Can Bearded Dragons Eat Parsley? All You Need To Know

Popular pets, bearded dragons, have a wide variety of diets. What about herbs? Can Bearded Dragons Eat Parsley? It is typical to see Parsley growing on the windowsill or in the yard of many houses. It’s OK to feed their dragon one of these healthy herbs. To that question, the answer is yes, but there are worries about giving your bearded dragon too much Parsley. As a group of bearded dragon fans, we decided to investigate this subject further.

Before you feed Parsley to your bearded dragon, be sure to check the recommendations of veterinarians and nutritionists. This way, informed choices are made. Does this mean that bearded dragons can consume Parsley? Parsley may be part of a bearded dragon’s diet. Due to its high oxalate content, we should use Parsley in moderation. The binding of oxalates impedes calcium absorption. 

Can bearded dragons eat Parsley?

Yes, bearded dragons eat Parsley. You may feed Parsley to your bearded dragon, and it’s healthy for them. Parsley is one example that is a rich source of vitamins A, C, and K.

As a good source of vitamin A, C, and K for bearded dragons, Parsley is a good addition to their diet.

When we dig into the Parsley, we find that it is very rich in water and very low in sugar. Meals having sugar not be fed to bearded dragons since they put them at risk for obesity, fatty liver disease, diarrhea, renal difficulties, and other health issues that come with it.

On the other hand, Parsley has high water content, making it an excellent meal for hydrating dragons. Additionally, Parsley has a high calcium concentration, making it a beneficial herb.

Bearded dragons’ growth and bone formation need a high intake of calcium. The normal development of eggs needs a substantial input of calcium by females. The metabolic bone disease may occur if the beaded don’t obtain enough calcium.

parsley Nutritional Stats

According to the USDA Nutritional Database, 100g of Parsley has the following nutrients;

Water- 87.7 g

Energy- 36 kcal

Sugar- 0.85 g

Protein- 2.97 g

Fiber- 3.3 g

Calcium- 138 mg

Phosphorus- 58 mg

Iron- 6.2 mg

Potassium- 554 mg

Vitamin C- 133 mg

Vitamin A- 421 µg

Vitamin K- 1640 µg

Ca:P ratio – 2.4:1

parsley Nutritional Facts

• The unique antioxidants and disease-preventing capabilities of Parsley make it a popular culinary and therapeutic plant. The Mediterranean area is home to this little, leafy plant. 
• There is a Petroselinum species in the Apiaceae family that is biannual. L. var crispum is the scientific name for it.
• Flat-leaf Parsley has dark green leaves resembling those of coriander, particularly in the case of the herb. On the other hand, Leaf-coriander has leaves that are bigger and milder in taste than those of this kind. 
• Mediterranean, Eastern European, and American cuisines all make extensive use of the plant. There are a variety of parsley varieties flourishing throughout Europe. Petroselinum crispum neapolitanum, most often known as Italian or flat-leaf Parsley, is a common herb in the Mediterranean region.
• It is a garnish-herb used in Japan and China as a substitute for Parsley. Mitsuba (Cryptotaenia japonica). When compared to European flat-leaf Parsley, its taste and look are quite comparable.

Health Benefits Of Parsley For bearded dragons

The nutrients in parsleys are concentrated, making them an excellent food for your dragon’s health. 

Let us know about Parsley’s components:

Vitamin A and Vitamin C.

These two vitamins are essential for Bearded Dragons to get, so Parsley is a great source of them.

However, bear in mind that bearded dragons can also be afflicted by Vitamin A toxicity. It means that one must keep an eye out for foods that are particularly high in Vitamin A content.

Sugar content is low.

The low sugar content of Parsley is a good thing for Bearded Dragons, who can develop fatty liver disease if their diet contains too much sugar.

Oxalate concentration is very high.

Oxalates are found in abundance in Parsley. Because they interfere with calcium absorption and cause MBD in Bearded Dragons, oxalates should be avoided by Bearded Dragon owners (Metabolic Bone Disease).

Among captive reptiles, Bearded Dragons, MBD is the most common and most dangerous disease.

How is Parsley to be consumed by a Bearded Dragon?

It is important to wash Parsley completely before using it in a dish or salad. To ensure that the bearded dragon is ingesting germ-free, clean Parsley, it is a good idea to properly wash all greens and vegetables before adding them to the salad.

Parsley should be properly cut into tiny bits, according to experts. 

Finely slice the Parsley with scissors. That’s all there is to it. The parsley leaves may be used for a nutritious salad with a few pieces of fruit to offer some variety.

What Other Greens To Feed Bearded Dragons Instead of Parsley?

You don’t have to feed your dragon parsley if you don’t want it to consume nutritious greens since bearded dragons eat a wide variety of plants. In place of Parsley, here are some of the best vegetables and greens you may give to your bearded dragon.

• Chestnut chard
• Greens from a dandelion patch
• Kale
• Mustard greens
• Bok Choy

In terms of calcium, bearded dragons may rely on all of these greens since they all have greater calcium levels than phosphorus. Because bearded dragons have no trouble absorbing calcium, this is a good thing.

Click here to read if bearded dragons can eat bell peppers

Is parsley Safe For bearded dragons?

Bearded dragons need protein, which is found in small amounts in Parsley. Infant dragons need to have enough of it to help them develop quickly, but pets of all ages may benefit from a daily dose.

Is Parsley Good For bearded dragons?

If fed sparingly, the healthy compounds in Parsley may work wonders for your health.

