ᐅ Can Bearded Dragons Eat Mint?

image of bearded dragon, mint and a text saying: can bearded dragons eat mint?

Bearded Dragons And Mint – What You Need To know

If you have a home herb garden, you can easily grow mint in it. If your garden is organic, add a bonus point.

But, have you ever wondered: can bearded dragons eat mint?

The short answer is yes. But mint should not be a common thing found in their diet, only given occasionally.

This article will explore the nutritional value, benefits, and risks of adding mint to a bearded dragon’s diet.

Nutritional Information of Mint

Mint leaves do not contain harmful substances. It has high water levels and should therefore not be a staple food for your beardie. As can be seen from the table below, mint has very little nutritional value to offer.

% Daily Nutritional Value of Mint Leaves

Content	% Daily Value
Sodium	1 mg 0%
Potassium	18mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate	0.5g %
Dietary Fiber	0.3 g 1%
Protein	0.1 g 0%
Fiber	6.8%
Vitamin A	2%
Iron	1%
Water	86%

Now that you know your bearded dragon can eat mint leaves, here are the benefits and risks of mint leaves in your “beardie’s” diet.

Health Benefits When Bearded Dragons Eat Mint Leaves

Soothing Herb

Mint leaves have a soothing effect with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe the skin, respiratory system, circulatory system, and digestive tract in bearded dragons.

However, some plants are poisonous to bearded dragons. Chamomile and peppermint are non-toxic safe herbs for your bearded dragon to eat.

Traces of Vitamin C

Mint has slight hints of vitamin C, which can have symptoms such as bruising, skin separation or tearing, and even diarrhea.

However, the traces of vitamin C in mint leaves are so slight that it is not advisable for a bearded dragon to rely on it as a main source of nutrition.

Health Concerns When Bearded Dragons Eat Mint Leaves

High Water Content

Mint leaves have high liquid content as they are almost 86% water. It is not enough nutrition, and consuming too much of it can lead to diarrhea.

Low In Calcium

Calcium is essential in a beardies diet. They get their calcium from supplemental food. Mint has trace amounts of calcium and thus not an ideal source for a beardie.

Consider calcium’s phosphorus level. Phosphorus attaches to the calcium and prevents absorption into the bloodstream. The calcium to phosphorus ratio should be 1:1 or 2:1.

Mint leaves only have a trace amount of phosphorus, making it difficult to measure.

Calcium deficiency in beardies can lead to a severe and sometimes fatal disease called metabolic bone disease.

Can A Baby Bearded Dragon Eat Mint Leaves?

When you have a newly hatched bearded dragon, you must know its dietary requirements.

Baby bearded dragons should consume a nutritious diet, which should consist of 80% insects and 20% plant-based material.

Since mint leaves offer very little nutritional value, we recommend that you exclude them from your baby bearded dragon’s diet.

How Often Can Bearded Dragons Eat Mint Leaves?

Bearded dragons should eat mint leaves occasionally. We recommend once every few weeks.

How To Prepare Mint Leaves For Bearded Dragons

Now that you understand the nutritional value of mint, let’s take a look at how to prepare them for your reptile pet.

Combine

Mint leaves are not a stand-alone mean and should never be given as such, but rather mixed with a salad with other vegetables such as collard greens or bok choy and be a small portion of that meal.

Chop them up

Chop the raw mint leaves into manageable bite sizes, no bigger than the space between your bearded dragon’s eyes. This will lower the chances of your bearded dragon choking on them.

Mix and serve

Mix the small quantities of leaves with other vegetables, greens, and safe insects into a salad.

Place the salad in a bowl and feed it to your pets.

To Conclude

It is challenging to understand which foods are safe for your bearded dragon. Some food seems safe for bearded dragons and even highly nutritious but can prove harmful or fatal to your bearded friend.

Always research new foods you wish to introduce to your bearded dragon. Consult your vet for advice if you remain unsure.

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 tomatoes?