Whereas there are lots of several types of lettuce obtainable to develop or purchase, on this article we’re going to deal with just one. That is the romaine lettuce, generally alternatively referred to as the cos lettuce.
In some ways it’s the “traditional” lettuce, well-liked for salads, sandwiches or for together with in a burger. However the main query right here is whether or not it’s equally well-liked with bearded dragons?
Bearded dragons can eat romaine lettuce.
It’s a low calorie, excessive protein meals that may make a helpful a part of your bearded dragon’s eating regimen. The one actual draw back to feeding romaine lettuce to your bearded dragon is its excessively excessive water content material, which suggests vitamins are few and much between.
How Usually to Feed Romaine Lettuce To a Bearded Dragon
Romaine lettuce might be fed commonly to your bearded dragon, although solely in small quantities. It’s acceptable to make it a near-daily a part of their eating regimen, as long as it’s supplemented with different, extra nutritious greens and fruits.
Based on the US Division of Agriculture romaine lettuce is 95% water. Which means that solely 5% of the lettuce you feed your beardie may have different useful vitamins in. For that reason it’s a dangerous thought to feed solely romaine lettuce to your bearded dragon.
As an alternative, it ought to kind only one a part of a different and balanced eating regimen, making certain different meals provided assist to make up for the dietary deficiencies of romaine lettuce.
There have been instances up to now the place extreme romaine lettuce consumption has led to diarrhea. It’s believed that is associated to the excessive water content material. In case you discover apparent modifications to your bearded dragon’s “output” after feeding romaine lettuce, think about decreasing the quantity and frequency of use.
Vitamins Present in Romaine Lettuce
Romaine lettuce could also be primarily water, however don’t suppose this foodstuff is solely with out profit to your bearded dragon. Certainly, dig a bit of deeper and you discover fairly just a few nutritional vitamins and minerals, to not point out different benefits.
So let’s begin with the nutritional vitamins. Romaine lettuce accommodates wholesome quantities of vitamin A (helpful for wholesome eyesight), folate and vitamin Ok.
Vitamin Ok is especially useful to reptile keepers, as a result of it acts alongside calcium and vitamin D to assist strengthen the bones. It basically “tells” the calcium the place to go, pushing it into the skeleton. With out adequate vitamin Ok, no quantity of calcium will probably be assured to protect towards Metabolic Bone Illness (MBD), which might be rife in captive bearded dragons.
One other helpful advantage of feeding romaine lettuce to bearded dragons is the minerals it supplies. Notable amongst these are iron (important for wholesome purple blood cells), magnesium and potassium (each of which contribute to skeletal well being).
However there’s extra. Romaine lettuce has a good quantity of fiber in it, serving to to take care of intestine well being. It additionally affords comparatively excessive ranges of beta carotene, a pure antioxidant that may shield the physique from oxidative injury.
One last profit value noting is that romaine lettuce is comparatively excessive in protein. Roughly 17% of the energy from romaine lettuce is protein, so this could be a notably helpful foodstuff for rising beardies.
Oxalic Acid Ranges in Romaine Lettuce
Romaine lettuce has little or no oxalic acid.
That is helpful as a result of oxalic acid can negatively affect the absorption of calcium within the physique. Consider oxalates “competing” with calcium within the physique; the much less oxalic acid, the extra calcium might be absorbed from the eating regimen and used to construct robust, wholesome bones. Meals low in oxalic acid, like romaine lettuce, due to this fact provide actual worth to keepers of diurnal lizards like bearded dragons.
Calcium:Phosphorus Ratios in Romaine Lettuce
Whereas it’s nice that oxalic acid ranges are very low in romaine lettuce, an additional consideration is simply how a lot calcium it affords within the first place. In spite of everything, low oxalic acid ranges imply little or no if the foodstuff itself has little to no calcium.
Romaine lettuce accommodates simply 1% calcium.
Romaine lettuce has a calcium:phosphorus ratio of 1.1:1.
That is thought-about fairly low. The perfect ratio for bearded dragons is 2:1.
So we will conclude that romaine lettuce has too little calcium, and an excessive amount of phosphorus.
Whereas this doesn’t fully rule out lettuce out of your bearded dragon’s eating regimen, it does imply that it ought to be fed solely sparingly. When feeding romaine lettuce think about supplementing the meal with a great high quality, reptile-safe calcium powder. Alternatively, mix it with different meals identified to include extra calcium, resembling parsley or cabbage.
Causes To not Feed Romaine Lettuce To Your Bearded Dragon
Romaine lettuce isn’t the worst meals you possibly can feed your bearded dragon, but it surely’s a good distance from being the very best.
As we’ve seen on this article, romaine lettuce affords little or no by way of vitamin, although it may be helpful for rehydrating a bearded dragon. It’s usually thought-about low in calcium, so supplementation is more likely to be required whether it is commonly fed.
Lastly as we’ve mentioned, the extreme water content material can result in digestive troubles for some bearded dragons, particularly youthful specimens, so feed solely sparsely and you should definitely monitor how your beardie responds.
Find out how to Put together Romaine Lettuce for Your Bearded Dragon
Romaine lettuce ought to be fed as contemporary as potential. Don’t feed your bearded dragon your cast-off previous lettuce. Keep away from something going brown or droopy. No, you need to solely feed crisp, juicy, contemporary lettuce to your bearded dragon.
Begin by totally washing the lettuce below working water. Lettuces are well-known for inflicting tummy upsets on account of pesticide residues. Giving it a rinse helps to take away any chemical substances from the floor.
Subsequent gently dry the lettuce, in a salad spinner or by patting with some kitchen towel.
Romaine lettuce is usually finest chopped into items, the place it’s simpler to your bearded dragon to eat. It also needs to be blended with different higher-protein meals, and ideally the entire meal ought to be dusted with a calcium complement.
Romaine lettuce can rapidly spoil within the warmth of a bearded dragon vivarium, so take away any uneaten lettuce quickly after feeding. This isn’t a meals you’ll need to go away sitting round for days on finish, otherwise you’ll be liable to some critical abdomen upsets to your lizard.
