Heat help!!

[Jay_Bunny]

So why are collards one of the best greens to give a dragon yet its on the list for high oxalates?

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

So why are collards one of the best greens to give a dragon yet its on the list for high oxalates?

Oh wow! I can't believe I didn't notice that! I was so concerned with skimming it for kale that I missed the listing of collard.. Thanks for pointing that out. I've posted that link in the past too.. I guess it's good I only give mine mustard and turnip greens then because those are the only ones he likes aside from spring mix and certain veggies.

[kitedemon]

Don't forget Escarole.

[LLLReptile]

The best greens to feed are turnip, mustard, and collard. If you read the stats on them, they are naturally high in calcium. Kale is perfectly fine also..

Anything that is high in oxalates should not be given. Oxalates are what blocks the bodies ability to absorb calcium..

http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?dbid=48&tname=george

" Foods that contain oxalates:

The following are some examples of the most common sources of oxalates, arranged by food group. It is important to note that the leaves of a plant almost always contain higher oxalate levels than the roots, stems, and stalks.

Fruits:
blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, currants, kiwifruit, concord (purple) grapes, figs, tangerines, and plums.

Vegetables:
spinach, Swiss chard, beet greens, collards, okra, parsley, leeks and quinoa are among the most oxalate-dense vegetables.
celery, green beans, rutabagas, and summer squash would be considered moderately dense in oxalates."

Something to note on this whole oxalate thing - it is a negligible problem when fed in moderation. If you only feed your animal spinach, it's going to have problems, but if you include it in the diet as just a small part of what's offered, it's fine.

A simple "spring veggie mix" from the grocery store often works well at providing a good variety of greens for beardies. My experience has been that often new keepers are so scared that veggies they're not familiar with will be "bad" for their animals that they offer only an extremely limited number of "safe" veggies, rather than embracing the dozens that are potentially out there. Avoid onions and grapes (just like with dogs) and your beardie should do great.

See if you can find a study on just how much of these oxalates are found per plant. Last I read, spinach has 1.7 grams per 100 grams of spinach. 100 grams of spinach is as much as a well started baby ball python weighs - it's less than 2% of the plant's weight. If you beardie eats one leaf of spinach, that's not even 1 gram of spinach, meaning that it is consuming less than .02 grams of these harmful chemicals. It is a tiny, tiny amount that is not a problem as long as it's fed in moderation.

Also, read that full link - it actually tells you in that page that watching your goitrogens/oxalates is a non issue unless you have a very specific dietary problem. So worry less about the oxalate thing, and worry more about variety. Just keep the diet switched up, you won't notice any problems.

-Jen

[Jabberwocky Dragons]

Skip the sand! Or any subtrate. These guys are really prone to impaction without adding sand to their gut. You can use newspaper, paper towel or my personal favorite, non-adhesive shelf liner http://www.amazon.com/Duck-855083-No...7977018&sr=1-7 You can find this at most Walmarts. It's cheap, easy to cut to size & cleans up easily. Poop can be picked/wiped up with a paper towel and then switch out the liner every week or two for cleaning. The dirty liner can be washed in a bucket or in the washing machine if you aren't squeamish.

x3 on sand being a no-no. In fact, it's a HUGE no-no in the reptile world, especially with Beardies. It causes impaction, which can (and usually is) fatal to reptiles.

Try newspaper, tiles, or a Reptile Carpet. We have used all 3, love em all, but currently, Aaliyah has tiles which have the best visual value.

http://lllreptile.com/info/library/a...earded-dragon/
LLLReptile has pretty good caresheets, but I would read as many as I could to verify information and get more opinions. Also, a book always comes in handy.

A Beardie Nutrition bible is: http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html (There is not ONE person I know who's serious about Beardie care that doesn't reference this site.)

Good luck on your Beardie. They're somewhat high maintenance pets, but very rewarding.

Hi guys. I wanted to thank you all for your suggestions. No sand is a go! I read somewhere during my research that is what you use on beardies. Don't believe everything you read and triple check sources is the lesson. When you all mentioned impaction I palmfaced myself. I got a couple of xlarge zilla green terrarium liners, split them in half for easier cleaning just like I do with my BP and he seems very very happy with his kale and carrot shavings and his newer warmer home.

Thank you all.

I've kept many many bearded dragons over many years on sand and have never had a single impaction... not a single one. I have also never heard of anyone actually getting an impaction from sand although the rumors have always been floating around.

However, I have heard of dragons getting impactions from Calci-Sand. They lick it, and it clumps differently than playsand. I do keep hatchlings on papertowels because sand can be dangerous for dragons under 8'' but it's completely wrong to reject sand as a suitable substrate for juveniles and adults.