Over the past few years, spinach has become one of the trendiest foods available. It’s no surprise as to why, either. It’s packed with nutrients and vitamins and, whether you like the taste or not, there’s no denying that it’s a fantastic source of fuel for your body.
If you’ve got some spare left in your refrigerator after cooking a recipe, you might be tempted to treat your bearded dragon to a feast of those crunchy emerald leaves. But, before you do, you need to know whether it’s safe!
So, can bearded dragons eat spinach? Keep reading to find out!
The Quick Answer
Let’s cut straight to the chase. You can feed a bearded dragon spinach. However, it must be in very small amounts and only on the odd occasion.
The reason for this is due to the fact that, while spinach is packed with vitamins and minerals, it also contains a high number of oxalates.
Oxalates are considered to be unhealthy for bearded dragons as they bind calcium and this stops it from being absorbed.
If a bearded dragon takes in too many oxalates, they’ll find it impossible to absorb calcium and, in turn, they’ll develop a calcium deficiency which can be potentially life threatening.
A Bearded Dragon’s Nutritional Needs
Humans and bearded dragons have very different nutritional needs. So, while we might get lots of benefits from eating spinach, the same benefits don’t necessarily apply to bearded dragons.
With that being said, there are still some benefits to giving your bearded dragon the occasional spinach leaf as a treat.
The first of these benefits is protein. Every 100 grams of spinach contains 2.86g of protein. This puts it quite high up in the vegetable-protein world, which is why it’s one of the go-to ingredients for vegetarians and vegans.
As bearded dragons are omnivorous, they need a mixture of both animal and vegetable protein. This is especially true for adult bearded dragons.
So, feeding them a few spinach leaves on the odd occasion is a great way to increase their protein intake and keep their menu options interesting!
Another benefit that bearded dragons get from eating spinach is that it is high in calcium and low in phosphorus. This balance is essential for their overall health.
The ideal calcium to phosphorus ratio for a bearded dragon is 1:1 or 2:1. Spinach is well within this range, so it’s an ideal treat.
Bearded dragons can sometimes have issues with their teeth as well, especially if they eat anything that is high in sugar, including certain fruits.
Spinach is very low in sugar, so it’s perfect for your bearded dragon to snack on occasionally without worrying about tooth decay!
Finally, just like humans, bearded dragons need certain minerals to keep them strong and healthy. These include potassium, iron, and Vitamin C, all of which spinach has in high quantities.
Why You Shouldn’t Feed Your Bearded Dragon Spinach Too Often
Considering all of the above, you might be wondering why you can only feed your bearded dragon spinach occasionally. But, there is one very good reason why you shouldn’t feed them spinach too often.
Spinach contains a high number of oxalates. These bind calcium and they stop your bearded dragon from being able to absorb and use it.
With this in mind, if you were to feed your bearded dragon spinach as part of their regular diet, they simply won’t be able to utilize any of the calcium they consume.
What’s the danger with this? Well, a lack of calcium can create a calcium deficiency. When this happens, your bearded dragon can become very ill and they may even develop a physical illness such as MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease).
How Can You Give A Bearded Dragon Calcium?
We understand that getting calcium into your bearded dragon’s diet is quite a difficult thing to do.
It doesn’t present in very many of their natural food sources and, while spinach may seem like the answer due to the fact it is high in calcium, the number of oxalates it contains stops them from being able to absorb and utilize it.
So, what’s the solution? The best way to get calcium into your bearded dragon’s diet is by using a veterinarian-approved calcium supplement. These can be mixed into their food for an easy way to increase their calcium intake.
How Often Can You Feed Spinach To A Bearded Dragon?
As we’ve explained above, you should only feed your bearded dragon spinach on the odd occasion. You certainly shouldn’t be giving them spinach on a daily basis as this will stop them from being able to absorb and utilize calcium.
But how often can you feed your bearded dragon spinach?
As a general rule, you can feed your bearded dragon a small amount of spinach once every 2-3 months.
This might seem fairly infrequent but it’s the safest way to give them some of the benefits that come from eating spinach without risking them taking in too many oxalates.
It’s also important to make sure you’re giving them spinach as part of a balanced meal. Don’t give them a bowl of spinach with nothing else mixed in.
Instead, incorporate it into their food or make them a special bowl of salad with just some spinach leaves added.
How Do You Prepare Spinach For A Bearded Dragon
When enough time has passed and your bearded dragon is due their special spinach treat, it’s important to prepare it properly. Taking the time to do this will make sure that it’s safe for them to eat.
The first thing you need to do is wash your spinach. Even if it’s been prepared in store, it’s worth giving it rinse under running water to make sure it doesn’t have any dirt left on it.
This is especially important if you’re not sure where it was grown, as pesticides could have been used and you definitely don’t want your bearded dragon eating any nasty chemicals!
Once you’re certain that the spinach is clean and there isn’t any dirt left on it, shake off the excess moisture.
You don’t need to worry about drying it completely as your bearded dragon will probably enjoy a few drops of water while they crunch on the delicious leaves. The water won’t make the spinach go soggy either, so there’s no need to worry about that.
Spinach is best served to bearded dragons in its raw form. Cooking it will decrease its nutritional value. It will also turn to mush pretty quickly, which you’re bearded dragon won’t particularly enjoy eating!
You don’t need to worry about cutting up the spinach before giving it your bearded dragon, either. They will have no problems cutting through the leaves and chewing them up using just their teeth.
As we’ve explained earlier, you shouldn’t give your bearded dragon a bowl full of spinach and nothing else. It’s best used as part of a healthy, well-rounded meal.
