Since bearded dragons have such a tame demeanor, it is usually very easy to feed it as long as its in good health. Many times bearded dragons will eat right from your hand, or a bowl, similar to the way a dog will.
It is best to get your bearded dragon into a feeding routine. Once your bearded dragon becomes accustom to the routine it will be anxiously waiting when it starts getting close to feeding time.
Bearded dragons require different diets at different stages of its life. The food requirements for a baby bearded dragon is much different than an adult. Here we will go over how to feed a bearded dragon at each stage of its life.
Feeding A Baby Bearded Dragon
A bearded dragon is considered to be at the baby (or hatchling) stage from newborn to four or five months old. This period during it’s life is when the bearded dragon is most fragile. It is very important during this stage that it receive ample nutrients and vitamins.
The size and amount of food given during this period is very critical. Never offer baby bearded dragons prey foods that are larger than its head. Offering insects that are too large can cause the bearded dragon serious injury, or even be fatal.
Baby bearded dragons have an enormous appetite and will attempt to eat prey that is too large. They could easily slip into paralysis, or die, if this happens. Feed them pinhead crickets that are no longer than one-half inch long, small fruit flies, and the smallest wax worms available. This will help to ensure the baby bearded dragon can properly chew and digest its food without any problems.
Try to avoid feeding a baby bearded dragon mealworms. Mealworms have a tough outer shell that can be difficult for the baby to digest, and could lead to paralysis.
Baby bearded dragons have a high metabolism, and need to be fed smaller, more frequent meals. Also, babies have different nutritional needs than adults. A baby bearded dragon’s diet should consist of about 40 to 60 percent proteins (from insect prey), and about 20 to 40 percent vegetation.
Offer tiny insects three or four times per day and finely chopped vegetables at least three times per week. Offering the finely chopped vegetables once per day is optimum, and will help the baby acquire a taste for veggies. Avoid overfeeding babies as this could lead to obesity and long term health issues.
Feeding A Juvenile Bearded Dragon
A bearded dragon is considered to be a juvenile once it reaches the ages between five months and about 18 months old. By now the bearded dragon has gained mass and some fat reserves, and can be feed less frequently. If you feed a juvenile bearded dragon at the same rate as a baby it could become obese and suffer health issues later in life.
The ratio of insects to vegetables will change as well. With juvenile bearded dragons you should cut down the amount of insect prey to one feeding per day, while vegetables should be served at least four times per week. The size of insect prey can be a bit larger as well, but remember to not feed it anything larger than its head.
At this point, the bearded dragon can be offered items that were off limits to babies, such as mealworms. It is recommend to only offer mealworms once or twice per week. It is important at this stage to begin offering your bearded dragon more vegetables, and slightly less insect prey.
Feeding An Adult Bearded Dragon
A bearded dragon is considered to be an adult once it reaches an age over 18 months old. At this stage in its life, the feeding schedule becomes much more subdued, except for females during breeding.
An adult can be offer a flexible, balanced diet of insects and vegetables once a day, to sometimes once every other day. It is best to offer more vegetables and fruit at this point in their life and fewer insects. The adult diet should consist of 20 to 25 percent insects and 70 to 80 percent vegetables (almost opposite of a baby bearded dragon).
Adult bearded dragons can be offered pinkie mice, canned dog food, softened rabbit pellets, and even small lizards. These items should only be offered as occasional treats, and only offered once every three weeks to a month. Adults are very susceptible to obesity so keep an eye on their growth rate and adjust the amount of food offered.
Dietary Supplements
Vitamin and calcium supplements should be given to bearded dragons at each stage of their life. The majority of these supplements come in a powdered form that easily clings to food. There are some supplements that come as a liquid that you drop into the bearded dragon’s mouth.
Baby bearded dragons should be given vitamin and calcium (with vitamin D3) supplements with at least two to three meals per week. Simply dust a light coating of the supplements onto the baby lizard’s food.
Juvenile foods should be dusted with a broad spectrum vitamin supplement once per week, while adding a calcium/D3 supplement to three meals per week.
Adult bearded dragons should receive a vitamin and calcium/D3 supplement once per week.
Jennifer says
Our BD is about 4-5 mo. Old. It goes days without eating bugs but will occasionally pick at her veggies. Her belly fills like there is air in it. We are concerned.
Teresa says
If you still need help with your bearded dragon and you are on facebook please join Bearded dragon 101 not realated to this page what so ever.
Debbie Femrite says
I just read on another website that a juvenile dragon should eat up to 3 times a day and given crickets 4 to 20 crickets a day making it about 200 crickets a week. Any comment on this?
