A Rhode Island Non-Profit Organization. A Guide To Fruits and Vegetables.

Transcription

1 A Rhode Island Non-Profit Organization A Guide To Fruits and Vegetables

2 Many species of reptiles are herbivores and omnivores. Providing a proper diet is important to allowing your pet to thrive. It is important to know the nutritional content of each food item as there are benefits and disadvantages to every food. Knowing what to feed, how often and providing variety is very key to ensure your pet has a proper, balanced diet.

3 Greens/Salads Leafy greens such as collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens and kale are all a very important part of your herbivorous or omnivorous reptile's diet. Generally these dark, leafy greens are considered staples (fed daily). They are very rich in vitamins and minerals, which is perfect for your pet. However, feeding too much of these can also be harmful if they are the only food given to your pet. Dark, leafy greens contain high goitrogen levels. Regularly consuming foods with high goitrogen levels can inhibit iodine absorption which affects thyroid function. The thyroid regulates metabolism as well as how the kidney processes proteins. If proteins are not processed correctly, your pet may also end up with gout. Adding various lettuces (romaine, dandelion greens etc.), which contain much lower goitrogen levels, can help offset the amount they are consuming to keep your pet healthy. The only lettuce that is generally not fed is iceberg lettuce. This has very little nutritional value and is mostly comprised of water. This is good for hydration purposes, however it should not be fed on a regular basis.

4 Some greens such as spinach and cabbage are very high in oxalates. Oxalates inhibit calcium absorption, so you do not want to regularly feed these foods. However, spinach and the like are also very high in other vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, so there is a benefit to feeding if done in moderation. These foods would be considered something to be fed occasionally (once or twice per month).

5 Fruits & Vegetables There are many vegetables that are suitable to be fed to your reptile. Some healthy vegetables include various squashes, carrots, bell peppers and sweet potato. Fruits that can be fed include various berries as well as banana, pear, grapes and melons. As with any other food, it is important to know the nutritional content of each item. Carrots are high it vitamin A but also have a moderate level of oxalates. Sweet potatoes are also high in vitamin A and contain moderate levels of oxalates. Bananas are high in phosphorus (which also inhibits calcium absorption) but are a great source of vitamin B. Providing a variety of different fruits and vegetables will keep your reptile interested in their food and ensure they are receiving a balanced diet with various vitamins and minerals. The only fruit or vegetable that should be avoided are onions (toxic), garlic (toxic), white potatoes (little nutritional value), avocado (toxic) and citric fruits such as oranges which can cause diarrhea and disrupt their calcium to phosphorus ratio in their diet.

6 Fresh vs. Frozen It may seem more convenient to feed your reptile greens, vegetables and fruits that are already frozen. You may think this is a perfect solution to avoid waste and have your food last longer. However, regularly feeding frozen foods to reptile can be detrimental to their health. Thiamine (a form of vitamin B) is lost during the defrosting process. Calcium is also lost during long-term storage. These vitamins are important to promote healthy bone growth as well as nerve function. A reptile who is vitamin B deficiency can exhibit neurological disorders which could ultimately be fatal. Always choose fresh foods over frozen and never feed any canned foods. Canned foods are loaded with chemicals and preservatives that can be toxic to your pet. All fruits and vegetables fed to your pet should be fed fresh and raw.