Greens for plant part of a beardies diet

[oliscot]

I am based in tropical north queensland, australia. I am trying to get my bearded dragon on low oxalate/goitrogen diet, and have a few questions:


1) Are chrysanthemum greens a good staple green to offer omnivorous lizards like bearded dragons? Do they contain a lot of oxalic acid? Are they toxic to reptiles?

2) Do Kan kong (water spinach), sweet potato leaves, watercress, and pumpkin greens contain much oxalates?

3) Will dandelions grow in the the tropics (We dont seem to have any growing wild)?

4) Can anyone suggest any low goitrogen/oxalate greens that grow well in hot and humid conditions?

 

[Taterbug]

Since you are in AUS I would check around the Australian reptile forums and see what people are growing around you, I'd think you have a good chance at being able to actually provide natural/local plants. iguana keepers and tortoise keepers may also be a good resource, just modify accordingly (no grasses etc).

Most plants high in calcium will be high in Oxalate. A lot has to do with growing conditions too. Unfortunate most of the greens folks rely on in the U.S. are cool weather crops that probably wouldn't do well in your area.

Watercress is potentially high in oxalate, as is dandelion. A quick look suggests the water-spinach is low oxalate, but I've not seen it available here so I never bothered to look into it. The rest... I'm not sure. I havn't come across those yet.

 

[ValeskaRose]

Dandelions grow best in cool, wet climates, so they may not grow there at all.