Most tegu lizard owners prefer not to feed spinach to their pet. Tegus can eat spinach but it can be harmful in large amounts so you should keep consumption to a minimum or avoid feeding it altogether.
Despite being a nutrition-packed dark leafy green, spinach has an extremely high content of oxalates which bind to calcium and prevent it from being properly absorbed.
Calcium deficiency can lead to a variety of diseases from tail rot to metabolic bone disease which is potentially lethal for reptiles.
One cup of raw spinach can contain 700-800 milligrams of oxalates, which is way too high for safe consumption by tegu lizards.
This page contains affiliate links. As Amazon associates we may earn a commission for eligible product purchases. This is at no additional costs to you.
Things to consider when feeding spinach to your tegu
- Spinach contains insane amounts of oxalates, a compound that can prevent calcium absorption. Consuming spinach regularly may lead your tegu lizard to experience calcium deficiency or, in the worst case, metabolic bone disease, which is potentially lethal to reptiles.
- A better alternative? Kale should be your go-to dark leafy green for tegus. One cup of raw kale has less than 20mg of oxalates, so it can be fed a lot more regularly than spinach without problems.
Zilla Omnivore Mix – Insects, Fruits and Veggies + Calcium | Zilla Vegetable and Fruits Mix | Zilla Vegetable Mix + Calcium |
Tegu and Spinach FAQs
Can tegus eat spinach?
No, tegus should not eat spinach. Spinach is high in oxalates, which can bind to calcium and other minerals in the gut, making them difficult to absorb.
This can lead to calcium deficiency, which can have serious health consequences for tegus, including metabolic bone disease, tail rot, soft bones, and growth problems.
What should I feed my tegu instead of spinach?
There are many other vegetables that are safe for tegus to eat. Some good options include:
- Kale
- Collard greens
- Dandelion greens
- Escarole
- Endive
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Green beans
- Sweet potatoes
- Zucchini
Prioritize feeding dark leafy green over lighter varieties of lettuce (like iceberg) which are high in water and nutritiously poor. The same goes for cucumber.
You can also feed your tegu fruits, but in moderation. Some good options include:
Avoid feeding avocado for it can be toxic to reptiles. It is important to feed your tegu a variety of foods to ensure that they are getting all the nutrients they need.
TEGU QUICK LINKS
PetsWithScales.com is an informational website about big lizard pet care. We collect and provide information from different sources across the web on how to keep and care for reptiles as pets. The species we mainly deal with are tegus, monitor lizards, skinks and geckos. Our aim is to provide high quality information to help pet owners make better, more informed decisions about their animal’s diets, health and life.
PetsWithScales.com is an informational website about big lizard pet care. We collect and provide information from different sources across the web on how to keep and care for reptiles as pets. The species we mainly deal with are tegus, monitor lizards, skinks and geckos. Our aim is to provide high quality information to help pet owners make better, more informed decisions about their animal’s diets, health and life.