Bearded dragons have seen a nice surge in the number of people keeping them over the last couple of years and they have been able to climb from the third most commonly kept pet reptile to the most commonly kept reptile.
With their popularity steadily increasing where as the popularity of corn snakes, leopard geckos, and ball pythons is slowing down, we only expect bearded dragon’s popularity to grow.
We constantly see a wide range of different questions being asked from the community about caring for a pet bearded dragon with more and more people wanting to know exactly what they should be feeding their beardie to offer it the best quality of life possible.
There are a huge range of questions about suitable food options for a bearded dragons diet each month but one question that we have seen more and more frequently is about if bearded dragons can eat celery or not.
Is Celery Poisonous To Bearded Dragons?
The simple answer to this question is no, celery is not poisonous to bearded dragons and they most certainly can eat celery as a small part of their diet.
While there are a range of different vegetables that you should avoid feeding your bearded dragon, celery does not pose the same potential threat to your beardies health and is perfectly safe for them to eat as a treat or in small amounts.
The main thing that you need to be aware of when feeding celery (or any other vegetable for that matter) to your bearded dragon is the calcium to phosphorus ratio as this is extremely important for your bearded dragons long term health.
While the calcium to phosphorus ratio in celery is not ideal, it is not so bad that it should be avoided altogether and as long as you offer other vegetables with a much better calcium to phosphorus ratio, then feeding celery to your bearded dragon should not cause any major problems.
One thing that we would recommend however is chopping the celery up into very small pieces before offering it to your beardie as this will help to reduce the risk of them choking on it.
What Are The Benefits Of Feeding Bearded Dragons Celery?
Celery does have a few benefits that make it a good option to offer your bearded dragon on occasion as part of their diet.
The main benefit of celery is the fact that it is relatively low in calories when compared to other vegetables which can come in handy if your bearded dragon is starting to put on a bit too much weight.
Celery is also a good source of water which can be beneficial for bearded dragons as they often do not drink enough water on their own and need to get a lot of their hydration from the food that they eat.
While celery does have a few benefits, it is important to remember that it should only ever be offered in small amounts as part of a varied diet as it is not the most nutrient dense vegetable available.
What Are The Risks Of Feeding Bearded Dragons Celery?
The main risks associated with feeding celery to bearded dragons are related to the calcium to phosphorus ratio as we briefly mentioned earlier.
Celery has a calcium to phosphorus ratio of 0.4:1 which is not ideal and can cause problems for bearded dragons if they eat too much of it.
A less common problem that celery can cause for bearded dragons is impaction as it can be more difficult for them to properly digest their food.
If your bearded dragon does eat too much celery, then you may notice them becoming constipated or having trouble going to the toilet which is a sign that they are impacted.
If you think that your bearded dragon may be impacted, then we would recommend taking them to see a reptile vet as soon as possible.
Do Bearded Dragons Like The Taste Of Celery?
The answer to this question will vary from beardie to beardie as some seem to really enjoy the taste of celery while others are not so keen.
The best way to find out if your bearded dragon likes celery is to offer them a small piece and see what they do with it.
If they eat it then great, if not then you can try offering them another vegetable that they may prefer.
How Much Celery Should You Feed Your Bearded Dragon?
The amount of celery that you should feed your bearded dragon will depend on a few different factors such as their age, size, and overall health.
As a general rule of thumb, we would recommend only feeding celery to your bearded dragon once or twice a week in very small amounts as part of a varied diet.
If you are ever in doubt about how much celery (or any other food for that matter) you should be feeding your bearded dragon, then it is always best to err on the side of caution and give them less rather than more.
What Nutritional Values Does Celery Offer Bearded Dragons?
Celery is a relatively nutrient dense vegetable and offers a good range of different vitamins and minerals that can be beneficial for bearded dragons.
Some of the main nutrients that celery contains include vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber.
While celery does contain a good amount of nutrients, the calcium to phosphorus ratio is not ideal which is why it should only be offered in small amounts.
Celery contains a surprisingly high amount of water (around 95%!) which can be beneficial for bearded dragons as they often do not drink enough water on their own.
Celery also contains a good amount of fiber which can help to keep your bearded dragon’s digestive system healthy and working properly but only when fed in small amounts as a treat.
As we mentioned earlier in the article, too much celery for a bearded dragon can have to opposite effect and cause impaction of constipation in some cases.
How To Prepare Celery For Your Bearded Dragon!
The best way to prepare celery for your bearded dragon is to wash it thoroughly in clean water to remove any dirt or pesticides that may be present.
Once the celery is clean, you can then chop it up into small pieces that are easy for your bearded dragon to eat without the risk of them choking on it.
We would also recommend removing the strings from the celery as these can be difficult for bearded dragons to digest properly and may cause issues if they eat them.
Celery is best fed to bearded dragons as part of a varied diet and should only ever be offered in small amounts to avoid any problems.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Raw Celery?
Yes, bearded dragons can eat raw celery if it is properly prepared and offered in small amounts as part of a varied diet.
You should always at least wash the celery thoroughly though as pesticides and herbicides can easily end up on the celery that may be harmful to your pet bearded dragon in some cases.
Can Celery Cause Metabolic Bone Disease In Bearded Dragons?
Celery has a calcium to phosphorus ratio of 0.4:1 which is not ideal for bearded dragons.
While celery itself will not cause metabolic bone disease, if a bearded dragon eats too much celery then it can contribute to the development of the condition.
This is because the high phosphorus content in celery can interfere with the absorption of calcium which is essential for bearded dragons to maintain strong and healthy bones.
For this reason, we would recommend only feeding celery to your bearded dragon in very small amounts as part of a varied diet to avoid any problems.
Here are some of the key symptoms of metabolic bone disease to look out for in your pet bearded dragon:-
- Poor bone density
- Weak bones
- Soft bones
- Inability to stand or walk
- Deformed bones
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
If you do notice any of those then we would recommend that you remove any questionable food sources from the diet of your bearded dragon and seek professional advice from a vet as soon as possible.
Alternatives To Celery For Bearded Dragons!
If you are looking for some alternative vegetables to feed your bearded dragon then here are a few of our favourites:-
- Kale
- Spinach
- Romaine lettuce
- Turnip greens
- Collard greens
- Mustard greens
- Beet greens
- Carrots
- Squash
- Sweet potatoes
Just like celery, all of those vegetables should only be offered to your bearded dragon in small amounts as part of a varied diet to avoid any problems.
When it comes to feeding vegetables to bearded dragons, less is definitely more!
Do Bearded Dragons Eat Celery In The Wild?
As far as we are aware, bearded dragons do not eat celery in the wild as it is not a native plant to their natural habitat.
While some vegetables can be found growing wild in the desert regions where bearded dragons live, celery is not one of them!
This means that celery is not an essential part of a bearded dragon’s diet but it can be offered as a treat in small amounts from time to time.
Conclusion!
We hope that you have found this article on whether or not celery is safe for bearded dragons helpful.
If you have any questions or concerns about anything then please feel free to leave a comment below and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
As always, thanks for reading!
