Let’s know about Can Bearded Dragons Eat Bok Choy. Bok choy is surprisingly nutritious for bearded dragons. It provides a variety of vitamins and minerals, as well as a low water content. However, that doesn’t mean you should give up your bearded dragon bok choy all the time.
Bearded dragons must eat a variety of vegetables to stay healthy. They should be provided with a variety of vegetables to maximize their nutrient intake. A varied diet ensures that they get a variety of vitamins and minerals. However, they can’t just eat any vegetables. (1)
Some vegetables are better than others. While there are not many that are clearly bad or toxic to bearded dragons, some are given only in small amounts.
What about bok choy? Bok choy, also known as Chinese cabbage, is safe for bearded dragons in moderation. It’s not widespread in the States, but it’s usually very easy to find if you know where to look. In this article, we’ll look at why you might want to feed your bearded dragon bok choy, as well as the proper way to do so.
What’s in Bok Choy?
Bok choy is relatively high in a few different nutrients. Most greens are generally considered an important part of the diet of most bearded dragons, (2) as they provide large amounts of essential nutrients. Bok choy is no different and contains what you’d expect to find in a green, leafy veggie.
In particular, bok choy is exceptionally high in vitamin A. It is an essential vitamin for bearded dragons , as well as people. It is necessary for various functions of the body. However, vitamin A is fat-soluble. This means that the excess is kept in your bearded dragon’s fat cells, not flushed out of the body like some other vitamins. Excessive amounts can build up and cause problems, which we will discuss further in this article.
Bok choy also contains relatively high amounts of calcium. It is very rare to have a leafy green color. Bearded dragons need a lot of calcium. It is generally recommended to provide your bearded dragon with a calcium supplement because most do not get enough in their diet.
Bok choy also contains a balanced calcium to phosphorus ratio. Phosphorus is necessary for bearded dragons to utilize calcium. If the ratio is off, they may not be able to use the calcium they eat. Bok choy has a balanced ratio, which means that bearded dragons will be able to make use of the calcium it contains. (3)
It is also high in potassium, which is another vitamin bearded dragons need in their diet. It also contains a moderate amount of vitamin C, like most vegetables. Vitamin C works as an antioxidant, which helps your bearded dragon’s immune system function properly and prevent diseases.
Beneficial Vitamins and Minerals
We’ll take a look at each of these beneficial vitamins and minerals to fully understand their benefits:
calcium
Calcium is essential for the growth and strength of your bearded dragon’s bones, calcium is an important part of the bearded dragon’s diet to prevent metabolic bone diseases.
This serious disease is the result of not consuming enough calcium. It may also be due to a lack of UVB light exposure, which is needed for the beard to fully consume the calcium. Bones do not get all the calcium they need. (4)
In small, growing dragons, this leads to deformities that often cannot be reversed. This can lead to life-long debility and pain. Sometimes, it’s best to put a dragon down, as their chances of living a pain-free life are extremely low.
In older dragons, the bones usually become brittle. Brakes may be common. In extreme cases, the legs will bend, and the dragon will have difficulty walking. They may not be able to lift their body off the ground using their feet.
Bok choy contains about 105 milligrams per 100 grams. It is quite small, making it the perfect choice for dragons and an additional buffer against MBDs.
Phosphorus
In addition, this veggie contains enough phosphorus for the beard to properly utilize all the calcium it contains. This is necessary because an off-ratio can make calcium unusable and unable to be used.
Bearded dragons need phosphorus to use calcium. However, too much can also make calcium ineffective. Correct proportion is essential. Ideally, the ratio should be two parts calcium and one part phosphorus, although a one-to-one ratio is sometimes fine. (5)
Bok choy only contains 37 milligrams of phosphorus per 100 grams, which is almost exactly where it’s needed.
vitamin C
With a high amount of vitamin C, this bok choy may also help repair your lizard’s tissues and support the functioning of their immune system. It is an essential vitamin, of which the better is usually. Your dragon needs a minimal amount, but higher amounts are often best for a fully functioning immune system.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is essential for bone health, which is needed by every bearded python. It is also essential for the functioning of a healthy immune system. However, too much vitamin A is not necessarily a good thing. As we mentioned earlier, it is a fat-soluble vitamin. In other words, it is only fat soluble. Therefore, it cannot be passed in the garbage. Instead, it sits in fat cells and is used as needed.
However, over time, it can become. Too much vitamin A can cause toxicity. In the veterinary community, this is called hypervitaminosis A. It is a relatively common disease for reptiles, possibly because many people eat bok choy and other greens that contain a lot of vitamin A.
When your dragon consumes too much vitamin A, it can cause lethargy and pain. Usually, it can only be diagnosed with a blood test, which will detect elevated levels of vitamin A.
Bok Choy and Goitrogens
Another downside of feeding your bearded dragon boy choy is its high levels of goitrogens. These compounds are found in a variety of plants. If they are eaten in excess, they can heavily affect the thyroid gland, which can be potentially fatal.
Bok choy has a relatively high amount of goitrogens. If you’re feeding it as the main green, it could turn into a problem. However, if bok choy is part of a varied diet, this is usually not a problem. Instead, it mostly becomes a problem when your dragon overeats . Therefore, bok choy should not be the primary green your lizard is eating, although being part of a regular rotation shouldn’t be a problem.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Bok Choy?
In general, overeating of anything can cause problems. The same can be said about bok choy. Feeding in moderation is fine, but should not be the only veggies your bearded dragon eats.
Also, you should aim to balance their diet. Don’t feed your bearded dragon only bok choy and similar vegetables. Look for vegetables that are low in vitamin A and not high in goitrogens. This will prevent your lizard from developing any problems.
Bok choy can be a good part of a varied diet. But that diet should be varied.