Can Bearded Dragons Eat Celery? Benefits and Risks

With growing interest in keeping pets, many pet lovers are fond of keeping reptiles; one among them is the bearded dragon.

When it comes to eating habits, bearded dragons can eat a wide variety of food, but not all are safe. Some foods provide beneficial nutrients, and some can cause serious health issues. Owners of bearded dragons always have a question before feeding anything to their pet. Among all the foods a bearded dragon can eat, one is celery. So, can bearded dragons eat celery? Celery has many health benefits, from vitamin C, beta-carotene, antioxidants, calcium, and low calories.

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Can Bearded Dragons Eat Celery?

Bearded dragons can eat a wide variety of foods. As for celery, bearded dragons can eat it too. Celery is a tasty and crunchy snack you can surly feed your reptile as beardie enjoys celery a lot.

Celery contains essential vitamins and nutrients beneficial for a bearded dragon. Many reptile owners might wonder whether it is safe to feed regularly. However, apart from all the usefulness, you should occasionally feed celery to your bearded dragon as a treat.

How Often Can Bearded Dragons Eat Celery?

All bearded dragon owners should know that celery should be an occasional treat, and it would help if you fed it only once or twice per month.

It will be good if fresh celery gets added in a small amount along with other leafy greens such as Romaine lettuce, collard greens, yellow squash, or other healthy plant materials.

5 Benefits of Celery for Bearded Dragons

Celery contains good nutrients and other qualities that will benefit your bearded dragon.

Below is a list of benefits that celery has for your bearded dragon:

1: Calcium to Phosphorus Ratio Aids in Development

The calcium-to-phosphorus ratio is necessary for a bearded dragon’s diet. A bearded dragon needs calcium for healthy growth and development.

If the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio is good, it allows calcium to get easily absorbed by a bearded dragon’s body. However, if the amount of phosphorus is high, your beardie can end up with the metabolic bone disease. Thus disease causes paralyzing pain and can be fatal for a bearded dragon.

2: Antioxidants Boost Heart Health

Celery contains a lot of antioxidants essential for a reptile. Besides antioxidants, celery also provides flavonoids, which promote good heart health and help reduce inflammation in your bearded dragon.

3: Celery Keeps Beardie Hydrated

Like cabbage, celery is rich in water content. Celery contains about 95g of water for every 100g, which is a good source of hydration for your bearded dragon. However, don’t overfeed because it can also be harmful.

4: Beta Carotene Aids in Growth

Celery has beta-carotene and Vitamin C in it. With these, celery is good for the immune system and growth. Apart from that, it also benefits the reproductive system and vision of the bearded dragon.

5: Low Sugar Levels Prevent Severe Diseases

Celery has a low sugar level, around 1.34g of sugar in 100g. That’s why it is suitable for your bearded dragon. Too much sugar in a reptile’s diet can cause serious health problems, and you must run to the vet every time. High sugar can cause obesity, tooth and gum problems, and diarrhea.

The bearded dragon’s teeth are rooted directly into the jawbone, not the sockets. Teeth and gum problems can cause immense pain to a reptile. Therefore, foods of low sugar levels, like celery, are always the right choice for the bearded dragon’s diet.

3 Risks of Feeding Celery to Bearded Dragons

Feeding Celery to your bearded dragon is good, but too much can cause problems for your reptile. Apart from all the benefits, it also has some negative impacts, and it is not a meal you can feed your bearded dragon daily. Below are some risks your reptile can have from celery.

1: Celery Has a Risk of Kidney Stones

Celery contains many oxalates. These oxalates are oxalic acids and bind to calcium preventing the bearded dragon from absorbing calcium.

Oxalates can cause kidney stones in your bearded dragon. It’s best if you do not overfeed your reptile.

2: Excess Water Can Cause Diarrhea

Celery contains a high amount of fiber and 95% water content, which means the nutrient value in celery is in minimal quantity. Therefore, feeding celery to your bearded dragon daily can cause digestive upset and diarrhea to your reptile. Instead, kale and carrots are better options to feed bearded dragons.

3: Low in Nutrients

Celery contains some nutrients, but not all of them. 95% of celery is water, and only 5 % is nutrients. Celery lack many essential vitamins, including:

Vitamin A
Vitamin K
Vitamin B-6
Vitamin B-12
Iron
Fiber
Calcium
Potassium
Magnesium
Phosphorus

However, feeding celery once or twice a month benefits your bearded dragon.

How to Prepare Celery For Your Bearded Dragons?

Choose Fresh to Get the Most Benefits

Always feed your reptile with fresh celery. Never provide the one with discolored leaves, limps, or bruises because fresh ones have fewer oxidants. And it is best to opt for organic ones; this prevents pesticides from getting into the bearded dragon’s body.

Washing Makes it Pesticide Free

Make sure to wash it thoroughly before serving. It will ensure that it is clean and pesticides free. After washing, look for rotten leaves or other blemishes, and remove the affected part with the knife to prevent any health consequences. You can then feed the celery raw to your pet dragon.

Fine Chopping is Good

After washing it thoroughly, cut the celery stalks into small pieces, and the leaves should also be finely chopped. Celery is stringy, so if not cut into small pieces, it can lead to choking.

Mixing with Other Veggies Make it Tempting

Mix a small handful of celery with their other vegetables. It will make their food tempting. Also, if your bearded dragon doesn’t like celery, adding it to its favorite food will help develop a taste for it.

Serving as Topping is Good

Use celery as a topping for a salad or a bowl of veggies or fruits. It is the best way to ensure you don’t feed your beardie too much. Sprinkle some finely chopped celery in their diet food bowl.

Prefer Raw

Never feed cooked celery to your bearded dragon. Providing raw celery will preserve any of the nutrients it does contain.

Conclusion

Bearded dragons love eating a wide variety of meals, and they especially love eating green vegetables. As a bearded dragon owner, always remember to feed them a meal full of nutrients.

The answer to the question can bearded dragons eat celery? is yes, they can eat celery. It is an excellent snack for them. Celery contains beta-carotene, antioxidants, and calcium, which is healthy for your bearded dragon. However, avoid regularly feeding because it can cause problems for your reptile, like kidney stones, diarrhea, etc. Therefore, feed in moderation.

Other Preferred Foods for Bearded Dragon Diet

Foods Not Good for Bearded Dragon Diet

FAQs

Can baby bearded dragons eat celery?

Yes, a bearded baby dragon can eat celery. However, ensure you give them a minimal amount, and you should feed a baby reptile meal with high nutritional value.

Can bearded dragons eat celery leaves?

Bearded dragons can eat celery stalks and leaves but make sure to finely chop the leaves before feeding them to your bearded dragons.

Can bearded dragons eat Celery sticks?

Bearded dragons love the crunchy taste of celery stalks. However, always cut them into mall pieces before feeding, preventing the risk of choking.

Do bearded dragons Like celery?

Yes, bearded dragons like celery are the best snack for these reptiles. But avoid feeding regularly; feed in moderation.

Can bearded dragons eat celery raw?

Always feed raw celery to your bearded dragons. Like any other vegetable, celery contains nutrients that are temperature sensitive, and avoid cooking because it will preserve those nutrients.