Mint is grown in the garden very easily. It is a highly available green food and can be incorporated into our food habits. So if you have a bearded dragon as a pet, then you might consider feeding it mint.
In this article, we will discuss whether bearded dragons can eat mint. We will also discuss how you should prepare the mint leaves for bearded dragons. So without further ado, let’s read ahead to learn more about mint leaves as a food for bearded dragons.
Can bearded dragons eat mint?
Bearded dragons can eat mint. But you should not feed them mint too frequently. Bearded dragons should have mint only occasionally. Mint leaves are rich in nutritional value and high in water content, so it will serve your bearded dragon well. But make sure not to make it a staple food.
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Bearded dragons enjoy eating mint. It offers them a good source of water content and nutrition. These leaves are nice to chew on.
You should offer greens to your bearded dragon often. And mints are a great source of green food items. Mints are easy to grow and take care of. So you can grow mint
But you should not feed your bearded dragon mints too often. It is not that the mint carries any harmful element. But you should not feed them mint as a staple food. It should be served only occasionally.
This is because, besides protein, fiber content, and water, mint is also rich in a range of elements, including calcium, phosphorus, acid, sugar and fat. Having these in large quantities may prove to be harmful for your bearded dragon. This is why it is discouraged to feed them mint regularly.
Baby bearded dragons:
Baby bearded dragons eat mint. But you will need to be careful not to feed them mint too often. Bearded dragons need to eat green every once in a while, but you should be careful in picking the right greens for them.
Feeding mint too often may prove to be counter productive. Mints have a higher calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. You should pay attention to this ratio when you’re picking up food for your bearded dragon. The ideal ratio to feed them is 2:1.
Beside green mint, you will find many other green food items that are good for baby bearded dragons.
Is mint good for bearded dragons?
Mint does not contain any harmful material per se. They are good for bearded dragons, but only up to a certain extent. You should not feed mint to bearded dragons too frequently. Otherwise, it will prove to be counter productive.
Mint contains a large content of calcium, phosphorus, acid, sugar and fat. The ideal ratio of calcium-to-phosphorus is 2:1 for your bearded dragon.
But mint has a greater ratio in this case. Which implies that you should not feed them mint in large quantities. They also contain a significant amount of water and protein.
So while it is good for bearded dragons, you should not offer it to them in abundance. You should feed them mint only occasionally and not as a staple food. Otherwise, it will prove to be harmful for your pet.
Can bearded dragons eat these mints?
There are different kinds of mint. And you should do a thorough research before deciding whether a certain type of mint would be healthy for your bearded dragon. Let’s take a look at whether bearded dragons can eat these mints:
Sweet mint:
Yes, bearded dragons can eat sweet mint. But you will have to remember to provide these mints to them only occasionally. You should not feed them mint on a regular basis.
Basil and mint:
Yes, bearded dragons can eat basils without any worry. But you will have to be careful not to overfeed them. Basil and mint should be offered to them only occasionally.
Peppermint:
It is perfectly safe to provide peppermint to bearded dragons. You can feed peppermint to your bearded dragons occasionally. But never should you offer peppermint to your pet on a regular basis.
However, you should note that peppermint contains some strong menthol agents which may be bothersome for bearded dragons. So you should be careful and observe their reaction after consuming peppermint.
Spearmint:
Spearmint is also safe for your bearded dragon. It is rich in water content and protein. These herbs offer good nutritional value for your bearded dragon.
But you should be careful not to overfeed your bearded dragon with peppermint. Otherwise the food will prove to be counterproductive for them.
Chocolate mint:
Bearded dragons can eat chocolate mint. These mints are safe for them. But you will have to remember not to feed them chocolate mint regularly. Offer chocolate mint to bearded dragons only occasionally.
Lemon mint:
Bearded dragons can eat lemon mint. However, they do not like this particular type of mint as much.
The lemon mints are rich in nutrients, but they exceed the ideal proportion of nutrients that bearded dragons should be allowed on a regular basis. So you should provide them this herb only occasionally.
2 reasons why bearded dragons can eat mint
There are several reasons why bearded dragons eat mint. We will discuss two of the most prominent reasons why bearded dragons can eat mint.
Water content:
One of the most common reasons why anyone eats mint is that this herb is rich in water content. It contains about 80% water content.
While mints are not so heavy on nutritional benefits, this herb contains a huge proportion of water. This satisfies the thirst of bearded dragons. This is why bearded dragons can eat mint.
However, you should be careful not to overfeed your bearded dragon with mint. Since this herb comes with high water content, it may lead to diarrhea when consumed in large quantities.
Soothing herb:
Mint is a rather soothing herb. Mint is consumed to eliminate stomach ache, fight diarrhea and such. Mint is also used in a range of herbal tea because of its soothing quality.
This herb has anti-inflammatory benefits as well as antioxidants. So it is very helpful in soothing your bearded dragon when they feel sick in their stomach. This is why bearded dragons can eat mint.
What nutritional values can bearded dragons get from eating mint?
There are several nutritional benefits of mints. Let’s take a look at the nutritional values that bearded dragons can get from eating mint.
Mint has traces of vitamin C. This is an important ingredient in the diet of bearded dragons. In addition, mint contains calcium. It also contains protein, fat, fiber, and carbs. Mint contains about 2.24 kilocalories as well.
Such are the nutritional benefits of mint. If you offer mint to your bearded dragon, make sure to provide this herb to them only occasionally. Overfeeding them with mint can be counterproductive for bearded dragons as it comes with a high potassium to calcium ratio.
How should you prepare mint leaves for bearded dragons?
While it is safe to feed mint to bearded dragons, you should be careful with the quantity and frequency of providing this food to your pet. Make sure not to overfeed them with mint.
Rest assured that there are no harmful material in mint. That being said, you should watch out for the proportion of calcium to potassium in mint. It is a bit high for your pet, and causes them inconvenience if you feed them mint regularly. This is why we suggest you prepare mint leaves for bearded dragons only about once a week or so.
How often should bearded dragons consume these mint leaves?
Bearded dragons can safely consume mint leaves. But you will still have to be careful with the quantity that you are providing them. Mint leaves generally contain a handful of nutritional values. In addition, these leaves are rich in water content.
If you’re not careful with the quantity, it is very easy to overfeed mint leaves to bearded dragons. Excessive water content in their bodies may even lead to diarrhea.
Bearded dragons should not consume mint leaves very often. They should eat mint leaves not more than once or twice a week. Do not make these leaves a staple food for them, otherwise it will prove to be counter productive for them.
Final Thoughts
Bearded dragons can eat mint leaves. But you should be careful not to offer them too much of mint leaves regularly. Regular consumption of mint leaves may prove to be counterproductive for them. And the menthol agent that is present in mint leaves may cause irritation as well.