Bearded Dragons are reptiles native to Australia. They are very docile animals that can live indoors or outdoors. They are also known for their long tongues that they use to feed themselves.
They can eat anything from fruits and vegetables to meat and fish. Celery is a good source of fiber and vitamins for them.
They can be fed on this diet every day, but it’s not necessary. It will depend on your bearded dragon’s age and health condition. Celery does contain mostly water, so it will not offer your dragon much in the way of nutrition.
Below, we’ll cover the subject of reptile nutrition, reptile care, and how celery can affect your bearded dragon’s health.
Celery – Nutritional Profile And Facts
When it comes to feeding your bearded dragon, you’ll need to know whether or not what you are giving them is harmful or not by having a look at the nutritional content of celery and seeing whether it is suitable.
Celery contains vitamin K, which helps with blood clotting. It also has calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, and vitamin B6.
Nutritional Content Of Celery Per 100 Grams
- Calcium: 40 mg
- Iron: 0.2 mg
- Phosphorus: 24 mg
- Carbs: 2.97 g
- Fiber: 1.6 g
- Sugar: 1.34 g
- Water: 79.53 g
- Protein: 0.69 g
- Energy: 14 cals
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Vitamin C: 3.1 mg
- Vitamin B6: 0.074 mg
As you can see, celery is mainly composed of water, calcium, and sodium. This is a very clean food that will not harm anyone who ingests it.
It is best to give your bearded dragon celery as part of its regular diet. However, if you want to give them celery as an occasional treat, then make sure that you do not give them too much in one single feed.
Celery And Bearded Dragons – The Lowdown
If you’re wondering about the effects of celery on your bearded dragon, there are some things you should know.
The first thing you need to know is that celery is low in calories. If you were to give your bearded dragon a whole bunch of celery, you would only be able to get around 10% of its daily calorie intake.
This means that you’d have to increase your bearded dragon’s total calorie intake by around 90% if you want them to remain healthy and happy.
The second thing you need to know about celery is that it is high in sodium. If you were to add celery to your bearded dragon’s diet, you could easily double its daily sodium intake.
This is something you don’t want to do because excess salt causes problems like kidney stones and heart disease.
Celery doesn’t have the nutritional value of other vegetables, such as kale, for example, so it would be a lot more beneficial to feed your reptile this instead.
These animals also have smaller digestion than other reptiles, as they have very small bellies. You’ll have to make sure that you feed them a small amount of celery if you want to prevent them from vomiting.
You’ll need to make sure that everything that you feed your bearded dragon is high in nutrition. This reptile needs a lot of calcium, for example, so you’ll have to make sure it is ingesting a lot of calcium-rich foods.
Now that we’ve covered the basics about celery, let’s break it down even further, covering all aspects of this vegetable and how much you can feed to your bearded dragon.
The Bearded Dragon And Celery Leaves
There are two main parts to celery leaves. There are the green stems, which are actually the leaves, and the whiter stalks.
Both these parts contain nutrients and vitamins, but the stalks are higher in sugar than the green stems.
When it comes to feeding your reptile, you’ll need to decide between these two parts.
The green stems are usually used to make up a leafy salad. You can either serve the stalks up by themselves or combine them with the leaves to increase the level of nutrients and calories that your reptile will need to stay healthy.
If you are going to feed your dragon only leaves, then you should make sure that you have enough for two portions.
If your dragon suffers a dip in energy or if it has started vomiting, then you might have gotten the balance of celery leaves and stalks incorrectly. However, by and large, it will be fine to feed your bearded dragon celery, as long as it is in moderation.
The Pros Of Feeding A Bearded Dragon Celery
One of the most important reasons why you should feed your bearded dragon celery is that it helps keep their digestive system running smoothly.
Your bearded dragon will not suffer any ill effects if you feed them celery, as long as they eat a moderate amount of it.
It is also one of the easiest things you can feed your animal. All you have to do is chop some up into bite-sized pieces and place them on top of their food.
Celery Is High In Calcium And Phosphates
Calcium is an essential nutrient for your bearded dragon. It is needed for bone growth, muscle contraction, nerve function, blood clotting, hormone production, and many other functions.
As well as being good for your reptile, it is also great for humans. If you’re looking to build strong bones, then you need to consume plenty of calcium.
As mentioned earlier, celery contains a small amount of calcium, but the balance of phosphate and calcium is decent. Why is this ratio important?
Well, if you combine phosphorus and calcium, then it will make it much easier for your reptile to absorb the two minerals. Again, celery is a great way of maintaining these levels at the same time.
It also has a great phosphorous-to-calcium ratio. You should make sure that your reptile gets a ratio of 1:1 or 2:1 when it comes to their celery intake.
If you are regularly feeding your bearded dragon this kind of food, then you might see a noticeable spike in their calcium and phosphorous levels. We would certainly recommend that you minimize the amount of celery that you feed your dragon, especially if you notice a change in the creature’s behavior.
Celery Contains Little Sugar
While celery does contain a little bit of sugar, it doesn’t contain nearly as much as what we find in fruits like apples and bananas. This means that if you want to give your bearded dragon celery as a treat, then you don’t have to worry about giving them too much sugar.
As you can see from the table above, celery only contains 1.34 grams of sugar per 100 grams of celery. This is a minuscule amount and will not lead to your dragon developing any sugar-related health issues.
