PLANTS, FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FOR REPTILES
Many species of Australian lizards are herbivorous or omnivorous which means they include a lot of
fruits, foliage and flowers in their natural diet. When caring for these lizards in captivity we aim to
provide as healthy, natural and varied diet as possible for their health and wellbeing.
Developing a diet
It can be overwhelming when trying to develop a healthy diet for our lizards so we have compiled
this handy guide of safe fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers that you can incorporate into your
lizard’s diet. To further help you, we have broken down these lists into three sections; staples,
moderation and treat only. Foods listed under ‘Staples’ are healthy foods that you can confidently
feed your lizard every day. Foods listed under ‘Feed in Moderation’ are foods that offer different
benefits for your lizards, but shouldn’t be relied upon with every feed.
The ‘Treat Only’ list are foods that are safe for your lizard to eat,
however may contain certain vitamins, minerals or other substances
that are not healthy if fed on a regular basis.
Toxic Foods
We have also included a list of foods that are toxic or otherwise have
negative effects on your lizards. This list is not complete and you
should always consult a reptile specialist for advice when feeding
unknown food items.
SAFE VEGETABLES
Staple Vegetables
Feed in Moderation
Treat Only
Butternut Pumpkin
Celery (Stalk and Leaves)
Collard Greens
Endive
Turnip Greens
Yellow Squash
Alfalfa Sprouts
Asparagus
Bok Choy/Pak Choi
Broccoli Leaves
Cabbage (Green or Red)
Capsicum
Carrots
Cauliflower
Choko
Green Beans
Kale
Pumpkin
Beetroot
Broccoli Stalk and Floret
Corn
Cucumber (Peeled)
Pea Sprouts
Potato (Cooked)
Turnip
Zucchini
Snap Peas
Sweet Potato
SAFE FRUITS
Many lizards love their fruits, especially Blue tongue and Shingleback
Skinks! There are many common fruits that are safe to include in the diet
of your lizard, however caution should be taken that they are not overfed
any fruits. Fruits are one of the leading causes of dental issues in lizards
as soft fruits tend to accumulate in the teeth causing plaque and tartar.
Fruits are also high in natural sugars which can also result in other health
issues.
Staple Fruits
Feed in Moderation
Treat Only
Apple
Blackberries
Blueberries
Cranberries
Grapefruit
Grapes
Guava
Honeydew Melon
Mango
Orange
Paw Paw
Pineapple
Strawberries
Watermelon
Apricot
Banana
Cherries
Kiwifruit
Mandarin
Nectarine
Peach
Pear
SAFE PLANTS & FLOWERS
Most herbivorous or omnivorous lizards consume flowers and
foliage in the wild. While we may not be able to source all of
the variety of plants they would encounter there are certain
plants that can be included in their diet.
Staple Flowers/Plants
Feed in Moderation
Dandelion Flower and Leaves
Basil
Coriander
Dahlia
Hibiscus Flower and Leaves
Nasturtium Flowers
Peppermint Leaves
Rosemary
Wheatgrass
Treat Only
TOXIC FOODS
Some of the common fruits and vegetables in our kitchen are potentially toxic to our lizards! Be
cautious of the following food items and do not incorporate them into your lizard’s diet. While some
are not necessarily toxic they may possess vitamins, minerals or other substances that are harmful
to your lizard. An example of this is spinach which is very high in oxalates; oxalic acid binds to
calcium, leading to disorders such as MBD due to lack of calcium metabolism. Spinach is also
goitrogenic which may lead to thyroid disorders.
Food Item
Avocado
Chives
Eggplant (raw)
Garlic
Lettuce
Mushroom
Onion
Rhubarb
Spinach
Notes
Parsley
High in calcium binding oxalates
Potentially toxic to reptiles
Potentially toxic to reptiles, high in oxalates
Potentially toxic especially to Pogona sp.
Potentially toxic to reptiles
Little nutritional value, may cause diarrhoea
Some mushrooms are toxic to dragons
Potentially toxic
Highly toxic, extremely high in calcium binding oxalates
High in calcium binding oxalates and goitrogens
*While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information in this document, it should only
be used as a guideline and should not replace the advice of a veterinarian’s. Western Reptile Rescue
Inc, its members and the author take no responsibility in the misuse of the information provided