Feeding Herbivorous Reptiles

Feed sheet for Herbivorous Reptiles

One of the most important factors with feeding herbivorous reptiles is that there is no 1 singular plant that is best to feed them, variety is the key. Let me say that again so you don’t forget… variety is the key. Some plants are more nutritious than others and many will contain different levels of vitamins and trace minerals that are beneficial. Feeding just one plant is likely to lead to dietary deficiencies so please remember to vary their food. The following guide is only supposed to be a rough breakdown of some of the different things you can feed them, but it is not an exhaustive list.

Garden weeds and wild greens

Although during the winter months and out of convenience it may be easier to use shop bought produce, the benefits from feeding weeds and wild greens should not be underestimated. As well as foraging for them you can also grow your own edible weeds either outdoors or in seed trays on a window ledge. Home grown weeds can always be used to supplement the diet of your pets even if not used exclusively. There are literally hundreds of possible plants and parts of plants that can be deemed edible to reptiles but just remember, especially if picking wild weeds that you need to be 100% certain of the plant’s identity as a safe option before feeding it to your pet.

Make sure foraged plants are collected from areas away from sources of high pollution such as road verges or from areas where pesticides and fertilisers may have been used. A basic list of relatively easily identifiable wild weeds and greens can include but are not limited to:

· Dandelion
· Plantain (Multiple species)
· Clover (Multiple Species)
· Vetch
· Sow Thistle
· Sedum
· Bindweed
· Mallow
· Purslane
· Sorrel
· Nettle
· Bramble (Tender shoots & leaves)
· Dock (In Moderation)
· Alfalfa (In Moderation)

There are also various indoor and outdoor ornamental plants that can be fed to your pets including:

· Calathea
· Maranta
· Calissia (Turtle vine)
· Tradescantia
· Rose
· Pansey
· Hibiscus
· Chamomile
· Marigold
· Cornflower
· Nasturtium
· Opuntia (Prickly Pear cactus)

When it comes to shop bought produce, the following percentages represent the approximate quantity we feed by volume with supermarket bought produce.

Dark leafy greens (70% of their diet)

Dark leafy greens often members of the brassica (Cabbage) family are some of the best plants to use for the bulk of the diet. They are high in fibre, low in sugars, generally high in calcium, low in goitrogens, and containing trace levels of many essential minerals. The only notable negative with brassicas is that they contain moderate levels of oxalic acid which can bind with calcium they contain. Some readily available dark leafy greens that can normally be purchased from the supermarket include.

- · Spring greens (also known as collard greens)
- · Curly Kale
- · Black Kale (also known as Covolo Nero)
- · Brussel Tops
- · Cabbage (e.g Pointed, Savoy, Sweetheart)
- · The leaves from broccoli and cauliflower

Other Mixed leaves (25% of their diet)

- · Chard (Swiss or Rainbow etc)
- · Leaf beets (leaves from beetroot)
- · Pak Choi
- · Oak lettuce
- · Romain lettuce
- · Endive (Also called Friese)
- · Chinese leaf
- · Spinach (Sparingly)
- · Radicchio
- · Watercress
- · Rocket
- · Pea Shoots

Fresh herbs (5% of their diet)

Often especially for young animals or picky feeders by adding in particularly fragrant and aromatic herbs you can entice them to eat.

- · Mint
- · Coriander/Cilantro
- · Parsley
- · Basil
- · Sage

Some omnivorous reptiles such as bearded dragons, larger iguanas, blue tongue skinks etc will also readily feed on fruits and vegetables as well, however these should not be fed to grassland

Tags: Herbivore, feeding guide, plant list, reptile diets