Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, What's the deal. When I first got my Iguana, I was told collard greens are fantastic. They should be the staple of my Ig's diet. They're sssoooo high in calcium and everything else. They're wonderful. I say, ok cool. So THen I go into beardies and I hear "Gotta watch out of collards. They shouldn't get too much." I'm like, ok whatever. Then I get into uros and I hear "NO COLLARDS! They're horrible for lizards! They bind up calcium so uros don't get it and this that and the other thing. Collards are a no no!!" Now I'm like, hold up, I thought they were good! So What's the deal? Why are collards so great for igs and so bad for Beardies and uros? Isn't it the same plant? Doesn't it have the same calcium levels for one lizard as it does for others? Why are collards so great for one and bad for others? Can someone explain this to me?
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2.0.0 Iguanas, 3.4.0 Beardies, 1.2.0 Saharan/Nigerian Uromastyx, 1.1.1 Leos, 0.0.1 African Fat Tail, 0.0.1 Fla Garter Snake, 0.0.1 Corn Snake, 0.0.3 Fire Belly Toads, 1.0.0 Eastern Painted Turtle, 0.0.1 African Sideneck, 1.1.1 Horses {Baby next May!!!}, 2.2.0 cats, 0.1.0 dog, 0.1.0 African Pygmy Hedgehog and I'm done for now.....

If you go down a few days you will see a HUGE set of posts. The first one is titles "Collard Greens". We recently went through this discussion, and rather than trying to summarize it I think it would be better if you went through it. I think you will find that many people shared your frustration.

I hope that helps!

Elizabeth

I didn't go thru the long post below, but here is what I gather from all the info I have studied over the years (and I have an iggy also as well as uro's).

In the collards in particular, they are a part of the cabbage family. Cabbage of course would not be good for any lizards. However, you are correct that collards do have a high amount of calcium compared to other greens. However, yes, they can bind as well if used in excess.

With any reptile, I feel that variety is always the best route. You can give some collards but mixed with other things or sparingly. Just as with yourself......your body cannot live on just salads everyday, you need proteins, you need other vitamins and minerals as well. So with reptiles, its the same. They also needa variety to cover ALL the nutritional aspects.

As for the difference with Iggys and uros, just because they are both lizards doesn't mean their diet is the same. There ARE some things that are better for your ig than the uro and visa versa. Just do alot of your homework on all of it to be sure they are both getting what they need.

I also have recently got into the new T-Rex dusts that are out for iggys and uros. They supposedly are to give them the ideal amount of nutrients each and every day. Not too expensive either.

hope this helps clarify some for you.
Renee

wait wait wait wait collards are bad for beardeds now?What the heck I stop reading the forum for 1 month and everything changes all the websites I read said collards and mustards are a great staple and I have been feeding them since the middle of novemeber w/o any problems......

When I first got into beardies, I heard they were bad... later I heard they were fine... now I'm hearing both sides again, hence the reason I made this post...
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2.0.0 Iguanas, 3.4.0 Beardies, 1.2.0 Saharan/Nigerian Uromastyx, 1.1.1 Leos, 0.0.1 African Fat Tail, 0.0.1 Fla Garter Snake, 0.0.1 Corn Snake, 0.0.3 Fire Belly Toads, 1.0.0 Eastern Painted Turtle, 0.0.1 African Sideneck, 1.1.1 Horses {Baby VERY soon!!!!}, 2.2.0 cats, 0.1.0 dog, 0.1.0 African Pygmy Hedgehog and I'm done for now.....