Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cilantro? 8 Benefits | Full Guide

Nowadays, it is a trend to keep bearded dragons. As a parent of a reptile, it is necessary to know everything related to its health and care. While feeding bearded dragons, people often question can a bearded dragon eat Cilantro. 

Coriander and Cilantro come from the same plant but are used differently and have different flavors. The coriander plant’s leaves and stems make Cilantro—the seeds produced when a plant blooms and sets seed are known as coriander seeds. Coriander is also known as Cilantro in Spanish. 

You might think, how can a bearded dragon eat Cilantro? But these reptiles love eating Cilantro. It contains many vitamins which could help make their life healthier overall. 

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cilantro?

Yes, a bearded dragon can eat Cilantro. Cilantro has many essential nutrients for your bearded dragon’s health. This herb has vitamins and minerals, including Vitamins A, C, and K. Yes, a bearded dragon can eat Cilantro. Bearded Dragons are omnivores; they like to eat both plants and meat. These animals enjoy eating Cilantro, which is a great treat for them. However, always remember to feed your dragon in moderation. 

How Often Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cilantro?

Cilantro is beneficial, but you should not feed them daily. Give it to your bearded dragon 3-4 times a week. Start with a small amount and then increase it. It would help if you did not make Cilantro a staple diet for your dragon because it contains a lot of water and can cause diarrhea in your bearded dragon.

8 Benefits of Cilantro for Bearded Dragons

Cilantro has many benefits for bearded dragons and other reptiles. It contains various vitamins and minerals such as A, C, and more. Here are eight benefits of Cilantro for your bearded dragons:

1: Vitamin A Maintains Healthy Eyesight and Skin

Spinach, carrots, and cilantro are rich in vitamin A. Cilantro contains about 40% vitamin A. Vitamin A is necessary for a bearded dragon, and vitamin A helps maintain healthy skin, eyesight, teeth, and bones. It is also suitable for healthy cell growth and reproduction. 

2: Vitamin C Strenthen the Immune System

Cilantro contains 11% of vitamin C. It is a great idea to feed Cilantro to your reptiles. Because Vitamin C strengthens the immune system, it also helps in the healing process of wounds.

3: Calcium Maintains Strong Bones

Cilantro does not contain a large amount of calcium. So, feeding cilantro to your bearded dragon regularly or twice a week will give them enough calcium. Calcium maintains strong bones and teeth in a bearded dragon—feed cilantro to your dragon for solid bones.

4: Vitamin K Repairs the Damage

Along with kale and broccoli, cilantro has a good amount of vitamin K. This vitamin can be found in green leafy vegetables, for example, spinach. You can see a few signs of vitamin K deficiency in your reptile, and your reptile will have poor growth, lethargy, and pale coloration. Vitamin K in reptiles helps repair cuts and wounds and is also essential for the blood to clot.

5: Fiber is Essential for Digestive Health

If you only feed meat to your reptile, it will face indigestion. Feeding cilantro is suitable for your pet’s digestion. Cilantro contains fiber which is essential for digestive health, and fiber regulates digestion and gives your bearded dragon a feeling of fullness.

6: Antioxidants Fight Against Cancer Cells

Cilantro is a good source of antioxidants, and these help a reptile fight against cancer cells and oxidative stress. If too many free radicals exist in your reptile’s body, it will damage the cells and cause Oxidative stress. Therefore it is essential to feed Cilantro to your bearded dragon, as it helps lower the health risks and helps fight cancer.

7: Potassium Controls Blood Pressure

Cilantro also contains Potassium which helps control blood pressure levels. Feeding cilantro to your reptile will provide the proper amount of Potassium they need. However, never feed too much Cilantro because too much Potassium could lead to health problems such as high blood pressure or kidney damage. Feed in moderation.

8: Water is Essential for Hydration

Like humans, bearded dragons also need hydration. Feeding cilantro will hydrate them because fresh cilantro herbs contain 90% water. 

If your bearded dragon is not adequately hydrated, it can face problems like kidney stones, renal failure, and even death in extreme cases.

3 Risks of feeding Cilantro to Bearded Dragons

Feeding Cilantro may offer several health benefits to your bearded dragon. However, it also has a couple of risks, making it a poor choice for staple food for bearded dragons. Let us know about these risks in detail. 

1: Risk of Hypervitaminosis

Cilantro has a lot of This herb is filled with vitamin A. Vitamin A helps maintain good eyesight and supports body growth, bone health, and a healthy immune system. However, feeding too much Vitamin A can lead to hypervitaminosis.

2: Risk of diarrhea

Cilantro contains 92% water. If you feed it in moderation, it is the best source of hydration. However, providing too much Cilantro can harm your bearded dragon and cause overhydration and diarrhea. 

3: Metabolic Bone Disease

Calcium is essential for strong bones and teeth. Always consider the levels and ratios of calcium and phosphorus in your reptile’s diet. To avoid the risk of kidney stones, always favor the ratio of calcium. If the balance favors phosphorus, it can lead to a severe condition called metabolic bone disease. 

How to Prepare Cilantro for Your Bearded Dragons

Although Cilantro is very easy to serve, there are a few steps to follow to ensure you are doing it in the best way.

Purchase Organic Cilantro

We know purchasing organic Cilantro will cost extra, but it is suitable for your reptile. Organic products are 100% herbicide-free and pesticide-free too. 

Wash to Get Rid of Pesticides

Suppose you can not get organic Cilantro, no worries. You can purchase what you can get. Always make sure to wash the Cilantro thoroughly to get rid of pesticides. Even if you are feeding organic Cilantro, you should always wash it before feeding your pet.

Feed them Raw Cilantro

As you know, Cilantro can be eaten without cooking, and it’s the best way to feed your reptile. Providing fresh Cilantro will give all the nutrients to your bearded dragon. 

Feed with Other Greens

After washing the Cilantro, add it to a bowl with other high-quality greens full of calcium, and it will add some fantastic flavor to your pet.

Conclusion

Every food has its benefits and risks. Feeding in moderation is necessary because it keeps us safe. Now you would have got your answer to the question, can bearded dragons eat Cilantro? However, feeding them a larger serving of Cilantro is no serious health risk. But never make it a staple diet of your bearded dragon. A pinch of Cilantro added to their staple greens is the healthiest option.

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