Tee Riddle says
Hi Debbie, thank you for your comment. You could probably visit 10 websites on bearded dragons and read 10 different methods for feeding a bearded dragon. Everyone has different methods or schedules and that’s fine. There is no set, guaranteed formula for feeding a bearded dragon. Much depends on the bearded dragon itself (bearded dragons have unique personalities just like people), the terrarium conditions, the age of the bearded dragon, and many other things as to how much and how often it eats.
There are days when you may feel like eating a big meal, there may be days where maybe you just want a small piece of fruit. Bearded dragons can be the same way. Some days it gobbles up everything you give it, the next day when you offer a cricket or Dubia roach it looks at you like you are stupid.
What I wrote here is just a general guideline. Typically, you feed a baby bearded dragon a higher percentage of insect prey for the extra protein needed while they go through their growth spurts. As a juvenile you taper the percentage of insect prey down and offer a bit more fruits and vegetables. Once the bearded dragon reaches the adult stage the insect prey percentage will drop a bit more and vegetables and fruit increase some. Now it’s not huge changes, you change the insect:vegetables ratio in small increments at a time.
Also, as time goes on the amount a bearded dragon eats decreases some as well. An adult will not generally eat as much as a juvenile proportionally. Again, this depends on the bearded dragon – some will eat more than others.
It takes some trial and error to figure out what your bearded dragon likes, how much he wants, and how often. The results may vary greatly from one bearded dragon to the next.
I hope this helps, Debbie, and thanks for visiting the site and taking the time to comment.
Fola Decuire says
Is it normal for my baby bearded dragon to only eat 4 small crickets every time I feed her but it says she suppose to eat more than that but she doesnt
Erik says
depends on the age of your beardie, if your bearded dragon gets weighed frequently then you should know if your feeding too much or to little. check out this chart for weights by age https://www.everythingreptiles.com/how-big-do-bearded-dragons-get/
This will tell you average weight and length for every age group. If your beardie is over for there age you can cut back. Mine is 8 months old and we feed 2 daily and salad always.
Joss Stent says
Hi there,
I would love to get a bearded dragon and I’m doing a lot of research to see if it would be a suitable pet for my lifestyle. However, I’m slightly confused. So, depending on age, you change the quantity and the ratio of live insect to vegetable but it says feed it vegetables 3-4 times a week and live insects around 2-3. Does this mean you skip a day feeding your bearded dragon?
Thanks 🙂
Denise L Cordero says
how can i get my dog to like my brearded dragon. i have had it for 4 months now and would love for them to get alone.
mia says
lol i love bearded dragons
mia says
lol i hate bearded dragons
Barbara laurilliard says
How do I join ur page? I love reading the info u put on here. I have had my first dragon Zeus. For 2 1/2 mo. But he is almost 5 mo old now. I have clicker trained to come and eat out of my hand. At first shy as he was older. But he comes out sits on my shoulder while I cook., lays on the bed w me. He doesn’t like baths. I can get 10 min out of him. But he fights it. Any suggestions,? I just love this little guy. I would like lists of foods u give urs? And he loves the greens. But not a lover of fruits. Now just tell me how to stay in concact? Thank u barbara
Rosie Christopher says
My bearded dragon is sick and not eating he is drinking a little water but not eating, any advice
Ross says
Can Be basking temps are too high, Surface temp on basking spot is best around 95-101F, or maybe if its 8month – 1 year old it could be brumation, or temps could be too cold even, make sure uvb bulb is repalced every 6 month with a new one best one too get are reptisun or even 12% ubv arcadia is what I use. he/she could even be dehydrated u can try dipping some water in its nose too lick of i sometimes give mine a drink every couple weeks, and bathed 3 times a week. theres a number of things that can be wrong but make sure u try all these.
brian says
what time is it give food to baby bearded dragon
Ross says
Can Be basking temps are too high, Surface temp on basking spot is best around 95-101F, or maybe if its 8month – 1 year old it could be brumation, or temps could be too cold even, make sure uvb bulb is repalced every 6 month with a new one best one too get are reptisun or even 12% ubv arcadia is what I use. he/she could even be dehydrated u can try dipping some water in its nose too lick of i sometimes give mine a drink every couple weeks, and bathed 3 times a week. theres a number of things that can be wrong but make sure u try all these.
Emilee says
Hi,
I’m completing a TAFE assignment on Bearded dragons and I was hoping you’d be able to help me answer some questions?
Firstly, how do you prepare both insects and plant matter for the Beardies to eat? (Do you wash, cut, how small, place in a bowl etc)
Secondly, how do you determine how much to feed a Beardie? (Anything to do with age or weight?)
And lastly, how do you store insects and plant matter for them to eat? (Do you keep insects refrigerated, in containers etc)
Thank you!
Daniel says
hi I’m going to get a bearded dragon for my birthday and i was wondering what is the best food to feed baby bearded dragons