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 35 - 0.23 0.71 0.3
" 42 53 35 6.6 0.06 0.53 0.1
" 38 55 31 5.4 0.07 0.71 0.1
Locusts 31 62 19 - 0.10 0.75 0.1
Crickets 38 55 30 - 0.23 0.74 0.3
Earthworms 22 20 5.8 - 0.59 0.85 0.7
Chick muscle 26 21 4.3 1.2 0.01 0.20 0.1
Whole egg 25 12 11 1.5 0.05 0.22 0.0
Day old chick - 15 4.4 1.0 0.44 0.40 1.1
" - 17 6.7 1.7 0.38 0.28 1.4
Mice 1-2 days - - - - 1.6 1.80 0.9
Mice 7 days - - - - 1.4 1.29 1.1
Mice adult - 20 8.8 2.1 0.84 0.61 1.4
Hills canine r/d 24 26 7.0 2.4 0.50 0.36 1.4
Hills feline r/d 23 35 8.5 3.5 0.94 0.47 2.0
Mazuri primate - 25 7.5 3.8 2.2 1.46 1.5