Radish is a root vegetable belonging to the Brassicaceae family of plants that come in different colors and shapes and is renowned for its huge nutritional benefits. Since our bearded friends are omnivores (but get bored of the same kind of diet) and demand variety in their food. So beardie owners always look for the option (vegetables or fruits) that are safe to feed for their bearded friends. As far as radishes are concerned, they are cheap, easy to find, and highly nutritious but can bearded dragons eat them? Keep scrolling to learn details about bearded dragons and radishes.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Radishes?
Yes, our bearded friend can enjoy eating tasty vegetables like radishes. Like humans, radishes are beneficial for bearded dragons too. In fact, our bearded reptiles can harvest more benefits from radishes than humans because they can also eat the stem and leaves of radishes. In addition, radishes are a good source of vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein, water, and calcium. However, the quantity per meal and frequency of feeding is crucial because if you overfeed radishes to your beardie, it can do more harm than benefit to your bearded friend.
How Much and How Often Can My Bearded Dragon Eat Radishes?
Despite their nutritional benefits for bearded dragons, the radishes are not recommended to offer to your beardie in large amounts or frequently. Feeding radishes occasionally is ok (a few small pieces once or twice a month), and your bearded friend gets maximum benefit. Before explaining why radishes should be fed in limited amounts only, I would like you to have a look at the nutritional profile of radishes (all the values are taken from the USDA nutritional database).
| Nutrient | Amount (per 100 g of radishes) | Unit |
| P:Ca | 1: 1.3 | |
| Phosphorus | 20 | mg |
| Calcium | 25 | mg |
| Vitamin C | 14.8 | mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.07 | mg |
| Sodium | 39 | mg |
| Vitamin K | 1.3 | µg |
| Iron | 0.34 | mg |
| Protein | 0.68 | g |
| Sugar | 1.86 | g |
| Fiber | 1.6 | g |
| Water | 95.3 | g |
| Energy | 16 | kcal |
At first glance, you may think everything is ok, especially while looking at calcium and phosphorus contents. The calcium to phosphorus ratio is slightly more than 1:1, and every feed with more calcium than phosphorus is generally considered good for bearded dragons. However, the amount of calcium is not as high as it should be in a bearded dragon’s diet, and your beardie will have to eat a lot of radishes to meet the calcium requirements of its body if no other calcium source is available.
On the other hand, high water and sugar contents are a matter of concern. Though water is good to keep your beardie hydrated, if you feed radishes too often over intake of water, can cause diarrhea. In addition, higher sugar content can prone your beardie to tooth decay and obesity. Obesity is the primary cause of many other serious medical issues like fatty liver, joint, cardiovascular, diabetes, and kidney problems. While tooth decay will reduce the ability to chew food effectively, thus reducing the food options your beardie can eat, leading to nutritional deficiency.
Can My Bearded Dragons Eat Radish Greens?
Yes, as mentioned earlier, our bearded friends can also eat radish leaves in small amounts. Leaves are good for digestion as they contain more fiber, but a limited amount is allowed because radish leaves also contain oxalates that can bind calcium.
Can I Feed Cooked Radishes To My Bearded Dragons?
No, cooked radishes are not recommended to feed your bearded dragon. Because cooked radishes generally have a lot of fat (cooking oil) and spices that are not good for your bearded friend.
How To Prepare Radishes For A Bearded Dragon?
Follow the steps below to prepare a delicious meal for your bearded friend.
- Buy fresh radishes, and make sure that they are not sprayed with pesticides or other medicines.
- Wash radishes thoroughly to remove dirt and chemical residues.
- Peel them well.
- Cut into small pieces and mix them with the fruits and vegetables you feed them regularly (like kale, dandelion greens, peppers, carrots, apples, etc.)
