Introduction
Can bearded dragons eat cilantro? Humans definitely can, so beardies should be able to as well, right? Cilantro taste great, and you probably have a lot in your kitchen now, but is it safe to feed it to your bread dragon? After all, cilantro is an herb and they have loads of nutrition you want and need for you scaly pal.
In this article you will find a definitive answer to this question, as well as other information you need to know before you feed this herb to your lovely pet. So, can bearded dragons eat cilantro? Let’s find out.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cilantro?
Yes, they can. Cilantros are a great source of nutrition thanks to it being packed with vitamins and minerals. It is especially great at keeping their eye sight healthy thanks to the amount of vitamin A in them.
However, what makes them great is also the reason why this shouldn’t be a part of your dragon’s staple diet. Ironically, it contains too much vitamin A which may cause issues as your pet ages.
Despite the benefits cilantro offers, this herb shouldn’t be a part of the everyday meal of your bearded friend.
What Benefits Can Bearded Dragons Get from Eating Cilantro?
By feeding cilantro to your bearded dragon, they will be able to absorb the much needed vitamins and minerals in them. Some of the major nutritional components in cilantro are the following:
- Antioxidants. This helps prevent inflammation and protects your bearded dragon’s cells from any radicals.
- Vitamin K. This vitamin helps to keep their tissues healthy and their blood cell count in an optimal level.
- Vitamin A. This is important for their vision and maintenance and repair of their organs and tissues.
- Vitamin C. This vitamins promotes a healthier immune system, increases reproductive abilities, and encourages growth.
- Fiber. Fiber helps them to digest their food better especially if they are younger and need help in breaking down their favorite mealworms, like the once you can get here.
- Calcium. An essential mineral that promotes proper bone health and better growth.
- Potassium. This is great for helping regulate a healthy blood pressure level.
- Magnesium. Helps in metabolism.
The most important thing that cilantro offers is that it has an ideal calcium to phosphorus ratio which is essential for bearded dragons. If they eat food with higher phosphorus than calcium, it could lead to health issues for them because the phosphorus stops the calcium from being absorbed into the blood stream.
Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Cilantro?
Food that are appropriate for baby dragons often differ from those that adult dragons can eat. This is because of their rapid growth in this phase of their life, which means that their nutritional needs is different from that of adults.
The biggest thing to be mindful about when feeding baby and juvenile bearded dragons is to give them enough calcium rich food that is essential for their growth. This means that you need to add other greens with more calcium together with the cilantro. You can also sprinkle calcium powder to their meals like this one to give your bearded dragon that extra boost it needs.
Also, remember to be careful about the amount of cilantro you give your dragon because of the excessive amounts of vitamin A they can get from eating it often. This also applies to adult dragons, especially if you are already giving them vitamin supplements. Ask your vet if you really want to add cilantro to their meals more often.
Pro-Tip: You can sprinkle a little powder of calcium and vitamin D to help your baby dragons grow. You can get some here!
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cilantro Stems?
Short answer, yes. Like all other parts of the cilantro, the stem can also be fed to your dragon. However, remember to wash them thoroughly and chop them into smaller pieces. This way, you can avoid feeding them any foreign materials and significantly reduce the risk of choking your dragons.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cooked Cilantro?
No. Cooked cilantro is a no go for your dragons. When cooked, these vegetable contains even more moisture which is something that bearded dragons do not need. This can cause diarrhea and other digestive problems for your beardie.
Other than this, an issue with cooking cilantro is that they lose some of their nutrients as well. It doesn’t make sense to give your dragon food that are more moist and less nutritious, thus it doesn’t make sense for you to cook the herbs before feed it to them.
If you need to know more about how to manage your bearded dragon’s water intake, you can learn more through this article.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Frozen Cilantro?
Yes, you can feed these to your beardie. Make sure to completely thaw the vegetable first before giving them to your dragon. However, this shouldn’t be given to them often as similar to cooked cilantro, this also has a lot of moisture that can cause stomach problems and possibly dehydration if left untreated.
How Often Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cilantro?
This herb can be given every other day. Despite the benefits it can give, it still doesn’t pass as a staple food for bearded dragons. The two main reasons for these are their high amount of water content and high vitamin A content.
The digestive system of beardie is sensitive and excess water can aggravate it. This leads to whole bunch of issues that are dangerous for your pets if left untreated.
What Herbs Can You Give Your Bearded Dragon as an Alternative?
Herbs are a great green for your bearded dragon and knowing other herbs that you can give to your beardie is important. Here are some of the herbs you can feed it instead:
- Oregano
- Dill
- Mint
- Rosemary
- Chives
- Parsley
The good thing about these herbs too is that you can grow them in your bearded dragon’s enclosure. This is a great wat to let your beardie eat herbs that are as fresh as possible whenever it needs to.
Conclusion
The definitive answer to whether or not bearded dragons can eat cilantro is yes. However, it needs to be fresh, well cleaned, and chopped. You don’t need any fancy ways of preparing them, making them perfect for quick salads. Just remember not to feed it to your dragons too often, and you should be good to go.
Herbs may be great for your beardies but they are still omnivores. Check out this article if you want to know whether or not they can eat a great source of protein, Eggs.
