If you are thinking Can Bearded Dragons Eat Chives Or not, Let me clarify. Bearded dragons cannot eat chives. Chives are good for human body and it contains a lot of oxalic acid, phosphorus, calcium and A.
Foods rich in these components are generally good but to bearded dragon too much of these components brings more harm than good. So, you should avoid feeding chives to your bearded dragon.
That is to say if you force feed chives to your reptile, they will consume it. But in the long run they will only suffer and you will only get a long medication bill.
So, in this article on can bearded dragons eat chives, I will clearly explain to you why you should avoid feeding your bearded dragon chives.
Nutrient Value of Chives
Chives are a herb that may be found in a variety of cuisines across the world. It is largely available in supermarkets and grocery stores, as well as in gardens. Before getting into the detailed discussion on can bearded dragons eat chives, we need to go through its food value so that you can get a clear picture.
Let’s take a look at its nutritional information per 100 g (3.5 oz)
| Name | Amount | Unit |
| Carbohydrates | 4.35 | g |
| Fat | 0.73 | g |
| Vitamin A equiv. | (27%) 218 | μg |
| Protein | 3.27 | g |
| Sugars | 1.85 | g |
| Energy | 126 | kj |
| beta-carotene | (24%) 2612 | μg |
| lutein zeaxanthin | 323 | μg |
| Vitamin B6 | (11%) 0.138 | mg |
| Vitamin C | (70%) 58.1 | mg |
| Iron | (12%) 1.6 | mg |
| Calcium | (9%) 92 | mg |
| Magnesium | (12%) 42 | mg |
| Phosphorus | (8%) 58 | mg |
| Manganese | (18%) 0.373 | mg |
| Potassium | (6%) 296 | mg |
| Zinc | (6%) 0.56 | mg |
| Dietary fiber | 2.5 | G |
Is Chives Dangerous for Bearded Dragon?
Typically, chives are highly dangerous for a bearded dragon. And you should never ever feed it to them. Let me tell you why.
Because chives are strong in oxalic acid, they can be dangerous to bearded dragons. Calcium is bound by oxalic acid, which prevents it from being absorbed during your bearded dragon’s digestion process. They need a particular amount of calcium in their system.
The beardies bones become really fragile and can easily break if they don’t have enough calcium. One of the most common reasons for death in most pet bearded dragons is MBD. (Metabolic bone disease)
Furthermore, chives are abundant in Vitamin A, which might be good for normal human being but is bad for a bearded dragon’s health. If a bearded dragon consumes too much Vitamin A, it will make the eyes, body and mouth swell up. This will also make them drowsy and lazy to move around.
Also, there is the fact that chives have a lot of phosphorus and calcium. There minerals are usually good for your beardie. They make up for strong bone structure. But too much of it is bad for their health. Even in the little number of chives there is a huge calcium and phosphorous ratio. As a result, bearded dragons should not intake chives at all and should avoid them entirely. In alternative you can add a lot of other food in their diet.
Safe Food for Bearded Dragons
Now that you have the answer to your question on can bearded dragons eat chives, you must also be looking for the answer of what you can actually feed your bearded dragon. Well, we have got you covered. Here we will discuss some of the safest plant-based food for your reptile.
1. Haworthia Plants
Haworthia plants, which originate in the dry parts of South Africa, are among the most popular terrarium plants among breeders.It contains hundreds of species, but Haworthia cooperi and Haworthia reinwardtii are two of the most readily accessible and well-suited for your bearded dragons. They are widely available, easy to maintain and are smaller in size. All these characteristics make it a well suited food source for the reptile.
2. Aloe Plants
Although alovera was first discovered in the regions around the Indiana Ocean, it is now grown in all over the world. It has 80 percent water and is another great food option for your bearded dragon.
3. Cactus pad, or prickly pear
This desert treat is strong in calcium and antioxidants, as well as fiber and Vitamin C. To serve, cut the inside meat into tiny pieces after carefully removing the outer thorned layer.
4. Dandelion leaves
These common yard weeds, which are high in calcium and Vitamin A, make a fantastic addition to your bearded dragon’s salad if you are going for a are pesticide-free diet. Because dandelion leaves contain a significant number of oxalates, pair them with collard greens, prickly pear, or another calcium-rich green.
5. Collard greens
Collard greens are a fantastic source of calcium for your bearded dragon. They’re also high in fiber and folate, as well as vitamins A, C, E, and K.
6. Endive or escarole
Endive and escarole both provide texture and nutrition to your bearded dragon’s salad. It also provides calcium, whether you serve the crunchy, bitter center or the dark, curling leaves. Because they have a modest level of oxalates, serve them with other greens that are higher in calcium.
7. Turnip greens
Turnip greens are high in calcium and vitamins A and C, and have a peppery taste. On the negative, they’re high in oxalates, but if you pair them with oxalate-free, calcium-rich greens, the health advantages exceed the hazards.
8. Mustard greens
The spicy flavor of mustard greens is appealing to many bearded dragons. They’re even more appealing because they’re high in calcium and vitamins A, C, and K. To balance out the modest number of oxalates and goitrogens, serve them with collard greens.
Conclusion
That’s it. We have properly answered your question “can bearded dragons eat chives?”. They cannot. And you should not feed it either. We have also recommended you some of the alternative foods that you can feed it to your beardie. So, try to incorporate those foods in your bearded dragon’s diet and avoid this dangerous food altogether.