Food safety
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Cilantro? Yes, a Recommended Green
Yes, bearded dragons can eat cilantro. VCA Animal Hospitals lists cilantro among the recommended vegetables and greens for bearded dragons, alongside parsley, collard greens, turnip greens and dandelion greens. Its strong smell can make a salad more interesting to a dragon that has gone off its greens. Wash fresh cilantro, chop the leaves and soft stems finely, and use it as one green in a mix rather than as a whole salad on its own.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 14, 20264 min read2 sources
Why cilantro works for bearded dragons
VCA's recommended list for bearded dragons includes cilantro and parsley, the two common kitchen herbs that appear on it, along with collard greens, turnip greens, mustard greens, dandelion greens, escarole, watercress, bok choy, kale and clover. Unlike spinach or kale, cilantro carries no specific caution in VCA's guidance.
Leafy greens should make up 80 to 90 percent of the plant portion of a dragon's diet, VCA says. Cilantro counts toward that, and its aroma can help tempt a reluctant eater when mixed in with plainer greens.
Variety is still the rule
Even a green with no caution attached is best rotated. Different greens bring different nutrients, and a dragon fed only one may become fixated on it and refuse everything else when it runs out. Mixing two or three greens at each meal is VCA's approach: raw, washed, finely chopped and mixed.
The Merck Veterinary Manual describes metabolic bone disease, caused by too little calcium for the phosphorus in the diet, low vitamin D3 or poor UVB lighting, as the most common bone disease in reptile practice. A varied salad is one part of preventing it; calcium dusting and lighting are the others.
How to prepare cilantro
Rinse the bunch thoroughly, since herbs often hold grit at the base of the leaves. Shake it dry, then chop the leaves and the thin, tender stems finely. Discard thick lower stems and any yellow or slimy leaves.
Toss the chopped cilantro with collard greens, turnip greens or another base green. Use fresh, plain cilantro only; do not offer salsa, guacamole, chutney or any dish where cilantro is mixed with onion, garlic, citrus or salt.
Offering food in the warm end of a properly heated reptile terrarium helps digestion; our bearded dragon enclosure guide explains how to set up that gradient.
How much and how often
For an adult, a small handful of chopped cilantro can make up part of the salad a few times a week, with other greens filling the rest. For a juvenile, a pinch of finely chopped cilantro in the daily greens is plenty, since young dragons eat mostly insects.
VCA suggests feeding adults every 24 to 72 hours and juveniles once or twice a day. Swap cilantro with parsley and other recommended greens from day to day.
Pairing cilantro with the calcium routine
VCA recommends lightly dusting food with a phosphorus-free calcium powder daily and using a calcium powder with vitamin D3 two to three times a week. Chopped herbs are slightly damp, which helps the powder stick, so a dusted pinch of cilantro mixed into the greens is an easy way to get the supplement eaten.
UV light is essential too, VCA notes, because it lets a dragon use vitamin D3 to absorb calcium. Replace UVB bulbs on the schedule the maker recommends, since output fades long before the light looks dim.
Calcium is only absorbed well when a bearded dragon gets UVB light and a warm basking area, so a properly sized bearded dragon tank matters as much as the salad; the rest of the setup is in our reptile supplies.
Signs to watch and when to call a vet
Merck lists the signs of metabolic bone disease as poor appetite, lethargy, abnormal walking, a swollen or distorted jaw or limbs, fractures, muscle twitching and tetany. Any of these is a reason to see a reptile veterinarian soon.
Also book a vet visit for a dragon that stops eating for several days outside of brumation, loses weight, or has ongoing diarrhea. A list of the greens and supplements you use will help the vet.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.
Common questions
Can bearded dragons eat cilantro every day?
Cilantro is on VCA's recommended list and carries no special caution, so a little most days is fine. Rotating it with other greens such as collards and parsley still gives a better balance than one green alone.
Can bearded dragons eat cilantro stems?
Yes, the thin, tender stems near the leaves are fine if chopped finely. Discard the thick lower stems, which are tough and stringy for a small lizard.
Can baby bearded dragons eat cilantro?
Yes, finely chopped cilantro can be part of a baby dragon's daily greens. Babies need mostly insects, according to VCA, so greens are the smaller part of the diet.
Is cilantro or parsley better for bearded dragons?
Both are on VCA's recommended list. Using both in rotation gives more variety than choosing one. Neither should be the only green on the plate for long stretches.
Can bearded dragons eat coriander?
Coriander leaves are the same plant as cilantro, so yes. Coriander seeds and ground spice are different and are not on any dragon feeding list, so stick to the fresh leaves.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
