Cilantro is a very delicious herb common in Mexican cuisines. It has a great flavor, and it is highly nutritious for humans, hence why it is quite popular.
Because of its health benefits, bearded dragon keepers love feeding them to their pets, most of them envisage that since they are good for humans, they should be healthy for dragons too.
Nutritional Qualities of Cilantro for Bearded Dragons
Nutrients that cilantro contains and their effect on bearded dragons include the following:
Antibacterial Compounds
Cilantro is rich in antibacterial substances like dodecanol that make bearded dragons immune to food poisoning.
Calcium to Phosphorus Ratio
This is very important in the diet of bearded dragons because phosphorus depletes the body’s calcium quantity.
It is essential to make sure that anything they eat contains more calcium than phosphorus to prevent bone disease in the long run. For cilantro, the ratio of calcium to phosphorus is 1.4:1.
Water
Cilantro has enough water to keep bearded dragons hydrated because they are desert reptiles and need water quite often.
However, too much water can also cause diarrhea, so you must consider this when proportioning fresh cilantro for bearded dragons.
Sugar
Cilantro does not contain sugar. Although a decent quantity of sugar will provide bearded dragons with energy, too much of it causes diabetes, kidney diseases, obesity, liver problems, etc.
Antioxidants
Cilantro has antioxidants, which provide anti-inflammatory qualities for bearded dragons.
Vitamins
The vitamins in Cilantro are A, K, and C. They help bearded dragons with growth, repair of tissues and organs, easy reproduction, great vision, and improved immunology.
Minerals
Cilantro contains minerals such as potassium, good for blood pressure regulation, manganese that helps with metabolism, and calcium for general healthiness and stronger limbs and bones.
Fiber
The fiber in cilantro helps bearded dragons with easy food digestion.
How Can I Feed My Bearded Dragon with Cilantro?
Before you give your bearded dragons’ cilantro, there are still some things you should consider.
Firstly, the water content of cilantro is too much. One hundred grams of fresh leaves will contain about 92% water. Although water keeps the dragons hydrated, too much can cause diarrhea, leading to dehydration eventually. So providing them with just a little quantity of cilantro in their salad will be a good solution.
Another thing you should consider is the minerals and vitamins in cilantro. Although they contain a few, the herb is not rich enough to be a primary diet for dragons.
The best way to introduce cilantro to your bearded dragons is to serve moderately with other stable veggies like carrots, cactus leaves, and some berries in the desert. This way, they can complement the diet.
Cilantro is also not a regular food for the dragons; you can feed it to them once or twice a month.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Coriander?
Coriander are the dried seeds of the cilantro plant; cilantro refers to only the dry leaves. The nutritional qualities of coriander are different from cilantro, and they are edible for bearded dragons as well.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cooked Cilantro?
No, do not give your dragons cooked cilantro because they are usually spicier with diminished nutritional qualities. Cooked cilantro will also lead to many digestive diseases, which is why most of their food should be fresh.
How to Prepare Cilantro for Bearded Dragons?
Before you feed your bearded dragons with cilantro, ensure that you do the following:
- Only choose fresh cilantro for your dragons.
- Wash them properly, and remove every chemical that they may contain before feeding them to your dragons.
- Slice the cilantro before giving your dragons. This will aid chewing and digestion.
- Serve the cilantro with other veggies like thyme, lavender, basil, and if you want, some dessert too.
Conclusion
You should only feed your beardies with cilantro as a treat, and not a staple food.