Asparagus is a very nutritious vegetable and yes bearded dragons can eat it as it has many health benefits. It is a very famous vegetable throughout the world. It should be prepared in the right way and fed only in moderation as it is highly nutritious and too much of anything is not good for the health of your bearded dragon. It should be fed weekly rather than on daily basis to bearded dragons.
Bearded dragons can safely eat asparagus as it is a highly nutritious vegetable as compare to others and provides them with many health benefits. But one more thing to remember is that you should not feed it as a staple food but feed it only as a treat to them.
Contents
Nutritional data of asparagus for bearded dragons
Before feeding anything to your bearded dragon you should check its nutritional value of it as its digestive system is very complicated and sensitive so you have to be very careful before adding any new item to its food diet. Here is the information of all the nutritional data that is offered by asparagus to bearded dragons.
- Energy – 20Kcal
- Water – 93g
- Fat – 0.11g
- Protein – 2.3g
- Carbohydrates – 3.89g
- Sugars – 1.9g
- Fiber – 2g
- Calcium – 24mg
- Phosphorous – 52mg
- Iron – 2.2mg
- Sodium – 2mg
- Vitamin A – 38µg
- Vitamin C – 5.5mg
- Vitamin D – 0µg
- Vitamin E – 1.2mg
- Vitamin K – 41µg
How often can a bearded dragon eat asparagus?
Because of the high nutritional value of asparagus, it is not safe for bearded dragons to feed it on the daily basis. The reason is that too much of nutrients in the bearded dragon’s body are also not good that required one as they can damage their digestive system and can create some issues related to their stomach. Therefore it is recommended to feed asparagus only in moderation like once or twice a week just as a treat to change their daily diet plan.
Reasons why bearded dragons can’t eat asparagus daily?
Basically, there are two big reasons why asparagus can’t be a staple food for your bearded dragons despite their nutritional aspect.
1. Presence of high amount of phosphorous and low calcium:
Bearded dragons require a high amount of calcium in their diet but in asparagus, the major drawback is that it has low amount of calcium present than phosphorous. This is one of the reasons why asparagus is not fed on a daily basis.
Another factor is the Ca: P ratio of asparagus which comes out to be 1: 2.7 which could be dangerous for them. For bearded dragon’s food, the good Ca: P ratio is considered as 1:1 or 2:1. Lack of calcium in bearded dragons can cause metabolic bone disease.
2. Presence of oxalates:
Oxalates are not safe for bearded dragons as they cause trouble for bearded dragons and also prevent the absorption of calcium like phosphorous does it will also cause metabolic bone disorder in bearded dragons and make their bones weak.
How to feed and prepare asparagus for bearded dragons?
It is very easy to prepare and feed asparagus to bearded dragons. You can feed both raw and cooked asparagus to the pet. It is totally your choice which one you are willing to feed and your dragon’s taste. But feeding raw asparagus is much better than cooking one.
Raw asparagus contains all the nutrients preserve in it while feeding but when it is boiled oxalates are reduced which is a good thing but some of the nutrients also wash away. So it is recommended to feed asparagus in raw form by cutting it into small pieces in order to prevent bearded dragons from choking.
How much asparagus should be given to the bearded dragon?
The quantity of food depends upon the type of food you are going to feed and the size of your bearded dragon. If your dragon is leaving food behind then you should understand that food is much enough for them and then reduce the quantity next time.
In the case of asparagus, try to feed it in small pieces to avoid choking and then wait for 2 hours if any kind of side effect happens. If not then increase the amount to some small pieces mixed with some other vegetables.
Can bearded dragons eat cooked asparagus?
Yes, bearded dragons can eat cooked asparagus but cooking makes the texture of asparagus rough which makes it hard to chew. Therefore bearded dragons find it hard to chew and digest than hard food. Therefore you should slightly cook asparagus otherwise it will make it very hard.
Remember you should not add cooking oils, salts, or butter during cooking as it can make them sick. But if you slightly cook them without adding any additives it could be better but the good thing is some of the oxalates that are harmful to bearded dragons.
Sometimes the asparagus is too long, and bitter then some cooking will make them soft and reduce their bitterness and make them easier to eat and digest. But boil for sometimes otherwise the long process of cooking can kill all the nutrients from it. Also, chop the asparagus into small pieces to prevent the dragon from choking.
Can bearded dragons eat asparagus peels?
No, you should not give asparagus peel to your bearded dragon because the peel is very hard to chew and digest for bearded dragons. It can also cause choking and upset the stomach of the pet. So it is advisable to peel off the asparagus while feeding the little pets. Boiling the asparagus can cause it to lose important nutrients so feed it in raw form into finely chopped pieces.
Benefits of asparagus for bearded dragons
Asparagus is a highly nutritious vegetable and contains lots of health benefits for bearded dragons. Here is a look at some of the benefits of asparagus for your pets.
1. Helps to improve the immune system:
The presence of vitamin C and other antioxidants in the asparagus helps to improve the immune system of bearded dragons and also fights the bacteria that cause harm to their digestive system.
2. Helps in digestion:
It is the food source of various fibers and antioxidants that helps to keep bearded dragons and their digestive system healthy and free from problems like constipation and obesity.
3. Improve blood cells and muscles:
The presence of vitamin E helps to prevent inflammation and also repairs the damaged cells and vitamin K helps to regulate blood clotting if any. They also help to grow tissues in the body and keep cells functioning properly. The amount of proteins present helps to strengthen the muscles of bearded dragons.
4. Helps in kidney functioning:
Potassium present in the asparagus strengthens the kidney functioning in the bearded dragons and also keeps a check on muscle functioning. Proper functioning of the kidney helps to keep bearded dragons hydrated as kidneys contain around 92% of water content.
Final thoughts:
Yes, bearded dragons can eat asparagus as it proves to be very healthy for the health of bearded dragons and also have lots of health benefits. But it can also be dangerous if not fed properly as it can choke the pet and also upset the stomach of dragons. So you have to be careful while feeding asparagus to the dragons as the right way of feeding will give benefits otherwise any carelessness can cause problems related to their health.
More:
5 Best Protein For Bearded Dragons
