As we all know, green beans are healthy, affordable, and versatile, and they make a perfect staple food for us. But what about bearded dragons? Can they eat green beans?
Despite green beans being part of our favorite meals, they may or may not be suitable for bearded dragons. Many dragon enthusiasts will not stop questioning the safe foods for their lizards since there are tons of food options available.
It is necessary to offer to your pet what you know is suitable. In the rest of this article, you will understand if green beans are ideal for the beardies and many more.
This article has been reviewed by Dr. Dilber. Read more about our knowledge control process here.
Contents
Are Green Beans Nutritious?
You don’t just go to the grocery store, buy any food material and give it to your lizard or you don’t feed a particular food because your neighbor or friend is using it.
As far as the beardie’s diet goes, you need to ensure you maintain a healthy and nutritious salad for your beloved pet at all times.
And this means that you have to know the nutritional data of foods you choose to offer to your dragon, and green beans are no exception.
The following is the nutritional data of green beans from the U.S Department of Agriculture.
| Nutrients | Amount | Unit |
| Water | 90.3 | g |
| Protein | 1.83 | g |
| Sugar | 3.26 | g |
| Energy | 31 | kcal |
| Calcium | 37 | mg |
| Phosphorus | 38 | mg |
| Vitamin C | 12.2 | mg |
| Vitamin A | 35 | µg |
| Ca:P ratio | 1:1 | – |
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Green Beans?
Bearded dragons can eat green beans, and they are fond of taking them. The way you will enjoy eating these crunchy veggies, it is the same case with your lizard friend. So, next time you are cooking green beans, remember to spare some for the pet.
However, green beans are healthy for the beardies if they eat them in small amounts and less frequently.
Thus, these veggies are low in sugar and fat, consequently acting as an excellent low-calorie snack for the beardies. You don’t need to worry that your friend will gain more weight.
Green beans contain several vitamins, including vitamins A, C, and K, plus other substantial nutrients, making a decent contribution to the dragon’s diet. It also contain vitamin B6, manganese, carbohydrates, and protein.
The ratio of calcium and phosphorus in green beans is outstanding as it is at the ideal range for bearded dragons.
A right balance between calcium and phosphorus (that is, 1:1 or 2:1) allows a bearded dragon to absorb available calcium in the diet more efficiently.
How Often Can Bearded Dragons Eat Green Beans?
If I tell you to feed green beans to your beardie on rare occasions, I will still leave your question pending because I have not given you a specific time. So, how often can bearded dragons eat green beans?
Ideally, bearded dragons can eat a small number of green beans once every other week. Remember, green beans are high in water, and too much of them will cause your beloved lizard to experience diarrhea.
Also, this food material is high in vitamins that can make the lizard sick due to high or regular consumption. The excess vitamins accumulate in the body, and this can be pretty toxic for the beardies.
But generally speaking, green beans are somewhat low in the majority of the nutrients, and I’m afraid it might not meet the needs of the beardies. Although you don’t intend to feed them solely, they don’t fit to be provided more often.
All these are enough evidence that green beans can definitely be bad for bearded dragons if you happen to use them as staple foods.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cooked Green Beans?
Some people tend to cook the green beans for their dragons, while others will stick to feeding raw foods. Whichever option you choose is acceptable, and it all depends on your preference.
But remember that cooking green beans or any other food for the beardies loses a few or all of the vital nutrients. And that means that your dragon will be eating low nutritional foods. So, if I were you, I would always go for the raw green beans at all times.
Likewise, cooked green beans can cause digestive issues since they may contain cooking spices, and they also absorb a lot of moisture. In short, bearded dragons should not eat cooked green beans; they can instead have raw beans.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Canned Green Beans?
I believe you would not want to buy yourself canned foods if you are mindful of your diet’s freshness and nutritional value. You know that canned foods have preservatives plus other chemicals that keep to improve their keeping quality and prevent spoilage.
If you didn’t know, these preservatives are toxic to bearded dragons and tend to cause stomach issues or other health concerns. So, bearded dragons cannot eat canned green beans.
It would help if you also avoided frozen green beans as they are low in nutrition as well. There is nothing good as giving only fresh foods to your cute lizard.
You might also like a complete list of common food that a bearded dragon eats that people usually ask.
How to Prepare Green Beans for Bearded Dragons?
To prepare green beans for your pet doesn’t require much of your time; you only need to follow some standard guidelines.
First and foremost, ensure to buy green beans that are fresh and keep them raw. If it is possible to find organic veggies, then buy them instead.
The next thing that you should never skip is to wash the green beans; it doesn’t matter if you have organic green beans or not. They all require to be cleaned thoroughly. Washing ensures that you provide foods that are pesticide, dirt, and chemical-free.
Now it is time to chop the veggies into small sizes. Note that the size should never exceed the space between your bearded dragon’s eye, to prevent choking hazards.
Put the beans into a food bowl for your dragon and mix them with other veggies plus fruits. Then, let the pet enjoy the meal and make sure to remove foods remaining after the beardie gets full.
Wrapping Up
I hope my article has been helpful to you, and now you have an idea of how and when to feed green beans to bearded dragons.
Green beans are great foods for the beardies, and they provide many health benefits. You can safely feed green beans to your friend once or twice a month and in limited amounts.
But avoid using cooked or canned green beans always if you aren’t ready to risk your pet’s health.