However, some bearded dragon bowls aren’t very well designed and they are far too deep for them to reach the bottom, which means that food can get wasted.
To stop this from happening, we’d recommend using a shallow dish or bowl so that your bearded dragon can access all of the spinach. It’s also a nice idea to lay the spinach at the bottom of the bowl so they have to work a little harder to get to it. This keeps them both mentally and physically engaged.
Spinach Alternatives That Are Safe For A Bearded Dragon
As we’ve explained, spinach is absolutely fine for your bearded dragon as long as you’re only feeding it to them once every couple of months. But this doesn’t mean that they have to wait this long to get a tasty treat!
In fact, feeding your bearded dragon with something different every now and then can be a great way of keeping things interesting. After all, you’d probably be pretty bored if you had the same thing for dinner every night of the week!
That’s not all, though. Mixing things up gives your bearded dragon a chance to take in different vitamins and minerals that they might not get from the regular food.
Below, you’ll find a list of some excellent alternatives to spinach that your bearded dragon will absolutely love. The best thing about these is that they can be fed to them regularly without any need to worry about oxalates.
Collards
Collards are one of the best spinach alternatives for your bearded dragon. They are a great source of plant-based protein, they are high in fiber, and they contain 232 mg of calcium per 100g.
And, unlike spinach, there’s nothing in them to stop their calcium content from being absorbed.
Dandelion Greens
Dandelion greens are also a fantastic alternative to spinach for your bearded dragon, and you might even be able to find them growing in your backyard during spring and summer! They are high in fiber, low in sugar, and contain 66 mg of phosphorus per 100g.
Grape Leaves
These are a little harder to find in some places, but if you do manage to source any your bearded dragon will thank you for it! Just like spinach, grape leaves are low in sugar and low in phosphorus.
They also contain a whopping 363 mg of calcium per 100g, putting them in the perfect calcium to phosphorus ratio for a bearded dragon’s dietary needs.
Turnip Greens
Turnip greens may not seem like the most appealing or exotic food, but your bearded dragon will waste no time when it comes to munching on them!
They have a good water content, have a good ratio of calcium to phosphorus, and they are an excellent source of plant-based protein.
Watercress
If you want to try growing some food for your bearded dragon, watercress is the way to go. It’s practically foolproof and it also grows rapidly, so you can have year-round fresh veggies for your bearded dragon.
As far as nutrition goes, it has that perfect calcium to phosphorus ratio that a bearded dragon needs. It also contains a massive 95.11g of water per 100g, and it’s pretty low in calories.
This makes it ideal if you’re trying to reduce the number of sugary treats you’re feeding your bearded dragon.
For a full breakdown of each of these spinach alternative’s nutritional information per 100g, take a look at the chart below:
| Dandelion Greens | Grape Leaves | Turnip Greens | Watercress | Collards | |
| Water | 85.6g | 72.32g | 89.67g | 95.11g | 89.62g |
| Energy | 45 kcal | 93 kcal | 32 kcal | 11kcal | 32kcal |
| Protein | 2.7g | 5.6g | 1.5g | 2.3g | 3.02g |
| Lipid | 0.7g | 2.12g | 0.3g | 0.1g | 0.61g |
| Carbohydrates | 9.2g | 17.31g | 7.13g | 1.29g | 5.42g |
| Fiber | 3.5g | 11g | 3.2g | 0.5g | 4g |
| Sugars | 0.71g | 6.3g | 0.81g | 0.2g | 0.46g |
| Calcium | 187mg | 363mg | 190mg | 120mg | 232mg |
| Phosphorus | 66mg | 58mg | 42mg | 60mg | 25mg |
Insect Protein VS. Plant-Based Protein
Just like humans, bearded dragons need protein in each of their meals to survive. They also need protein from multiple sources, namely insects and plants.
But is there a ratio that you need to follow when it comes to insect protein and plant-based protein?
It all depends on your bearded dragon’s stage of life. Baby bearded dragons and juveniles need a higher amount of insect protein than adults.
This is because they’ll be growing rapidly over the course of the first twelve months of their lives, and they need protein to help them to do it.
But, as a bearded dragon enters adulthood and continues to mature, they need more protein from plant sources.
This is why it’s essential that you’re feeding them with plenty of protein-rich greens such as dandelion greens, grape leaves, turnip greens, watercress, and collards. They can also have a few spinach leaves every two or three months.
To make things clearer, here’s a simplified ratio of how much insect protein and plant-based protein you should be feeding your bearded dragon at different stages of their life:
- Baby / Juvenile Bearded Dragon: 70% Insect Protein / 30% Plant-Based Protein
- Adult Bearded Dragon: 30% Insect Protein / 70% Plant-Based Protein
Follow this simple ratio and you’ll have a happy, healthy bearded dragon that you can expect to live for up to 10 years!
Conclusion
So, can you feed spinach to your bearded dragon? The answer is yes, as long as you do it sporadically and in small amounts. Throw a few spinach leaves in their food bowl once every 2-3 months as a special treat, but make sure you’re not exceeding this time period.
If you do, there’s a really high risk of your bearded dragon taking in too many oxalates. These will prevent them from being able to absorb calcium as well as stopping them from being able to utilize the calcium they have.
When this happens, they can develop serious bone health issues.
If you’d rather not run the risk at all, there are a few great spinach alternatives that your bearded dragon will love. These include collard greens, dandelion leaves, and watercress.
And, unlike spinach, you can feed these to your bearded dragon regularly without having to worry about any adverse effects.