Yes, bearded dragon can eat celery leaves. However, celery is not the most nutritionally dense or beneficial vegetable you can feed your little lizard. Instead, adding celery and mixing it with other veggies will ensure that your lizard gets all the nutrients they need.
Everyone knows that vegetables are part of a balanced and healthy diet for animals and humans alike.
However, each body metabolizes and digests food differently, so it can be challenging to choose the right kind to feed them.
Please read on for more information on whether celery leaves should be part of your bearded dragon diet.
How Much Celery Leaves Can Bearded Dragons Eat?
Bearded dragons can eat only small servings of celery leaves once or twice a month. Celery and celery leaves are high in vitamins and minerals but are also high in water and digestive fiber. Excessive amounts could lead to a diuretic effect on your bearded dragon.
Celery has benefits for the heart and internal organs. It can help control blood flow and bowel movements.
Studies indicate that celery and celery leaves are some of the best forms of natural diuretics. The water and naturally occurring fiber are excellent for expelling excess water and other toxins from the body.
These are all wonderful positives; however, they could harm your bearded dragon. Thanks to its diuretic effects, celery might be rich in nutrients, but your beardie won’t absorb many of them.
Thus, when your bearded dragon eats these leaves every day, it may suffer excessive bowel movements.
This frequent consumption of celery could cause them to experience diarrhea or other harmful digestive issues.
Bearded dragons should only be given a few leaves a day along with other solid foods to avoid giving them digestive issues and malnutrition.
How Often Should You Feed Bearded Dragons Celery Leaves?
You should feed bearded dragons small amounts of celery leaves every few days when accompanied by other foods. You should avoid giving your bearded dragon celery leaves more than once a week. However, this estimate should consider the amount and the companion foods.
Variety is essential for your bearded dragon’s health and balanced well-being. The number of celery leaves you give your bearded dragon should reflect the rest of their diets. When you provide them with celery leaves, make sure you feed them grains and protein.
There is nothing wrong with occasionally feeding your bearded dragon celery and celery leaves as a treat 2-3 times a month.
But, you should never give them this by itself regularly. You should feed your beardie celery can every few days when added to other foods.
However, do not go overboard in this feeding. If you give your beardie 3-4 leaves in their pate, you should be fine, and they will get the nutrients.
Excessive diuretics could cause a massive loss of nutrients and thus cause your bearded dragon to suffer from malnutrition.
Are Celery Leaves Healthy for Bearded Dragons?
Celery leaves are healthy for your bearded dragon. They hold many micro and macronutrients that aid your bearded dragon’s digestive health and internal organ function. They are also an excellent way to stave off dehydration in your bearded dragon during the hot summer months.
Celery leaves are rich in antioxidants and many vitamins and nutrients, which aid in various health functions. Some of the essential nutrients they provide include:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin K
- Calcium
- Phosphorus
- Vitamin C
It is difficult for your bearded dragon to get sufficient amounts of these vitamins. Celery leaves and celery stalks provide one of the most balanced sources of calcium and phosphorus for your bearded dragon.
Additionally, the antioxidants can help keep your bearded dragon fit and healthy. Antioxidants remove toxins and other damaging compounds from the human body. This benefit is also true for your little lizard and can help keep them lively and agile.
However, as I’ve explained previously, the diuretic effects of celery can counteract the nutritional value. This diuretic effect is why you are better off providing your bearded dragon with this vegetable combined with other beneficial plants and proteins.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Raw Celery and Celery Leaves?
Your bearded dragon can eat raw celery and celery leaves with ease. It is also perfectly safe to cook your bearded dragon some celery and add it to their other food. But, this is not necessary, and your bearded dragon will likely enjoy fresh celery.
Several studies indicate that the body absorbs more nutrients from cooked celery than fresh.
However, the difference is minimal and differs between animals and humans. If your bearded dragon avoids this vegetable, it could help cook it in a dish for them.
Some recommended ways include:
- Making a nutritional broth
- Cooking it with meat pate
- Mix it in with other cooked veggies.
You can easily prepare a mixture of nutritious vegetables for your little lizard by sauteing them together as follows:
- It is essential to thoroughly wash and chop all the vegetables for your bearded dragon before feeding them.
- Place the chopped vegetables in a frying pan with some oil, such as peppers, carrots, celery, and kale. Do not use a lot of oil. Just enough to coat the pan.
- Continue stirring the veggies until they’re soft, and allow enough time for them to cool before feeding.
Bearded dragons do not have the teeth to chew and break down food as humans can. This lack of chewing ability makes it vital that you properly crush, cut, or otherwise prepare the food before they eat it.
Last, always make sure you thoroughly wash your bearded dragon’s food. Vegetables sometimes have pesticides and other contaminants which our bodies can process, but your lizard might not be able to.
If you’re very concerned about this, you might be better off buying organic vegetables for your little dragon.
How To Prepare Celery For Bearded Dragons?
First you need to take a raw celery stalk and then chop both sides and make it into small pieces so your pet bearded dragon would enjoy eating celery.
Any Health Benefits to Bearded Dragons Eating Celery?
Yes, celery contains antioxidants and many vitamins. It also has benefits for the heart and internal organs. It can help control blood flow and bowel movements.
Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Celery Leaves?
Yes, baby bearded dragons can eat celery and you may include it in bearded dragon’s diet. But only in small amount.
What Other Vegetables Can You Feed Your Bearded Dragon?
You can feed your bearded dragon other vegetables such as carrots, lettuce, kale, arugula, and other leafy green vegetables. You should avoid spicy peppers and strong vegetables such as garlic and onions. These can be difficult for your dragon to process and digest properly.
Variety is an essential part of your lizard’s diet and should include every food group.
Bearded dragons can consume a balance of vegetables if it’s not too many at once. Leafy greens are some of the best for your bearded dragon and hold the most essential nutrients.
Adding these to your bearded dragon’s cage once a week can ensure they have adequate calcium and potassium.
Likewise, adding a few pieces of chopped-up carrots and maybe celery or parsley can also give them a nutrient boost.
However, never give your bearded dragon onions due to their high acidic value. Onions contain other dangerous compounds which can harm your lizard, so make sure you keep them far away!
Conclusion
Bearded dragons are friendly little pets that are relatively easy to maintain with the proper knowledge. We hope you found this article helpful for planning your dragon’s daily diet. A few key takeaways to keep in mind are:
- Feed them celery once a week.
- Do not exceed this feeding schedule.
- Add celery to their food to increase absorption.
- Monitor your lizard’s bowel movements.
Letting your bearded dragon eat celery and adding it to their balanced diet will help your lizard absorb vital nutrients and aid digestion. Celery is perfectly safe as long as your lizards do not develop diarrhea or other digestive issues.