Sugar can lead to plenty of health issues for your dragon, including obesity, diabetes, tooth decay, and even cancer. So, feed your dragon celery as opposed to fruit, which contains a high amount of sugar.
Sugar can really negatively affect your dragon’s teeth, so it is best to avoid giving them sugary treats. This will cause your reptile to develop a lot of gum disease and tartar that it will find difficult to remove.
You should be sure to clean your dragon’s teeth regularly if you are going to keep its teeth healthy for the long term.
The Cons Of Feeding Celery To Your Bearded Dragon
We’ve already covered why you should feed your bearded dragon celery, but there are a few cons to doing so. The first thing to note is that celery is very bland. It won’t provide your reptile with anything exciting to eat.
This could mean that they may become bored with eating it, which could result in them chewing on things that aren’t safe for them.
Celery Contains Too Much Water
Another problem that you may face is that celery contains a lot of water. While this isn’t necessarily bad, it can cause problems for your bearded dragon, as they will crave a lot of nutrients.
They will require more calories than usual, which could lead to overeating when they are fed their regular food. This can cause your dragon to put on weight quickly, leading to an increase in its appetite.
It will also cause issues for a young bearded dragon, as this will be the time that they need plenty of nutrients to grow and develop good teeth and bones.
You’ll have to make sure that every meal is very calorific for your young bearded dragon to make sure that they grow up to be nice and strong.
Celery Contains Little Protein
Finally, celery doesn’t contain enough protein to meet the needs of your bearded dragon. Even though it has some protein, it is far less than what you’d expect from other foods.
As we all know, the protein forms the building blocks of muscle and decent skin tissue. If your dragon is deficient in protein, then you can expect to see them developing skin issues and maybe even muscle wastage.
If you are looking to supplement your bearded dragon’s diet with protein, then you will need to look at other sources of protein, such as insects or fish.
If you do decide to feed your dragon celery, then you should ensure that you give them lots of vegetables and meat during the same meal.
Celery Contains Little Calcium
While celery does contain calcium, it doesn’t contain much. In fact, it contains just 0.2% of your bearded dragon’s recommended daily intake.
Calcium is important for many parts of your dragon’s body, especially its skeleton. Without adequate amounts of calcium, it is possible that your bearded dragon could suffer from bone diseases.
If you want to prevent this, then you will need a calcium-rich diet. You can get this by feeding your bearded dragon with other vegetables like kale, which contains a lot more calcium per 100 grams than celery.
Kale contains around 200 mg of calcium, compared to celery which only contains 40 mg.
If you really want to boost your bearded dragon’s calcium levels, then why not feed them a mix of celery and kale?
How Frequently Should You Feed Celery To Your Reptile?
The frequency with which you feed your bearded dragon celery depends on its age.
Young dragons tend to eat a lot more frequently than older ones. As well as being younger, they are also smaller and have smaller stomachs, so you will need to get the balance just right.
This means that you won’t need to feed them as often. However, if you notice that they are getting too fat, then you will need to increase the amount of food that you’re giving them.
You should feed your bearded dragon celery anywhere from once a week to once a month. You should make sure that the portions are small, especially if your dragon has a smaller stomach.
You should make sure that your dragon has plenty of essential vitamins and minerals, especially when they are growing up.
If you are continually feeding your bearded dragon celery, then you might overload it with calcium. This is why you should only feed it celery a moderate amount once or twice a week.
Feeding Your Bearded Dragon Celery – How To Do It
Make sure that you wash your celery thoroughly before you feed it to your reptile. This will ensure any bugs and ticks that are stuck to it are cleaned away and do not get into your reptile’s belly, as this can make them ill.
Next, chop up the stalks into bite-sized pieces. You can either use scissors or kitchen shears. This will reduce the likelihood of your lizard choking.
After chopping up the celery, place it into a bowl and cover it with water. Make sure that there is enough water to completely submerge the celery.
Next, leave the bowl out overnight. The next day, drain off the excess water.
Now you can start feeding your bearded dragon the soft celery. This will make it easier for your lizard to eat.
Once you’ve done this, simply hand-feed your bearded dragon the celery. Remember to be gentle and slow when doing this. You can also put the celery in a mixture of other foods, especially insects and other sources of protein.
The best method of serving your reptile celery is with a mixture of other foods, as this will give it the balanced diet that it needs to thrive. This is especially true if your lizard is young and needs plenty of nutrients and protein to grow.
You may find that your lizard doesn’t seem to enjoy eating celery straight away. If this happens, then try adding some extra veggies to it. For example, add some broccoli to your bearded dragon’s diet.
You can also buy special diets for reptiles that include celery. These diets are designed to provide your reptile with all of the necessary nutrients and vitamins that it needs.
Other Fruits And Vegetables That You Can Feed Your Bearded Dragon
There are many different fruits and vegetables that you can feed your bearded dragon. Some of these include:
- Carrots
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
- Tomatoes
- Sweet Potatoes
- Turnips
- Green beans
You should lay out all these foods for your bearded dragon and see which ones they prefer. You should also make a note of the nutritional qualities of this food so that you can make sure you are maximizing the vitamins and minerals in your dragon’s diet.
Green beans have the most protein, so if you want to make sure that your young lizard is growing quickly, then you should definitely feed it this.
Our Final Say
We hope that we have helped you learn how to properly care for your bearded dragon. We know that caring for an animal like this can be quite stressful at times, but hopefully, our tips on whether or not you should feed it celery have made that process a little easier.
