Can Uromastyx eat Tomatoes?

Uromastyx are herbivores and eat all kinds of vegetables, greens and fruits, including tomatoes. It is generally believed that tomatoes can be fed to uromatyx lizards from time to time, but this food should not be a constant in its diet because, if consumed in large quantities, it can lead to health complications.

Tomatoes are rich in vitamins C, A, antioxidants and fiber, but they lack calcium, are very acidic and have a high oxalate content, which in large quantities can bind to calcium and further prevent its absorption, which is a major problem for reptiles.

It is therefore recommended that tomatoes be given to uromatyx only in moderation. As a general rule, iguanas should have no more than 20 percent of their diet consist of fruits, and tomatoes are one of them.

Why you should not feed tomatoes to uramastyx too often:

Tomatoes have low levels of calcium, which is essential for bone health and development. This means that feeding uromatyx with too many tomatoes can lead to a calcium deficiency that is not good for the animal.

Tomatoes have an undesirable ratio of calcium to phosphorus, such that the presence of phosphorus in tomatoes prevents calcium absorption in the body. This leads to calcium deficiency in the lizard or, in the most extreme cases, metabolic bone disease.

Tomato plants and leaves

It is not recommended that iguanas be given tomato leaves or any other part of the plant. Tomatoes are part of the umbelliferae family, which is known to contain high levels of alkaloids in the stems, leaves, flowers and vines.

These are generally considered toxic and should not be given to reptiles, although iguanas have been observed eating tomato plants in the wild.