Composition of various plant foods used in reptile diets

  • Poor Ca:P ratio (<1) indicate a food item that is not suitable for reptiles


Food Item Dry Matter % Protein % Fat % Energy Kcal/g Calcium % Phosphorus Ca:P Ratio
Alfalfa - 16 37 3.9 1.29 0.21 6.1
Iceberg lettuce - 1.2 2.5 0.14 0.04 0.03 1.3
Carrots 10 0.7 - 0.23 0.05 0.03 1.3
Broccoli - - - - 0.10 0.07 1.5
Grass(lawn) 33 2.4 1.2 1.6 0.10 0.09 1.1
Clover hay - 11 1.9 - 1.00 0.20 0.5
Fennel - 2.8 0.4 - 0.10 0.50 2.0
Cabbage - 1.3 0.2 - 0.04 0.04 1.2
Collard - - - - 0.20 0.07 2.8
Dandelions - - - - 0.19 0.08 2.8
Endives - 1.7 0.1 - 0.08 0.03 2.4
Kale - - - - 0.18 0.06 2.9
Spinach - 3.0 0.3 - 0.09 0.06 1.7
Parsley - - - - 0.20 0.13 1.5
Radishes - - - - 0.04 0.03 1.6
Turnip - 1.1 0.9 - 0.06 0.02 2.9
Watercress - 2.2 0.3 - 0.22 0.05 4.2
Mustard cress - - - - 0.07 0.01 1.0
Blackberries - - - - 0.06 0.02 2.6
Cranberries - - - - 0.02 0.01 1.4
Blackcurrants - - - - 0.06 0.04 1.4
Red currants - - - - 0.04 0.03 1.2
Damsons - - - - 0.02 0.02 1.5
Figs - - - - 0.28 0.09 3.0
Lemons - - - - 0.11 0.01 9.2
Oranges 13.9 0.8 - 0.35 0.04 0.02 1.7
Raspberries - - - - 0.04 0.03 1.4
Lettuce 4.1 1.0 0.4 0.12 0.02 0.03 0.9
White grapes 20.7 0.6 trace 0.63 0.02 0.02 0.9
Tomatoes 6.6 0.9 trace 0.14 0.01 0.02 0.6
Bananas 29.3 1.1 0.3 0.79 0.01 0.03 0.3
Apples - 0.2 0.6 0.57 trace 0.01 0.6


Composition of various protein foods used in reptiles

All invertebrates require nutrient loading or high calcium dusting prior to feeding to reptiles to improve Ca:P ratio.


Food Item Dry Matter % Protein % Fat % Energy Kcal/g Calcium % Phosphorus Ca:P Ratio
Mealworms 38 47
42 53
38 55
Locusts 31 62
Crickets 38 55
Earthworms 22 20
Chick muscle 26 21
Whole egg 25 12
Day old chick - 15
- 17
Mice 1-2 days - -
Mice 7 days - -
Mice adult - 20
Hills canine r/d 24 26
Hills feline r/d 23 35
Mazuri primate - 25