Introduction
Green beans are a popular meal for humans, and the reasons for it are justified. Steamed, roasted, raw, or sautéed, these beans are an amazing addition to any meal. They are packed with nutrients with amazing flavor. But, can you share these with your beardies?
Can bearded dragons eat green beans? Also known as string beans or snap beans, these beans are eaten by people with their pods still closed before the seeds pop out. But, is this how your beardie will eat it?
In this article, you’ll find the answer to all of these questions and more. So, can bearded dragons eat green beans? Let’s take a look.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Green Beans?
Yes, bearded dragons can eat green beans. But, the beans need to be fresh, raw, and, if possible, organic. These are delicious and easy-to-eat veggies for your breaded dragon. A green bean is rich in energy, fiber, protein, and several other nutrients that a bearded dragon needs to stay healthy.
However, this shouldn’t be a stable part of their diets due to the moderate amount of oxalates. This prevents the calcium they get from other food from being absorbed into their bloodstream. Only give green beans to your dragons in moderation to avoid issues.
If you need other options for your dragon’s diet, you can refer to this article.
What Nutrients Are In Green Beans That Your Bearded Dragon Needs?
Now that we’ve established that a bearded dragon can eat green beans, here are a few reasons why you want green beans in your dragon’s treats. As for their nutrients, these vegetables are amazing. They contain a great array of these vitamins and minerals:
- Folic Acid. This promotes healthy tissue and cell growth for your bearded dragon.
- Fiber. This helps your dragon’s digestion and process their food better.
- Vitamin A, C, and K. These are necessary for your bearded dragon’s blood, immunity, and vision.
- Calcium. This is one of the most important minerals that a bearded dragon needs. They strengthen their bones, muscles, and tissues.
- Magnesium. This improves your bearded dragon’s muscle and brain development.
- Iron. This is important in promoting healthy blood flow for your dragon.
- Potassium. This helps your dragon retain water better and maintain healthy blood pressure. It is also necessary for keeping their nervous system healthy.
Other than these, green beans also have a little sugar and protein in them. More importantly, this vegetable has a 1:1 calcium to phosphorus ratio that is ideal for bearded dragons.
Pro-Tip: To add more calcium to their meal, you can add supplements like this to their food.
How Often Can Bearded Dragons Eat Green Beans?
Green beans are relatively harmless. You can even feed a small serving of these veggies every couple of days. However, it would be best if you didn’t rely on these for their plant needs. Overall, a variety of leafy greens are still better.
Despite the benefits a bearded dragon can get from green beans, there are a few caveats that you need to know about. Green beans shouldn’t be a part of a beardie’s staple diet. This is because of the moderate amount of oxalates in this vegetable. This increases the issue with calcium absorption despite the ideal calcium to phosphorus ratio.
If a dragon eats too many oxalates, they risk developing metabolic bone disease (MBD). If left untreated, there will come a danger that can cost them their lives.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Canned, Cooked, or Frozen Green Beans?
Yes, bearded dragons can eat green beans more often than other vegetables. But, can they eat just about any green bean you can find in the usual grocery store? So they need to be fresh or cooked? Can they eat canned or frozen green beans?
- Canned Green Beans. In most cases, canned green beans are not something you want to give to your dragon. These contain other ingredients or preservatives that you do not want your bearded dragon to have. Avoid giving those canned green beans, or any vegetable for that matter.
- Frozen Green Beans. Although fresh is always better, frozen green beans are safe for bearded dragons. Provided that there are no other ingredients mixed with the beans. Just make sure to thaw the green beans completely and dry them with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
- Cooked Green Beans. If you want to feed green beans to your dragons, make sure not to add any ingredients like oil or spices that can make your dragon sick. If you need to cook the green beans before serving them, do not cook them for too long.
In the wild, a bearded dragon will eat just about anything they see. But, these food are usually fresh and raw. Mirroring your bearded dragon’s natural diet is the key to keeping them healthy, and that’s exactly why you want your dragon to be.
Pro-Tip: To make your beardie’s meal more attractive, you can put them on this feeder!
How to Prepare Green Beans for Your Bearded Dragon?
Now that we’ve established that fresh and raw green beans are best for your dragons. Let’s talk about how to prepare these vegetables for your dragon’s meals.
Preparing these are relatively easy. The steps are very straight forward especially if you are not planning to cook before you serve them.
- Wash them thoroughly. Make sure that all the veggies you give your dragon are washed well. This is to remove any foreign substances or materials lingering on the outside of the vegetable.
- Slice them well. Cut them up into small enough pieces that are easy for your bearded dragon to bite and swallow.
- Serve them up. Put them in a beautiful bowl, like the one you can get here. And watch your beardie enjoy its green bean meal.
Conclusion
Green beans are among the most vegetables that they can eat more often than most. Not only are they nutritious, but they also offer loads of other benefits for your dragons. Remember, you do not want your dragon to have too many vegetables, which applies to green beans. Practice moderation when feeding these to your dragons and still give them other greens to ensure that they eat a balanced diet.
Now that you know everything you need, you’re now better prepared to give your dragons a green bean treat. If you need another guide on other vegetables they can eat, you can check this article out to help you.
If you are looking for other veggies they can eat, check out this article.