Vitamin A and C.

Aside from immune system boosting and eliminating free radicals, vitamins A and C are beneficial minerals. It is hazardous if your pet consumes a large quantity of Vitamin A. Therefore, you must limit it and never give them a multivitamin containing Vitamin A.

In a 100-gram serving of calcium parsley, there is around 138 mg of the mineral. Because of the high calcium content, the high oxalates content will be less of a concern while eating this product.

Adding calcium to your bearded dragon’s food is the greatest approach to avoid the start of MBD, which may lead to bone disease.

Additionally, phosphorus found in Parsley might bind to calcium and impede absorption. Nevertheless, it adheres to the 2:1 ratio advised by most experts, with a dose of just 58 mg per 100 grams.

Protein

Bearded dragons need protein, which is found in small amounts in Parsley. Infant dragons need to have enough of it to help them develop quickly, but pets of all ages may benefit from a daily dose.

With 3.3 grams of fiber per 100 grams, Fiber Parsley is also a good source for your pet’s digestive system. 

Fiber regulates the amount of water in the intestines, preventing constipation and diarrhea, and it also helps prevent colon cancer by allowing hazardous waste to be expelled more quickly.

Vitamin K is an essential nutrient.

Vitamin K is responsible for blood clotting, and bone formation is found in Parsley. Additionally, by aiding calcium in its journey to the bones, vitamin K may help prevent the start of MBD.

Sugar-free!

Among the many advantages of Parsley is its low sugar content, which means it won’t cause you to gain weight. Fatty Liver Disease may occur in bearded dragons that eat a diet high in sugar.

Fat Liver Disease causes the liver to be unable to filter blood adequately, leading to various health issues.

Are parsley Bad For bearded dragons?

Oxalates, the major element in Parsley, is something to watch for a while feeding it to your bearded dragon.

Oxalates

As a plant matures, it employs oxalates as one of its defensive systems to defend itself from bacteria and fungi.

These oxalates, on the other hand, may impede the absorption of calcium. For the simple reason that it contains more oxalates than many other foods routinely fed to bearded dragons (about 1700 mg/100g).

Adding too much Parsley to your bearded dragon’s diet may cause brittle bones and a disease known as Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD).

Because bearded dragons have difficulty acquiring adequate calcium in their diet, MBD is a common occurrence. It weakens their bones and causes them to degenerate as their body removes calcium from them.

According to most specialists, it would be futile to offer them anything that worsens the issue by sprinkling calcium powder over their meal.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Parsley Root?

If you’re feeding bearded dragons parsley roots, they’ll have difficulty eating them due to their abrasive nature.

Bearded dragons are prone to choking since they aren’t very good at biting tough objects. Because they are constantly in touch with soil when growing, it may be difficult to remove all germs and chemicals from parsley roots while washing them. 

Eventually, the bearded dragon bodies will absorb the chemicals, and they will get unwell. Bearded dragons tend to avoid parsley roots for these two reasons. Because bearded dragons cannot eat roots, please refrain from feeding them to them.

Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Parsley?

Parsley is safe for bearded dragons of all ages to consume, but you still need to be careful for the same reason we discussed before. You may know that Parsley has a high calcium content, but you may not have known that it also has a significant number of oxalates.

Due to the rapid growth of bearded dragons in the first few months of their lives, they need a diet heavy in protein and calcium.

A newborn bear’s stomach should be filled with the highest quality nutrition available, and anything that is only there to pad the total should be avoided. Parsley should only be fed to newborn dragons on rare occasions, in conjunction with other nutritious greens.

How Often Can A bearded dragons Eat Parsley?

• As many times as they want to eat it, Parsley needs to bearded dragons once or twice a week or once or twice a month in tiny quantities. The oxalates in this vegetable are particularly harmful to calcium absorption because they bind to calcium and prevent it from being absorbed.
• Kale and spinach are low in oxalate, whereas Parsley has a whopping 1700mg of oxalate per 100g. Even though Parsley is high in calcium, oxalate makes it deficient if bearded dragons often consume this vegetable.
• In addition, excessive vitamin A intake might lead to hypervitaminosis A in bearded. To prevent overfeeding your lizard companion, you must be careful while feeding it Parsley.

How To Feed Parsley To bearded dragons?

Here are some steps to feed Parsley to bearded dragons:

• Fresh Parsley, either produced in your garden or bought ethically, is the greatest method to feed your bearded dragon.
• Even if you cultivate the Parsley at home, wash it well to eliminate any impurities.
• Crush the meat into a fine paste.
• Add to a fruit and vegetable salad.
• Keep servings to no more than two times each week.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Parsley Leaves, Flakes, Or Stem?

The leaves and stems of Parsley are rich in various vitamins and minerals that might benefit your pet. As long as the parsley leaves and stems are intact, the bearded dragon may consume them.

Preservatives and other substances included in parsley flakes may harm bearded dragons. Make careful to mix parsley leaves and stems with other veggies before giving them to your pet.

Parsley stem and leaves are rich in nutrients; therefore, mixing helps give a balanced diet for bearded dragons.

Final Thoughts

The fact that your bearded dragon is chomping on the part of your fresh Parsley is not a problem. That being said, you might give your dragon some of the Parsley you cultivated yourself if you were proud of it and wanted to do so.

But unless you have a unique reason, we advise against using this plant because of its high oxalate concentration. You may feed your pet worms, maple leaves, carnation petals, a variety of veggies, and more without feeling guilty.

FAQs