Can bearded dragons eat red cabbage

If you are looking for a veggie that is packed with vitamins and minerals, cabbage might just be what you require.

The four different kinds of cabbages available are all almost equally stuffed with nutrition-rich elements. However, the phosphorus to calcium ratio differs in some of them and a few substances in some cabbages are not recommended for consumption by a bearded dragon.

Although all cabbage types are fairly rich in vitamins, calcium, and water while being low in calories, every cabbage type might not be equally beneficial for a bearded dragon. In general, bearded dragons can have cabbage but it must be regulated and consumed in a controlled manner. It is the duty and responsibility of the owner to give their bearded dragon cabbage to eat a maximum of once a week. The high levels of goitrogens present in cabbages means you should keep bearded dragons from consuming them. Goitrogens are toxic for bearded dragon consumption and if consumed in greater amounts, they can easily outweigh the pros of eating cabbage. The age of the bearded dragon also plays an important role here. If it's a juvenile beardie, it wouldn't opt for eating vegetables like cabbage or spinach or broccoli, and it would prefer carnivore food. On the other hand, if it is an adult beardie, it would prefer plant-based food over animal food. Make sure not to force your beardie to eat cabbage as it isn't a compulsory food that your bearded dragon has to consume in order to live long.

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Benefits Of Cabbage For Bearded Dragons

Cabbage is a highly appreciated veggie in regards to its nutritional benefits. We humans frequently use it in a semi-cooked form in salads or as cooked vegetables in a main course, but what might be good and healthy for us may not be the same for other species. Bearded dragons can greatly benefit from cabbage consumption but only if it is carefully supervised. If bearded dragons eat too much cabbage or too frequently, for example, more than once a week, it can be harmful. Below are some of the primary benefits which cabbages provide.

Water: In 3.53 oz (100 g) of cabbage, on average you can find 3.26 oz (92.57 g) of water. A massive majority of the cabbage is made up of water which plays a key role in keeping these bearded dragons hydrated throughout the day. This becomes even more critical if these bearded dragons are going through their shedding phase. It has often been noted by beardie owners that their pet doesn't show interest in drinking water from the water bowl. If such is the case with your bearded dragon too, feeding it cabbage can be a smart move as it would provide the ample amount of water required in a bearded dragon's body. Research has proven that on average a bearded dragon weighing around 10.58 oz (300 g) must consume at least 0.34 fl oz (10 ml) of water in total throughout the day.

Protein: There is around 0.044 oz (1.27 g) of protein in 3.53 oz (100 g) of cabbage. It is a relatively small amount of protein, but the major source of protein for bearded dragons is from insects during their young days when they require larger chunks of protein. Protein plays a pivotal role in the growth and development of these young bearded dragons.

Fiber: When fiber-rich food is included in the diet of a bearded dragon, it leads to healthy digestion. When bearded dragons are young and small, they require more of this fiber to digest insects they consume. At the same time, fiber-rich food is a remedy for high blood pressure. 3.53 oz (100 g) of cabbage usually contains 0.067 oz (1.9 g) of fiber. Keep in mind that although fiber is essential for digestion, it shouldn't be the deciding factor for you choosing it to be part of your bearded dragon's diet. Vitamins and minerals are the primary requirements, fiber comes next.

Vitamins and minerals: Cabbages contain a wide variety of vitamins that are essential for healthy growth. A 3.53 oz (100 g) serving of cabbage contains 0.0013 oz (37.5 mg) of vitamin C, 0.0000039 oz (0.112 mg) of vitamin B6, and micrograms of vitamin A, as well as vitamin K. Contact a vet and discuss the vitamins which are considered good for a balanced diet. You should not be overfeeding your bearded dragon with vitamins as it can be harmful.

Can bearded dragons eat all kinds of cabbages?

There are, in total, four kinds of cabbages that a bearded dragon can eat: the red cabbage, the green cabbage, the Savoy cabbage and the napa cabbage or also known as the Chinese cabbage or bok choy. Out of these four kinds of cabbages, the red cabbage is arguably the best suited for bearded dragons but what doesn't change for any of these cabbages is that the bearded dragon can safely eat these in moderation. A bearded dragon can consume all four of these cabbages but each one has different nutrients depending upon the type of cabbage.

