Can Bearded Dragons Consume Turnip Greens? Here’s What You Need To Know

vegetables, celery, turnips

Bearded dragons are able to eat all types of fruits and vegetables in a balanced diet. What about turnip greens, however?

VCA Hospitals states that turnip greens should be a large part of a bearded Dragon’s diet. Turnip greens are safe for bearded Dragons. Bearded Dragons should also consume them regularly.

Every beardie needs vegetables in their diet. To ensure they get all the nutrients and minerals they need, beardies should eat plenty of vegetables. Bearded dragons are allowed to eat turnip greens. They should also eat quite a lot of them.

Your bearded dragon will love dark leafy greens of any type. They boost their nutritional and vitamin content without causing bearded dragons any harm over the long term.

Turnip Greens have nutritional benefits

The nutritional benefits of turnip leaves satisfy the needs of bearded dragons just as certain vitamins and nutrients are particularly useful for our bodies.

We can use the USDA Nutritional Database to break down all the nutrients necessary for beardies. Bearded dragons don’t drink water naturally. They ingest water through what they eat. There are approximately 89.7g of water in 100 grams of turnip leaves. Don’t worry though, there is still plenty of room for nutrients.

Vitamin C and A are vital for a bearded dragon’s health. Vitamin A improves their vision, while vitamin C regulates their internal functions, boosts their immune system, and speeds up their healing process.

Bearded dragons are most concerned about the amount of calcium and phosphorus in their food. Bearded dragons need the ratio to be between 1 and 2, but they prefer it to be 2 to 1. They will develop the metabolic bone disease if they consume too much phosphorus.

If they eat turnip leaves, this illness is not something you should worry about. These greens have a calcium-to-phosphorus ratio of 4.5 to 1, more than qualifying them as healthy food.

Turnip greens have many nutritional benefits, but they also contain some nutrients that are not present in them. They are low in calories and sugar, which is better for a bearded Dragon’s diet.

How to serve turnip greens to a bearded dragon

Turnip greens can be safe for bearded dragons to eat and should make up a part of their daily food. So how do you prepare it?

Bearded dragons will eat turnip greens every day. To make a healthy and flavorful vegetable salad, serve them with other essential vegetables.

Turnip greens should be eaten raw and not cooked. They become less effective and healthier for the dragon if they are cooked. To get rid of dirt and potential chemicals, wash them well. Next, place them in the dragon’s food bowl.

a close up of a plant with green leaves

Additional Essential Vegetables For Bearded Dragons

Variety is the best spice in life. Bearded dragons should not eat spices but they can still enjoy a wide variety of foods. These are some other essential vegetables you can safely eat every day.

  • Swiss chard
  • Alfalfa hay
  • Bok choy
  • Mustard greens
  • Kale
  • Parsley
  • Broccoli
  • Beat greens
  • Collard greens
  • Kohlrabi
  • Clover
  • Bell peppers
  • Green beans
  • Dandelion
  • Cilantro

You can safely give them many other fruits and veggies, but less often.

Last Thoughts

Bearded dragons can eat turnip greens. They should be considered an important part of a bearded Dragon’s diet. You can give them fresh-washed turnip greens every single day.

Is it safe to feed turnip greens to bearded dragons?

 Turnips are an excellent veggie to offer to a bearded dragon! The leaves and the white-purplish root can be served if the root bulb is finely minced. Turnips are high in vitamins A, C, and E, as well as calcium and fiber.

How should turnip greens be prepared for bearded dragons?

Make sure the greens are tiny enough for your bearded dragon to consume, chop or slice them. Massage the leaves and remove the stems before cooking harder vegetables like collard greens. Stringy greens, such as kale, can become trapped in the throat, so cut them very finely. 

Which veggies are poisonous to lizards?

However, avoid kale, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, and romaine lettuce since they contain a component that hinders reptiles from effectively absorbing calcium.

Instead of crickets, what else can I give my bearded dragon?

The Best Insects for Bearded Dragon Feeding Roaches from Dubia. Worms of Goliath. Worms of wax. Mealworms. Crickets. Worms from the Phoenix. Butterworms. Earthworms. 

Can animals consume turnip greens?

Turnip greens are fine for your dogs to consume if they are washed and steamed beforehand. To make it easier for your dog to digest the leaves, steam and cut them first. Aug 25, 2020 

How often should I feed my bearded dragon?

 Diet for Bearded Dragons They consume both plants and animals and can eat a variety of foods, including live mealworms, kingworms, and crickets, as well as greens like parsley and kale and vegetables like pepper and sweet potato. You may even offer them little portions of fruit. 

How long should turnip greens soak?

Remove the stems and wash the leaves. I fill my kitchen sink with cool, clean water and soak the leaves fully. I immerse them for around 15-20 minutes to allow any filth to fall to the bottom before gently removing the leaves and draining the water. 

Do you peel your turnips?

Turnips do not need to be peeled before cooking. If the skin looks to be thin enough, you can cook with it. If the skin is thick and leathery, use a sharp knife or vegetable peeler to remove it. The roots and leaves, sometimes known as turnip greens, are both edible.

How often should I feed greens to my bearded dragon?

Greens should be fed to your bearded dragon 12 months and older on a daily basis. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. However, if possible, don’t leave uneaten vegetables out for more than 20-30 minutes. 

What cannot Bearded Dragons consume?

 Chives and onion. Celery. Mushrooms. Lemon is a citrus fruit that will upset your dragon’s stomach. Another citrus fruit that will upset your dragon’s stomach is orange. The iceberg lettuce It’s primarily water with minimal nutritional value, so don’t feed it to your Bearded Dragon.