Feeding lettuce

My dad's girlfriend got a bearded dragon, Sugar, about a year ago or so. For the past couple of months, he has been at my house because she didn't have the time to put into him anymore. So now he's technically my dad's, but I do help with the feedings and whatnot. The petstore told them that he could have crickets, mealworms, and lettuce. So, for about a year he's been eating lettuce on a fairly regular basis. I never questioned it because that's what they said he could have, so ok. I also had no idea there were caresheets out there. When my boyfriend started using the site, he sent me the link to read it. I skimmed over it and kept meaning to go back and read it in depth, but forgot. Last night I took the time to sit down and read it all, and found out that it says lettuce is something they shouldn't have, because it can be toxic to them. Sugar seems to be fine even though he's eaten it so much. Is it still a good idea to take him off the lettuce? I didn't know if over time it could be worse for him, or if maybe since he's been okay thus far, he is fine on it. I don't want to feed him anything that will harm him, so any advice would be great. I've gotten pretty attached to the little fella, and I'm really trying to learn as much as I can.

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Originally Posted by ShortStack

My dad's girlfriend got a bearded dragon, Sugar, about a year ago or so. For the past couple of months, he has been at my house because she didn't have the time to put into him anymore. So now he's technically my dad's, but I do help with the feedings and whatnot. The petstore told them that he could have crickets, mealworms, and lettuce. So, for about a year he's been eating lettuce on a fairly regular basis. I never questioned it because that's what they said he could have, so ok. I also had no idea there were caresheets out there. When my boyfriend started using the site, he sent me the link to read it. I skimmed over it and kept meaning to go back and read it in depth, but forgot. Last night I took the time to sit down and read it all, and found out that it says lettuce is something they shouldn't have, because it can be toxic to them. Sugar seems to be fine even though he's eaten it so much. Is it still a good idea to take him off the lettuce? I didn't know if over time it could be worse for him, or if maybe since he's been okay thus far, he is fine on it. I don't want to feed him anything that will harm him, so any advice would be great. I've gotten pretty attached to the little fella, and I'm really trying to learn as much as I can.

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I would stop feeding lettuce immediately. I have a bearded dragon and we feed him a mix of crickets, collard greens, turnip greens and occasionally shredded carrots.

Lettuce is a BIG NO NO.

mustard greens are good to. "big NO NO" LOL

Lettuce is not recommended because it has little to no nutritional value. It's mostly water.

Thanks yall. The more I've gotten involved with taking care of him, the more I've been looking up stuff to make sure what we were told was correct. I'm finding out not all of it was. Sorry if I seem clueless.. I just want to get the facts straight, so to speak. I appreciate the help!

http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com/home.html

Check this site out if you haven't already, the nutrition content page list foods that a good for them as well as foods that could kill them (like avocados)

also remember there are staples and then there are other things...mix it up a little as well. You will get to know immed. what yours likes and doesn't like.

Lettuce has as little nutritional value to beardies as it does to people.

In both your own diet and your beardies, feed greens instead of lettuce for great results :D I'm a fan of arugula for reptiles that can be supplemented with greens.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ShortStack

My dad's girlfriend got a bearded dragon, Sugar, about a year ago or so. For the past couple of months, he has been at my house because she didn't have the time to put into him anymore. So now he's technically my dad's, but I do help with the feedings and whatnot. The petstore told them that he could have crickets, mealworms, and lettuce. So, for about a year he's been eating lettuce on a fairly regular basis. I never questioned it because that's what they said he could have, so ok. I also had no idea there were caresheets out there. When my boyfriend started using the site, he sent me the link to read it. I skimmed over it and kept meaning to go back and read it in depth, but forgot. Last night I took the time to sit down and read it all, and found out that it says lettuce is something they shouldn't have, because it can be toxic to them. Sugar seems to be fine even though he's eaten it so much. Is it still a good idea to take him off the lettuce? I didn't know if over time it could be worse for him, or if maybe since he's been okay thus far, he is fine on it. I don't want to feed him anything that will harm him, so any advice would be great. I've gotten pretty attached to the little fella, and I'm really trying to learn as much as I can.

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If you are going to feed greens stay AWAY from iceburg its horrible for them, instead stick with the collard greens, hearts of romain, and spring mix and you wont go wrong....

You can feed them red leaf lettuce, just not iceberg. Mine loves carrot tops, kale, dandelion leaves and clover. I love when it's summer because i can just feed him straight out of my backyard with dandelions and clover!