Can Lizards Eat Fruits and Vegetables?
Yes, and they should. Lizards are omnivores, which means their diet consists of both animal and plant matter, including fruits and vegetables. Omnivores do best with a diet that has variety of fruits and veggies served alongside their protein source of gut-forced insects. . There are even certain fruits and vegetables that can be toxic to lizards. However, some fruits and vegetables are more beneficial for lizards than others. Here are a few fruits and vegetables commonly given to lizards and some more uncommon options. Before adopting a lizard, knowing what is their best diet is important. All vegetables and fruits for lizards should be dusted with a suitable vitamin supplement to ensure they get the Vitamin D they need for avoiding dangerous bone diseases and remain in excellent health. If you are interested in feeding your lizard something not listed here, please discuss if they are appropriate for your particular lizard (and in what quantity as an obese lizard is a miserable lizard) with a knowledgeable reptile expert or veterinarian if you have concerns or questions
Apples
Lizards enjoy small amounts of apples. Reptiles have no preferences on apple varieties but red delicious and other softer more mealy apples do not last as long in their bowl and get mushy faster. Baking variety apples stay firmer and tastier longer, especially if given a quick toss in lemon juice to minimize browning before being dusted with a lizard vitamin supplement. Cut apples in small, bite-sized slices. Remove the seeds and never serve any pieces of the thin fibrous seed cover that surrounded the apple seeds, as they can be toxic to lizards.
Lettuce (Dark Green)
Avoid iceberg lettuce, as it has little to no nutritional value for lizards. Iceberg lettuce is mostly water and you should already have fresh water in your lizard’s habitat. Instead, always offer your lizard dark green lettuces such as romaine, Boston, and red leaf lettuces. Bibb lettuce, arugula, radicchio, endive, and baby spinach are all suitable for lizards. Dark leaf lettuces can be conveniently found in the supermarket in a variety bag under names such as “Spring Mix” or “Field Greens”. These more colorful lettuces provide more nutrition for your lizard. Lizards are just like hipsters and love their kale.
Yellow Squash
The common yellow squash or even the green zucchini found beside it makes a wonderful lizard food. Lizards also enjoy other squashes like acorn, butternut and any edible squash that is served raw. Finely chop or shred this vegetable before providing to your lizard.
Honeydew melon and other firm melons like Canary, Crenshaw and Casaba
To prepare melon for a lizard, finely chop and discard of all seeds, core and the rinds. Using a melon baller and serving a lizard one ball a day is enough for a small lizard and you can enjoy the rest for breakfast.
Celery and Carrots
Both the stalks and the leaves of the celery can be a good staple vegetable for most lizards. You should finely chop or shred the celery, removing the fibrous strands though, so your lizard doesn’t choke. Carrot shreds and matchsticks also add color and diversity to the lizard green grocer options.
Prunes, Blueberries, Mangos, Pineapple and Pears
An excellent source of antioxidants and sweetness, but just like other fruits should still only be fed in moderation to lizards. Blueberries can be served whole is small or halved for a smaller lizard. Remember to ensure all morsels are half the size of your lizard’s head. Prunes are high in fiber and can even help a slightly constipated lizard have a bowel movement. Fruit should be a once or twice a week treat ideally. Strawberries make a great lizard desert. Remove the top of the strawberry, including the stem, and finely chop. Strawberries are high in oxalates and goitrogens that help your lizard. Be careful to not give your lizard more than 20-25% of his plant-sourced food from fruit sources. A nice lizard salad can have fruit but the lizard salad should not ever be a fruit salad.
Collard Greens/Turnip Greens/Mustard Greens
A favorite choice among vegetable staples, collard greens should have their stems removed and then be finely chopped or shredded before being providing to a lizard. Collard greens are high in oxalates and goitrogens. Turnip and mustard greens are greens are very high in calcium, iron and are moderately high in oxalates and goitrogens. Always discard of its stems before giving these greens to your lizard.
Grapes
High in oxalates, grapes are a great treat for lizards. You can prepare grapes for your lizard by crushing or chopping the fruit up, seedless grapes are best and never let your dogs or cats near grapes as grapes are poisonous for dogs.
Other foods that lizards enjoy and can be found at supermarkets or specialty grocers are bok choy, Napa cabbage, and other greens and leafy vegetables like dandelion greens or other flat leaf plants listed as safe for lizards. Never give your lizard dandelion greens from your yard as they could have pesticides or be unsuitable. If wanting to feed your lizard dandelion greens, watercress, or chicory greens- only feed them those designed for human consumption and sold in the produce sections of markets. Many lizards also can eat and like raw yam dices, raw okra, peeled cucumber, raw bell peppers, pumpkins, kohlrabi, parsnips, raw asparagus and even cooked lentils.
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