The red cabbage, first of all, contains a lot of nutrients including fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, antioxidants, manganese, potassium, magnesium, vitamin B6 and folate. Its fat and sugar content are really low and the best part about red cabbages is that they have more calcium than phosphorus in them. The calcium to phosphorus ratio in these cabbages is 1.5:1 which is highly beneficial for bearded dragons. Thus, owing to all the health benefits, you can provide this particular type of cabbage to your pet bearded dragon a couple of times a week. When it comes to green cabbage, they are quite similar to red cabbages in terms of nutrition they offer but the proportion is less than that offered by red cabbage. Looking at the positive side of things, green cabbage contains a better calcium to phosphorus ratio than red cabbage at 2:1. However, the major drawback in green cabbage and all other cabbages, except the red cabbage, is that they contain goitrogens. Goitrogens interfere with a bearded dragon's thyroid function and an excess of goitrogens can lead to an enlarged thyroid. Red cabbages also contain some amount of goitrogen but they are not as goitrogenic as other cabbages. To be on the safe side, feed your bearded dragons green cabbages a maximum of once a week. Savoy cabbage isn't the first choice for your bearded dragons as savoy cabbage is acidic in nature and can mess up your bearded dragon's digestive system. Additionally, savoy cabbage contains more phosphorus than calcium, which isn't a positive again. Although, on the brighter side of things, it has the maximum amount of vitamin A in it. If you are feeding this cabbage in small quantities to your beardie, keep it down to once every two weeks. Talking about napa cabbage, it provides a good amount of vitamin A, vitamin C, fiber and calcium. The only drawback of napa cabbage is it contains goitrogens. If fed in a controlled amount, your bearded dragons can eat this napa cabbage once a week.

What cabbage type is the most nutritious?

Although you should not use cabbage regularly as part of your beardie's diet, you can use it once in a while for a change as part of a balanced diet for your dragon to eat. The red cabbage is unarguably the go-to cabbage if you want to feed cabbage to your beardie. Leafy vegetables like cabbage are packed with nutrition and red and green ones are relatively less harmful than other types available in the market.

The red cabbage is the best overall option as it contains a lot of nutrients including fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, antioxidants, manganese, potassium, magnesium, vitamin B6 and folate. Some of the other health benefits provided by this cabbage are that it has low fat and low sugar levels. At the same time, the calcium to phosphorus ratio in these cabbages is 1.5:1, and this is a huge positive as a bearded dragon must consume more calcium than phosphorus. Moreover, the red cabbage isn't as goitrogenic as others and so doesn't have a stark drawback. If we look at the cabbage which offers the maximum amount of calcium in it, the answer is green cabbage but it contains a considerable amount of goitrogens which aren't healthy for bearded dragons. The cabbage that you must not be feeding your bearded dragon at any cost is the Savoy cabbage as it has high amounts of goitrogens which is quite unhealthy for bearded dragons and at the same time is acidic too. It damages the digestive system as well as the immune system of a beardie.

What kinds of cabbages can bearded dragons eat?

Generally, bearded dragons can eat all four types of cabbages, some maybe once per week, others even less frequently. Cabbage is something you only want your beardies to consume every now and then. Cabbage can function as an occasional change to your bearded dragon's diet but can never become its go-to food.

Without any second thoughts, your bearded dragon can eat red cabbage which is also known as purple cabbage. Its nutrients and contents are relatively better than other cabbages and it has the least drawbacks too. There won't be any health issues if your bearded dragons eat red or purple cabbage twice a week. The scenario changes for other kinds of cabbages though; the green cabbage, the napa cabbage and the Savoy cabbage are edible but they come with big drawbacks along with their benefits. Along with cabbages, bearded dragons can also eat leeks, another green leafy vegetable, but make sure to give only the green part of it and in small quantities. Finely chop them before feeding them to the bearded dragons so that it is convenient for them to consume. People are often curious about if it is a good idea to feed both broccoli and cabbage to bearded dragons. Well, both of them can be included in a bearded dragon's diet only once in a while just for a change of taste. Both of them contain elements that are harmful for consumption by a beardie. The oxalic acid in broccoli and goitrogens in cabbage are the main issue of concern.

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