Kohlrabi is a type of cabbage that is stout and low. It is edible both raw or cooked. Many bearded dragon enthusiasts asked whether or not kohlrabi can be fed to their beardies.
Can bearded dragons eat kohlrabi?
In moderation, yes. But it is very important to remember that kohlrabi is rich in water making it not so good for bearded dragons. If ingested in large amounts, it may cause diarrhea.
I have tried giving this to my beardies before and I found no digestive issues. But too much of it can cause diarrhea and other digestive problems in bearded dragons.
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Why Kohlrabi Is Not So Good for Bearded Dragons?
When choosing the best food for bearded dragons, it is very important to consider the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. The ideal is 1:1 to 2:1. This is, in most cases, can be perfect for bearded dragons.
But kohlrabi contains 2% of calcium and 7% phosphorus. You can tell that the ratio is out of proportion. It also contains too much water (91 g) making it not suitable for large consumption.
The good news is that there are other great options as far as choosing the best vegetables or plants for bearded dragons.
Apart from kohlrabi, there are safe and good vegetables for bearded dragons. Below is the list of plants you can give to your beardies.
Safe Plants and Vegetables for Bearded Dragons
- Alfalfa
- Astilbe
- Baby’s Tears
- Flowers and leaves of Basil
- Flowers of Chinese Lantern
- Carnation Petals
- Chamomile
- Clover
- The flower head of Dahlia
- Leaves or flower head of Dandelion
- Flowers of Daylilies
- Fennel
- Leaves or Fruits of Grape
- Flowers or leaves of Hibiscus
- Flowers or Leaves of Hollyhock
- Hens and Chicks
- Lavender
- Leaves of Maple
- Leaves of Mesquite
- Mint
- Leaves of Mulberry
- Oregano
- Pansies
- Petals of Rose
- Rosemary leaves of flowers
- Leaves or flowers of sage
- Leaves of spider plant
- Squash or Zucchini
- Flowers of Yucca
From the list, you can choose some for your bearded dragons’ salad. Just remember to stay from watery vegetables.
Not all of these vegetables though can be available in your location. If that is the case, choose the best alternatives.
For instance, if you don’t have a certain type of squash in your nearby market, you can choose acorn squash, spaghetti squash, yellow summer squash, or zucchini squash.
What I learned from years of caring bearded dragons is that they are different from each other. Sometimes, what is favorite for one may not good for the others.
Adjustment is key. You should be observant of their wants and don’t hesitate to experiment. As long as the vegetables are not poisonous and water-rich, they will be fine.
Green leafy vegetables are extremely important for bearded dragons, especially for adults. This is because adult bearded dragons heavily rely on the nutrients they get from green vegetables.
Unlike juveniles, adult bearded dragons don’t eat too many insects as they used too. So their main source of food is green leafy vegetables.
The juveniles, on the other hand, eat more insects (protein source) than adults do. This is because the younger bearded dragons need more proteins.
Nonetheless, they still need a balanced diet. A good ratio is 50:50. This means that half of the diet is veggies and the other half is insects.
Sometimes, you’ll notice that your beardies don’t eat certain vegetables. In this case, you need to employ some techniques to convince your bearded dragon to eat their salad.
Generally, I feed my beardies with selected vegetables. And they love those greens. Here are the following vegetables.
Five Vegetables that My Bearded Dragons Love
1. Alfalfa Sprouts
I don’t know why but my bearded dragons love alfalfa sprouts. Of course, I am so happy knowing that alfalfa is high in nutrients necessary for their overall health.
It is super easy to prepare too. I just chop the alfalfa sprouts and give it to my beardies. Sometimes I add it to their favorite salad. And nothing is more satisfying than seeing your beardies jump into their food and eat it.
And the best part is that alfalfa is easy to find in the nearby grocery stores. I hope it is available in your location too.
2. Dandelions
Another great source of nutrients for bearded dragons are dandelions. Dandelions are not just good for reptiles but also for humans. These weeds can be a great addition to the meal.
3. Green Beans
Green beans are another favorite of my bearded dragons. Green beans are a great source of beta carotene and Vitamin B. They love it more if the green beans are chopped and added to their green salad.
4. Turnips
Turnips are another food they love. I guess virtually all bearded dragons love turnips though. The good thing about this is that turnips are rich in vitamins A, C, and E with fiber and calcium.
5. Yellow Squash
Yellow squash is one of the most colorful foods that could potentially attract beardies’ attention. This might also the reason why my bearded dragons are always excited to taste it.
Like turnips, squash is also nutritious. It contains magnesium, potassium, and vitamin C.
If your bearded dragons are picky on vegetables, you can chop the squash and put it on top of their salads. This will make serving more colorful and enticing for them to eat.
The Best Ways to Offer Vegetables to Your Bearded Dragons
One of the biggest challenges you can have is when dealing with a picky bearded dragon. If your beardies don’t like their food, it surely is a problem.
Throughout the years, I found some strategies that work well with my picky bearded dragons. One of the things I would do if feeding vegetables is difficult is to use a food processor in chopping their food.
If vegetables are chopped well into smaller pieces, there’s no way that bearded dragons can choose their favorite foods.
Mixing many colorful vegetables can also be a good strategy. The more colorful the salad looks, the more enticing it is for the beardies to eat.
That said, choose at least 4-5 variety of vegetables and chop them together to create a wonderful color combination.
For instance, you can mix turnips, kale, green beans, squash, carrots, and collards together. This should be interesting for your beardies.
It is important to note though that the vegetables should in chopped in bite-size. Make sure that it is easy for your bearded dragon to chew and swallow the food.
To learn more about bearded dragons, feel visit my guide.
