Can Bearded Dragons Eat Basil is a flavorful herb in many dishes, from salads to sauces. If you’re a fan of basil, you may wonder if your pet bearded dragon can enjoy it, too. Bearded dragons are known for eating a variety of fruits and vegetables. Herbs are a great addition to their diet, providing nutrients not found in other foods. While some herbs are unsuitable for your bearded dragon, basil is safe to consume.
Bearded dragons require a balanced diet for growth and survival. Their diet should consist of 50% carnivorous and 50% omnivorous foods. Adding basil to their meals can help maintain this balance while offering essential nutrients.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Basil?
Bearded dragons can eat basil weekly. While vegetables like collard greens and endives are staples, herbs like basil are an optional, flavorful addition to their diet. Offering basil once a week is a safe way to add variety.
Basil provides essential vitamins A, C, E, and K, which support eyesight, immune function, and healthy cells. It also contains antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties that promote digestion.
However, basil’s high Vitamin A content can cause toxicity if consumed too frequently. It is essential to avoid daily servings. Additionally, basil’s acidity may lead to diarrhoea or stomach discomfort if fed in excess.
How Often Can Bearded Dragons Eat Basil?
Basil has many benefits for bearded dragons, but feeding it daily can cause problems. Like other herbs, basil should be offered in moderation alongside vegetables such as broccoli.
It’s best to give your bearded dragon basil once a week. This allows most of their diet to consist of staple greens, like dandelion greens, while offering some variety with basil.
5 Benefits of Basil for Bearded Dragons
Basil provides essential nutrients in a balanced form, making it safe for your pet.
1: High in Calcium
As a bearded dragon owner, you know the importance of calcium in their diet. Adding basil occasionally and other calcium-rich greens helps maintain a balanced diet. Basil provides a healthy calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, ensuring equal amounts of both. The ideal ratio should be at least 2:1 for optimal health.
2: Large Amounts of Vitamin K, C
Basil is packed with vitamin C, which supports your bearded dragon’s immune system. It also contains high vitamin K levels, which are vital for bone health and blood clotting. This makes basil a great addition to your pet’s diet.
3: Less Calories Gives More Energy
Less than thirty calories per hundred grams is impressive, meaning you don’t have to worry about your bearded dragon’s daily calorie intake. It can’t even come close to the limit.
4: Phosphorus for Bearded Dragon’s Bones
Basil is crucial for your bearded dragon’s bone health. It supports their teeth and bones’ growth, development, and density.
5: Water Keeps Them Hydrated
Basil contains a significant amount of water, helping keep it hydrated. It’s also rich in vitamin A. Plus, basil is easy to find and affordable.
3 Risks of Feeding Basil to Bearded Dragons
Basil is nutritious and beneficial, but bearded dragons should only consume it in moderation.
1: Too Much Calcium
The calcium-to-phosphorus ratio in foods is essential for your bearded dragon. It should only consume foods with a 1:1 or 1:2 calcium-to-phosphorus ratio to avoid bone issues from calcium deficiency. Basil has a 3:1 ratio, making eating large amounts unsafe for your pet.
2: Basil is Too Acidic
Basil contains acids like chicory and caftaric acid. An overly acidic diet can be harmful and even fatal to a bearded dragon. However, adding basil in moderation to their diet should not cause any issues.
3: Replacing Other Necessary Foods
Bearded dragons can eat basil occasionally without harm. However, feeding them basil too frequently instead of a typical diet can lead to nutrient deficiencies or imbalances. Since bearded dragons are omnivores, they require animal and plant material in their diet.
Around eighty per cent of their diet should include vegetables and fruits, depending on age. About eighty to ninety per cent of that should be leafy greens, while ten to twenty per cent can be fruits or edible flowers. You can include basil within the plant-based portion of their diet.
How to Prepare Basil for Your Bearded Dragons?
The good thing about giving greens and herbs to your bearded dragon is that they typically require no preparation before serving. However, there are a few essential steps to ensure your bearded dragon can safely eat herbs like basil.
Search for Organic Basil
When possible, it’s best to give your bearded dragon organic greens and herbs. Pesticides can be harmful to reptiles like bearded dragons, so opting for organic is a safer choice.
Wash Them Properly
Wash basil leaves thoroughly before adding them to your bearded dragon’s salad bowl, whether you buy them from a store or grow them yourself.
No Need to Cook
You don’t need to cook basil, as it wilts and loses nutritional value when heated. Always serve it fresh from the plant. Depending on size, you can chop the leaves into small pieces or offer them whole.
Conclusion
Yes, bearded dragons can eat basil in moderation. It offers several benefits but also comes with some risks. When feeding basil to your pet, make sure to wash your hands afterwards. Bearded dragons can carry bacteria or parasites that may be harmful to humans. Fresh basil is safe for baby and adult bearded dragons as long as it is fed in small amounts.
FAQs
Can baby bearded dragons eat basil?
Baby bearded dragons require proper calcium and minerals in their plant-based diet. Basil can be included as part of a balanced diet, along with other greens.
Do bearded dragons like basil?
Bearded dragons often enjoy basil and will eat it when offered. The fresh aroma and flavorful taste of basil appeal to them.
Is basil safe for beardies?
Yes, basil is entirely safe for bearded dragons. It contains essential vitamins and nutrients that are beneficial when offered in moderation.
How much basil to feed bearded dragons?
You should feed your bearded dragon basil in moderation, offering it once a week.
Can bearded dragons eat dried basil?
Bearded dragons should avoid dried basil. Dried herbs are more concentrated and can be too intense, and the higher acidity of dried basil may lead to digestive issues.