Can Bearded Dragons Eat Spinach

Below is the reptile nutrition label for spinach. We created this label with nutrition information from the USDA and other reputable sources.

Spinach Health Concerns

Spinach does have a lot of vitamins and minerals, so it be a surprise to learn spinach has one major health concern.

Spinach contains a very high level of oxalates, which is a concern. Plants produce oxalates to help regulate calcium, so consuming foods high in oxalates will reduce the amount of calcium that can be absorbed. This means spinach will block calcium in your bearded dragons meal from being absorbed. While the reduced calcium intake is a big concern another concern is kidney stones. When oxalates bind to calcium they are processed by the kidneys before being passed in urine. Overtime the oxalates can increase the risk of kidney stones.

Spinach contains incredibly high levels of oxalates, but it is not considered toxic and contains high amounts of vitamins and minerals. Whether you choose to feed spinach to your beardie is up to you, however we suggest avoiding spinach as the health risks are simply too high considering arugula and kale can provide similar nutritional benefits without the oxalate risks. If you decide to feed spinach to your bearded dragon, be sure to follow the below guidelines.

Significantly Reduce Spinach Serving Sizes

Ideally we suggest keeping the amount oxalates in each meal to 10mg or less. This is difficult to do with spinach since one leaf contains 65mg of oxalates. So you're left with a few options:

• Feed your bearded dragon small pieces of a spinach leaf once per week
• Give your bearded dragon one leaf once per month
• Consult your vet and determine the ideal serving size and frequency

Preparing and Serving Spinach

Before serving spinach you should wash it to remove any loose debris or anything it may have come in contact with. Cut the spinach into small pieces (no larger than the distance between your beardies eyes) and serve mixed with other fruits, greens, or insects.