Reptile Diet Composition

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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


Commercial Reptile Diets

Manufacturer and Diet Protein % Fat % Fibre % Ash % Calcium % Phosphorus Ca:P Ratio Vit D IU/kg
Zeigler IGUANA 20 3 10 9 1.5 0.7 2.1 2,000
Zeigler CRICKET LOADING 19 4 5 - 8.0 0.6 13.3 -
Pretty Bird JUVENILE IGUANA 18 15 1.5 4 0.8 0.4 1.9 2,200
Pretty Bird ADULT IGUANA 12 3 9 5 0.7 0.4 2.0 2,000


Comparison of commonly used supplements in reptiles

Vionate /g Ciba Geigy Callo-cal D/ml C-vet Nutrobal/g Vetark ACE-high/g Vetark Avimix/g Vetark SA37/g Intervet
A (IU) 200 - 500 2,530 1,177 769
E (IU) >1 - 20 122 54 380
D3 (IU) 22 70 150 20 118 77
Calcium (mg) 95 >1 208 10 142 10
Phosphorus (mg) 64 0 5 5 5 10
Ca:P ratio 1:48:1 - 46:1 2:1 30:1 1:1