Reptile Diet Composition



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.