Whether smothered in peanut butter and raisins or chopped up in our soups, celery has made it into the human diet in a variety of ways—but what about the bearded dragon diet?
Is this crunchy green vegetable safe for our reptiles as well?
Our bearded dragons need a variety of foods to thrive, including a good amount of plant materials, so we’re always on the lookout for new additions to a balanced diet for these critters.
But is celery one of those acceptable vegetables?
As a beardie owner, you, of course, want to be careful in introducing any new foods to your pet.
We’re here to help!
Read on for some answers and important information on the topic of bearded dragons and celery.
Table of Contents
Can A Bearded Dragon Eat Celery?
Both celery stalks and celery leaves are on the approved list of food items for your bearded dragon. However, celery should only make it into your beardie’s food bowl sparingly—and there is a right way to prepare it for them when it does.
While celery is perfectly alright for your beardie from time to time, it’s not one of the most nutritious foods out there and so should not be considered a staple food for your pet lizards.
It’s not without health benefits, but on its own or as the main food choice, celery won’t provide your bearded dragon with all the vitamins and minerals they need.
There are more nutritious greens out there, like collard greens, swiss chard, and dandelion greens.
As a good rule of thumb, darker, leafy greens are better for your pet lizards than the less nutritious options like iceberg lettuce, other lighter head lettuces, and yes—celery.
To learn more about the pros and cons of feeding this vegetable to your bearded dragons, let’s take a closer look at just what celery is made of in the table below.
Nutritional Facts Per 100 Grams of Celery
| Nutrient | Amount (per 100 g) |
| Water | 79.53 g |
| Energy | 14 kcal |
| Protein | 0.69 g |
| Total Lipid (Fat) | 0.17 g |
| Carbohydrate | 2.97 g |
| Fiber | 1.6 g |
| Sugars | 1.34 g |
| Calcium | 40 mg |
| Iron | 0.2 mg |
| Phosphorus | 24 mg |
| Sodium | 80 mg |
| Vitamin C | 3.1 mg |
| Vitamin D | 0 µg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.074 mg |
| Vitamin A RAE | 22 µg |
| Vitamin A IU | 449 µg |
| Beta Carotene | 270 µg |
| Vitamin E | 10.27 mg |
| Vitamin K | 29.3 µg |
Bearded Dragon Celery: Pros And Cons
Pros Of Celery
You may be wondering: is there any benefit in feeding celery to my beardie?
What are the reasons to do so, if any?
Celery has a very high water content, which means it will help keep your otherwise water-shy pet lizards hydrated.
Let’s not forget these reptiles came from the desert, where water is not exactly available in abundance!
Celery is low in sugar.
Just like us, bearded dragons can suffer from health problems like upset stomachs, tooth problems, obesity, and more if ingesting too many sugary foods.
At 1.34 grams per 100 grams, this long and tall veggie is doing pretty well in this department!
Beta carotene and vitamin C are beneficial to your beardie’s vision, immune system, growth, and more.
The calcium to phosphorus ratio is in an ideal range at 40 mg of calcium to 24 mg of phosphorus, nearly 2:1.
In general, bearded dragons should consume food types with a ratio of 1:1 or greater when it comes to calcium and phosphorus.
A higher presence of phosphorus can prevent enough calcium from being absorbed by your beardie, and your pet needs plenty of calcium to keep its bones and body in top shape.
Cons Of Celery
While celery makes the list of acceptable beardie foods, it should still not be a preferred food item for your pet’s balanced diet.
Why?
Because compared to other vegetables, this one does not go a long way to satisfy your bearded dragons’ need for nutritionally packed diets.
It’s mostly water!
Celery is also high in oxalates, which work against calcium absorption and can cause kidney stones.
If your beardie eats too much celery too frequently, it could lead to some serious health issues like metabolic bone disease.
How Often Should I Feed Celery To My Bearded Dragon?
If you’re being careful about your pet lizard’s demand for calcium already and want to sprinkle in some celery for the benefits it does provide, go ahead!
We just recommend you only make them a celery salad about once or twice a month.
Mix it in with more nutritious beardie foods like collard greens, swiss chard, kale, yellow squash, and other beneficial plants.
This is just a partial list, of course!
Bearded dragon diets demand protein, too.
Throw in some roaches, worms, and other insects (like crickets) to ensure your pet receives a wide variety and plenty of food.
How Should I Prepare The Celery For Them?
When you do provide this crunchy veggie option, follow these steps for proper preparation:
- Wash the celery thoroughly first to ensure the food is clean and has minimal traces of pesticides. Choose organic celery when possible.
- No need to cook it! Raw celery is the way to go, especially since vegetables lose some of their nutrients when cooked.
- Both the celery stalk and celery leaves are safe for your beardie to consume. Chop the celery stalk and celery leaves into fine pieces to avoid presenting a choking hazard to your pet.
Final Thoughts
As you consider your bearded dragon’s care, you want to ensure you are providing the proper pet food to maximize their potential for a healthy diet.
Is celery part of this solution?
With its high water content, minimal amount of nutrients, and problematic oxalates, this vegetable should just be one of a handful of vegetables you feed your pet—not the main event.
Strive for a varied diet and only feed celery to your lizard pets from time to time, as in once or twice a month.
Celery in moderation won’t harm your bearded dragon and can even bring some hydration and health benefits to their diets, but too much of this vegetable and not enough of others could prove dangerous.
