Introduction
It is well-known that bearded dragons need different plants and insects to get their nutrients. They need to eat a lot of food rich in calcium, and the best source of this mineral is greens. And, one of the best ones out there is bok choy.
But, can bearded dragons eat bok choy? Several owners have asked this question, and rightfully so. It is always better to read about the food you plan to give to your dragon before serving them. This helps you avoid issues and keep your dragon healthy.
In this article, we will go over the answer to this question. You will also learn about other information you need before you make a decision. Let’s get started.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Bok Choy?
Yes, bearded dragons can eat bok choy. You can add this green to their meals more often than several other veggies. It is high in key nutrients that are necessary for your dragon’s growth and health.
However, several unwanted substances in bok choy can cause discomfort and other illnesses that may be dangerous for your dragon if left untreated. In these times, you may observe your dragon resting more often in dark places, like this beautiful reptile hideout décor. If that happens, schedule an appointment with the vet immediately.
What Are the Benefits of Feeding Bok Choy to Your Bearded Dragon?
Bok choy has several nutrients that are good for your dragon. It is a great source of essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These nutrients are:
- Energy
- Carbohydrates
- Dietary Fiber
- Protein
- Magnesium
- Iron
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Sodium
With all of these together, bok choy offers the following benefits for your dragon:
- Strengthen bones: Since bok choy is a great source of calcium, your beardie’s bones will be able to grow and stay strong for longer. Since this veggie has enough calcium, they will be less prone to fractures and avoid metabolic bone disease (MBD) if your dragons eat it.
- Boost Immune System: Bok choy has a lot of vitamin C. These are necessary for keeping a dragon’s immune system and make them less prone to several diseases. It also helps them recover from illnesses quicker.
- Low in Fat and Sugar: A bearded dragon does not need a lot of these in its diet. It may help them recover energy and bulk up for pregnancy, but a dragon shouldn’t have them in normal times.
- Balanced Calcium to Phosphorus Ratio: Bearded dragons need to eat food with the ideal calcium to phosphorus ratio. 1:1 or 2:1 parts calcium to phosphorus is ideal for their diets. Bok choy has almost three times more calcium than phosphorus, and this will make it easier for you to add other plants that may have an imbalanced ratio but are more delicious.
How Often Can Bearded Dragons Eat Bok Choy?
Bok choy can be fed to your dragon on occasions. You can add this green to their meals once or twice a week at most. While this vegetable contains several essential nutrients but they are also high in vitamin A and goitrogens. These two can cause harm to your beardie, and too much of these substances may lead to worse things than illnesses.
Pro-Tip: To help your dragon rest after a filling meal, you can put a spot lamp in their enclosure to make them more comfortable.
Why Can’t Your Bearded Dragon Eat Bok Choy Every Day?
As previously mentioned, there are significant amounts of goitrogens and vitamin A in bok choy. These are substances that will create problems for your bearded dragon’s thyroid glands if consumed too often. This is why you cannot add this green to their staple diets.
However, it is virtually impossible to give your dragons a goitrogens-free meal since every green has them. But, several other greens with goitrogens are better suited for bearded dragons, like watercress and collard greens.
Do Bearded Dragons Like Bok Choy?
It depends. Each dragon has its preferences, and while some dragons love bok choy, some may not care for it. If you want to introduce this to their diets, give them this veggie when they are really hungry. This should help you add this to their diets until they eventually develop a taste for it.
If you are want to introduce other greens to your bearded friend’s diet, you can read about asparagus here.
Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Bok Choy?
Bearded dragons eat experience rapid growth for the first 12 months of their lives. And to support this rapid growth, need a diet with a lot of calcium to fuel this growth. Plus, the fiber in this green will help your dragon process the bugs and insects that consume 80% of their diets.
Bok choy is safe for baby bearded dragons to eat. And it gives them the appropriate amount of calcium and other nutrients to help them grow to their fullest potential. If you need another article to help you take care of your dragon better, you can refer to this article.
Conclusion
Bok choy has amazing nutrients that your bearded dragon needs. It is a great vegetable that you can add to your beardie’s diet. However, remember that there are a few drawbacks you need to consider. Only give this to your bearded once or twice a week to avoid possible issues. Your beardies will enjoy it, and a small amount of bok choy will go a long way in keeping your dragon healthy.
