Can Bearded Dragons Eat Parsley

Parsley is most often used as a garnish or for added flavor in pastas, salads, and other dishes. But how safe is parsley for bearded dragons and are there any health concerns if someone feeds parsley to their beardie?

The short answer is parsley is not a healthy food, but it can be fed to beardies as an occasional garnish. Try to follow the guidelines and recommendations below to reduce any concerns when feeding parsley to bearded dragons.

Parsley Nutrition Overview

Below is the reptile nutrition label for parsley. We created this label with nutrition data supplied by the USDA and other reputable sources.

Reptile Nutrition

Parsley (fresh)Per 100g Serving

Core

Calories36Cal

Water Content87.71g

Carbohydrates6.33g

Total Carbohydrate6.33g

Fiber, total dietary3.3g

Sugars0.85g

Fat0.79g

Total Fat0.79g

Total saturated0.132g

14:00.008g

16:00.084g

18:00.039g

Total monounsaturated0.295g

16:10.008g

18:10.287g

Total polyunsaturated0.124g

18:20.115g

18:30.008g

Proteins2.97g

Protein2.97g

Alanine0.195g

Arginine0.122g

Aspartic acid0.294g

Cystine0.014g

Glutamic acid0.249g

Glycine0.145g

Histidine0.061g

Isoleucine0.118g

Leucine0.204g

Lysine0.181g

Methionine0.042g

Phenylalanine0.145g

Proline0.213g

Serine0.136g

Threonine0.122g

Tryptophan0.045g

Tyrosine0.082g

Valine0.172g

Minerals

Calcium, Ca138mg

Copper0.149mg

Iron6.2mg

Magnesium50mg

Manganese0.16mg

Phosphorus, P58mg

Potassium, K554mg

Selenium0.1μg

Sodium56mg

Zinc1.07mg

Vitamins

Vitamin A, IU8424IU

Vitamin A, RAE421μg

Beta-carotene5054μg

Lutein + Zeaxanthin5561μg

Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)0.086mg

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)0.098mg

Vitamin B3 (Niacin)1.313mg

Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)0.4mg

Vitamin B60.09mg

Vitamin B9 (Folate)152μg

Folate (from food)152μg

Folate (dietary equivalent)152μg

Vitamin C133mg

Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)0.75mg

Gamma Tocopherol0.53mg

Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone)1640μg

Choline12.8mg

Sterols

Phytosterols5mg

Other

Oxalates166mg

pH5.8

Nutrition Scores

Ca:P Ratio2.4:1

Ca:P RatingExceptional

Safe to FeedOnce per month

HealthinessUnhealthy

Notes/Instructions: Wash thoroughly. Dice leaves before serving.

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Parsley Health Concerns

Parsley appears fairly healthy at first glance. It has an ideal calcium to phosphorus ratio, is rich in vitamin A, low in sugar, and is not acidic. However, there is one concern.

High Level of Oxalates

Parsley contains a high level of oxalates. Oxalates are chemicals plants produce which helps decrease their calcium levels. When bearded dragons consume foods high in oxalates they will not be able to absorb as much calcium. Since parsley is rarely served in large portion sizes, this should not be a major issue as long as less than 10g of parsley is served once per month.

How to Feed Parsley to Bearded Dragons

Parsley should not be fed to bearded dragons in large quantities due to it's high oxalic acid content. It's fine to use parsley as a garnish or to add flavoring as long as your portion size is very small. To avoid health issues feed no more than 1-3g of parsley in a meal and try not to feed your bearded dragon more than 5g of parsley per month.

How to Prepare Parsley

Only use fresh parsley purchased from a store or grown locally. Do not use dried or pre-chopped parsley purchased in the store.

Wash the parsley to remove any loose debris or chemicals it may have come in contact with at the store or during transportation. Cut the parsley leaves into small pieces. Mix the parsley in with other foods before serving.