Lettuce for Bearded Dragons
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Can Bearded Dragons Eat Lettuce

Lettuce is a common vegetable used in salads, wraps, and sandwiches. But can you feed lettuce to bearded dragons?

The answer is yes, you can feed lettuce to bearded dragons. Keep in mind lettuce has very little nutritional content so it should not be the main source of nutrition for your beardie.

Lettuce Nutrition Overview

Below is the reptile nutrition label for lettuce. We created this label using information provided by the USDA and other reputable sources. Please note: romaine lettuce is displayed below as it is the healthiest lettuce.

Reptile Nutrition

Romain LettucePer 100g Serving
Core
Calories17Cal
Water Content94.61g
Carbohydrates3.29g
Total Carbohydrate3.29g
Fiber, total dietary2.1g
Sugars1.19g
Fructose0.8g
Glucose0.39g
Fat0.3g
Total Fat0.3g
Total saturated0.039g
16:00.035g
18:00.005g
Total monounsaturated0.012g
16:10.003g
18:10.009g
Total polyunsaturated0.16g
18:20.047g
18:30.113g
Proteins1.23g
Protein1.23g
Alanine0.056g
Arginine0.054g
Aspartic acid0.139g
Betaine0.1mg
Cystine0.006g
Glutamic acid0.178g
Glycine0.049g
Histidine0.021g
Isoleucine0.045g
Leucine0.076g
Lysine0.064g
Methionine0.015g
Phenylalanine0.065g
Proline0.045g
Serine0.05g
Threonine0.043g
Tryptophan0.01g
Tyrosine0.025g
Valine0.055g
Minerals
Calcium, Ca33mg
Copper0.048mg
Iron0.97mg
Magnesium14mg
Manganese0.155mg
Phosphorus, P30mg
Potassium, K247mg
Selenium0.4μg
Sodium8mg
Zinc0.23mg
Vitamins
Vitamin A, IU8710IU
Vitamin A, RAE436μg
Beta-carotene5226μg
Lutein + Zeaxanthin2312μg
Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)0.072mg
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)0.067mg
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)0.313mg
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)0.142mg
Vitamin B60.074mg
Vitamin B9 (Folate)136μg
Folate (from food)136μg
Folate (dietary equivalent)136μg
Vitamin C4mg
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)0.13mg
Gamma Tocopherol0.36mg
Delta Tocopherol0.01mg
Alpha Tocotrienol0.04mg
Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone)102.5μg
Choline9.9mg
Other
Oxalates0mg
pH5.9
Nutrition Scores
Ca:P Ratio1.1:1
Ca:P RatingGood
Safe to FeedDaily
HealthinessFair

Notes/Instructions: Wash thoroughly. Cut leaves into small pieces.
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Lettuce Health Concerns

Lettuce, when compared to other leafy greens like kale or arugula, is not very nutrient rich. It does contain vitamins and minerals, but not as much as similar greens. With that said, there are no major or minor health concerns with any variety of lettuce.

Types of Lettuce

There are many types of lettuce and for the most part they have similar nutrition. We'll discuss the different types below so you can identify the best lettuce for your use.

Below are the main nutritional differences between the three varieties.

Lettuce VarietyVitamin ACa:P RatioIceberg Lettuce502 IU0.9:1Red Leaf Lettuce7,492 IU1.1:1Romaine Lettuce8,710 IU1.2:1

Iceberg Lettuce

This is the most popular type of lettuce and is used in wraps, sandwiches, and salads. Iceberg contains the fewest nutrients than other types of lettuce which is why it has a bad reputation among nutritionists.

Red Leaf Lettuce

Red leaf lettuce is used for garnishes and sandwiches because it usually is crunchy and has a mild sweet flavor. It is healthier than iceberg lettuce and is a good source of vitamin A.

Romaine Lettuce

Romain lettuce is most often used in salads and wraps. Like red leaf lettuce, romaine provides a crunch and has a mild flavor. It contains more vitamins and minerals than iceberg and red leaf lettuce making it the healthiest lettuce between the three.

How to Feed Lettuce to Bearded Dragons

Lettuce can be fed to bearded dragons daily. You should only use fresh lettuce and not the kind from a salad kit bag. Keep in mind it is not nutrient rich so it's best not to make it a staple food. Lettuce is also easy to eat and contains a lot of water, so too much lettuce may cause your beardie to get diarrhea.

Lettuce Preparation

Lettuce can easily be prepared and fed to your beardie by following a few easy steps.

You should thoroughly wash the lettuce to remove any loose debris and chemicals it may have come in contact with at the store or during transportation. Remove any stiff parts of the lettuce as they can be difficult for bearded dragons to eat. Remove the leaves and cut each leaf into small pieces no larger than the distance between your beardies eyes. Mix the lettuce with other foods which are rich in vitamins and minerals.

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