🦎 Introduction
Feeding your Bearded Dragon properly is one of the most important parts of reptile care.
They’re omnivores, which means:
- They need both insects and plant matter
- The ratio changes as they grow
- Variety is essential to avoid nutritional problems
This guide will help you:
- Choose the right insects and greens
- Understand feeding frequency by age
- Avoid toxic foods
- Plan a weekly feeding schedule
🐛 Insects: Live Protein Sources
✅ Best Feeder Insects
| Insect | Notes |
|---|---|
| Dubia roaches | High protein, easy to digest, low smell |
| Crickets | Affordable, but jumpy + noisy |
| BSFL (black soldier fly larvae) | Rich in calcium, excellent staple |
| Hornworms | Hydrating treat, high water content |
| Silkworms | Nutritious and soft-bodied |
| Mealworms | Only for adults, harder to digest |
🧠 Always gut-load insects 24h before feeding (feed them veggies so your dragon absorbs nutrients).
🐉 Feeding Insect Tips
- Use tongs or feeding dish to avoid bites
- Dust with calcium 4–5x per week (see below)
- Avoid wild-caught bugs (may carry parasites)
- Remove uneaten insects after 15–20 min
🥬 Safe Greens & Veggies
Daily greens should be the bulk of an adult beardie’s diet. Mix several kinds each meal.
🥗 Staple Leafy Greens
- Collard greens
- Mustard greens
- Turnip greens
- Dandelion greens
- Endive / escarole
- Chicory
🥕 Veggies to Add Variety
- Butternut squash
- Bell peppers
- Green beans
- Carrots (shredded, in moderation)
- Cactus pads (nopales)
🚫 Foods to Avoid
| Food | Reason |
|---|---|
| Iceberg lettuce | No nutrients, mostly water |
| Spinach / kale | High oxalates → blocks calcium |
| Avocado | Toxic to reptiles |
| Fireflies | Highly toxic — never feed! |
| Citrus fruits | Too acidic |
| Animal protein | Not suitable long-term |
🕒 Feeding Frequency by Age
| Age | Insects/day | Veggies/day | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–6 months | 2–3x | 1x | 70% insects / 30% greens |
| 6–12 months | 1–2x | 1–2x | 50% insects / 50% greens |
| Adult (1+ year) | 1x every 1–2 days | Daily | 20% insects / 80% greens |
📆 Sample Weekly Feeding Schedule (Adult)
| Day | Insects | Greens & Veggies |
|---|---|---|
| Mon | Dubia roaches | Collard + squash |
| Tue | — | Mustard + bell pepper |
| Wed | Crickets | Dandelion + carrot |
| Thu | — | Turnip greens + nopales |
| Fri | BSFL | Mixed greens |
| Sat | — | Endive + butternut |
| Sun | Hornworm treat | Escarole + green beans |
💊 Supplement Schedule
Bearded dragons require calcium + vitamin supplementation to prevent bone disease.
| Supplement | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Calcium w/ D3 | 4–5x/week | For indoor dragons (no sunlight) |
| Calcium w/o D3 | 1–2x/week | For outdoor/UVB-exposed dragons |
| Multivitamin powder | 1x/week | Prevents vitamin A/E deficiency |
❓ Common Feeding Mistakes to Avoid
- ❌ Feeding too many mealworms
- ❌ Not dusting insects with calcium
- ❌ Offering citrus or spinach
- ❌ Feeding only one type of green
- ❌ Overfeeding protein to adult beardies
✅ Final Tips
- 🥗 Variety = health
- 🌞 Gut-load + supplement
- 🐉 Adjust diet as your dragon grows
- 📏 Track weight every month to avoid obesity
A healthy beardie is bright-eyed, active, and poops regularly!