pet lizard. Let’s look at some benefits of cabbage.

Moderate Amounts Of Cabbage

Most cabbage varieties offer moderate amounts of calcium, except bok choy offering high calcium levels. It means you can add cabbage, especially bok choy, with other greens high in calcium to provide a well-balanced diet.

Calcium is essential to the health of bearded dragons of all ages, and offering them calcium-rich foods is vital.

Healthy Calcium To Phosphorus Ratio

Just as calcium plays a crucial role in the health of your bearded dragon, so does the balance of calcium to phosphorus too.

Too much phosphorus can result in the calcium your bearded dragon consumes not being absorbed and rendered useless. As a dragon keeper, you must keep your eye on your bearded friend’s calcium intake as a lack of calcium can cause calcium deficiency and ultimately Metabolic Bone Disease.

Signs of Metabolic Bone Disease can include

Weakness,
Failure To Grow,

Tremors,
Bone Fractures,
Anorexia,

And more.

The good news is that most cabbage species have great calcium to phosphorus ratios, and can you can add it to your beardie’s diet without worries.

Low In Fat

Cabbage is generally low in fat no matter which you offer your bearded dragon. Beardies need a certain fat level in their diet; however, they get most of their fat through high-quality feeder insects.

Relatively Low In Sugar

The sugar levels in cabbage will differ slightly depending on which variety you offer your dragon.

Studies have shown that red cabbage contains the most sugar at nearly 4 per 100g, but even this is a daily low.

Moderate Amounts Of Fiber

Cabbage as a whole does not offer huge amounts of fiber. Still, it does provide your bearded dragon with acceptable levels that will contribute to and aid its digestive system. Decent amounts of fiber are vital as it regulates healthy bowels overall.

Vitamin C

The Vitamin C in cabbage helps build a robust immune system that fends off potential disease and keeps bearded dragons happy.

Vitamin K

It’s essential for tissue and blood cell maintenance.

Antioxidants

Strengthen the immune system and also your bearded dragon’s digestive system

Risks Of Feeding Cabbage To Your Bearded Dragon

Cabbage is healthy food for bearded dragons to eat, and there aren’t any real apparent downsides. As long as you feed cabbage in the correct quantities to your bearded dragon.

Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Cabbage?

Cabbage is safe for baby bearded dragons to eat. The nutrients cabbage offers are helpful in baby beardies and added to their diet in moderation.

Depending on the variety of cabbage you offer your baby beardie, it can be high in calcium.

It is important to remember that baby and young bearded dragons must eat a primary insect and protein-based diet with a smaller amount of high-quality greens and veggies.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cabbage Leaves Or Stalks?

Bearded dragons can safely eat cabbage leaves. Some varieties of cabbage will have different types and textures of leaves. It is essential that when you wash the leaves for your beardie’s salad, you do so thoroughly and remove all dirt between the leaves.

We do not recommend that you offer your bearded dragon the stalk or core of the cabbage. The cabbage stalks are tough and not easy for beardies to chew or digest. The more severe impact of the hardcore is that it can cause choking and compaction in your bearded dragon.

How To Prepare Cabbage For Your Bearded Dragons

Cabbage can be served raw, and there is not a lot of preparation needed when feeding your bearded dragon cabbage. Just follow these easy steps before offering the leafy goodness to your bearded dragon.

Stay clear of wilted cabbage, and make sure to pick cabbage that is crispy fresh with no spots or blemishes. Organic cabbage is always the best option because it is pesticide and chemical-free.

Wash the cabbage thoroughly, and remove the outer leaves.

Separate a few inner leaves to feed your beardie.

Don’t feed the cabbage stalk, just the leaves.

Chop the cabbage leaves into tiny pieces, no bigger than the space between your beardie’s eyes.

Serve the cabbage to your beardie. We suggest creating a salad by adding mango, pineapple, collard greens, or others.

Wrapping Up

Cabbage is an excellent treat to give adult and baby bearded dragons. It can help with their overall immune support, bone health, and growth. It is safe to provide cabbage to your adult bearded dragon once or twice a week.

We suggest collard greens, pineapple, sweet potato, hornworms, and more. Remember to do a proper read-up about the food, and it’s nutrients you want to offer your beardie. If you remain unsure, you can always talk to your vet.

Continue to read our main article “What do Bearded Dragons Eat?” for all the ins and outs on general diet questions, and get a further detailed breakdown of other popular foods in the articles below:

Can Bearded Dragons eat Cucumbers?