Can bearded dragons eat celery? Yes, bearded dragons can eat celery. This vegetable has a good amount of nutrition, including anti-inflammatory properties. Due to the high oxalate found in celery, it can’t be part of their daily food. To prevent your beardie from having any health issues, celery should be served to them once every 2 weeks.
Is It Safe For Bearded Dragons To Eat Celery?
Celery is safe for bearded dragons to eat, but only if it’s served to them in moderation.
When it comes to determining if the vegetable is safe for them or not, it comes down to two things: the calcium to phosphorous ratio and how much oxalate it has. Celery has healthy calcium to phosphorous ratio, so that doesn’t cause any harm to them. What makes celery unsafe for your beardie is the high amount of oxalate that’s found in it.
When there is too much oxalate in their body, it will actually bind to the calcium. This will prevent the calcium from being absorbed by the body. Over time, when the body is unable to get any of the minerals from food, the body will actually start to extract the calcium from the bones. This will lead to metabolic bone disease, which is painful for them. If left untreated, your beardie will eventually die from it.
Therefore, by feeding celery to your beardie in moderation, the vegetable is deemed safe for them.
Is It Healthy For Bearded Dragons To Eat Celery?
Celery is healthy for the bearded dragons to eat since it’s nutrient-rich, yet low in calories and fat. It is a good source of antioxidants, folate, potassium, vitamins A, C, and K.
Nutrition Facts
A cup of chopped celery contains:
- Calories: 14
- Protein: Less than 1 gram
- Fat: Less than 1 gram
- Carbohydrates: 3 grams
- Fiber: 1.6 grams
- Sugar: 1 gram
Source: USDA
Below are some of the health benefits of feeding celery to your bearded dragons:
Support Digestion
Celery has a good amount of fiber, which is important for a healthy digestive system. Fiber helps bulk up the stool, which will make it move smoothly through the digestive tract.
Help With Hydration
Celery is made up of 95% water, which will help keep the bearded dragon hydrated. Celery makes an excellent treat during the summer to prevent your beardie from becoming dehydrated.
Prevent Illness and Diseases
Celery is a good source of antioxidants. This compound helps prevent the cells in the body from being damaged by free radicals.
If there are too many free radicals in the body, the beardie could become sick and have diseases.
Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Celery?
Baby bearded dragons can eat celery, but it’s not recommended to feed them any. While celery is nutritious, it doesn’t have all the nutrition that they need to grow strong and healthy.
Baby beardie diet should consist of 80% live food and 20% vegetables. As they get older, the number will be reversed.
Instead of feeding them celery, you can feed them other vegetables that are more nutritious for baby bearded dragons. Below are some of the veggies that are great for them:
- Acorn squash
- Butternut squash
- Bell pepper
- Collard greens
- Mustard greens
- Yellow squash
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Celery Leaves?
Celery leaves are safe for your bearded dragons to eat. Not only are celery leaves safe, but they are also nutritious for them as well. Celery leaves contain calcium, fiber, and vitamin E.
You can feed the celery leaves with the stalks or just the leaves themselves.
How To Prepare Celery For Bearded Dragons
When it comes to feeding celery to your bearded dragons, it’s pretty straightforward.
Before giving them any celery, make sure that it is fresh. Then give the vegetable a good wash to remove any pesticides and debris.
Next, with a sharp knife, cut the celery into tiny pieces. Make sure the piece is no larger than the space between both of their eyes. Celery is very stringy and if you’re worried that your beardie may choke on it, remove the fiber from the stalk first before cutting them into pieces.
Then place the pieces of celery into their bowl for them to eat. You can also mix celery with other vegetables to make a tasty salad for them as well.
How Often Can Bearded Dragons Eat Celery?
Celery should be served to your bearded dragon in moderation. The vegetable is packed with nutrition that is good for them.
However, celery can’t be fed to them too often, due to the oxalate level. Celery has a very high oxalate, which will cause the bearded dragon harm.
To ensure celery is safe for your bearded dragon to eat, only give them a small amount, once or twice per month.
Other Vegetables That Bearded Dragons Can Eat
Bell Peppers
Yes, but only on occasion. If I were you, I would choose red bell peppers since they are high in vitamin C and vitamin A, and they also contain a significant amount of oxalate.
Radishes
Radishes contain a moderate amount of oxalate, which will not harm your dragon if eaten in moderation. However, they should be treated as a special treat and not as a regular meal. It is possible to increase the nutritious content of its meal by using traces of radishes in its vegetable salad.
Zucchini
Zucchini is okay for bearded dragons to consume, but only in tiny amounts. The calcium-to-phosphorus ratio isn’t ideal, and they’re slightly acidic, but it’s fine to offer them little treats every now and again as a reward.
Conclusion
Celery is nutritious and makes a healthy treat for your bearded dragons to eat. However, due to the high amount of oxalate found in the vegetable, it’s best to only give them a small amount, once every two weeks or so.
