Complete Bearded Dragon Diet Guide (2025 Update)

What to Feed, How Often, and Key Nutrition Rules for a Healthy Dragon

Feeding your bearded dragon isn't just about offering random greens or bugs — it's about creating a nutrition plan that mimics their natural omnivorous lifestyle. By learning what foods are safe, how often to feed them, and why certain nutrients matter more than others, you can help your beardie live a long, active, and healthy life.

Let's break down everything you need to know, from daily veggies and safe fruits, to insect prep, calcium needs, and hydration.

Bearded Dragon Feeding Schedule by Age

How often should you feed your dragon? That depends on their age and activity level. Here's a quick guide:

Tip: Active or breeding adults may need more protein. Overweight dragons may need fewer feedings. When designing a feeding schedule, make sure your enclosure layout allows for easy access to food bowls and daily cleaning. Our custom reptile enclosures for bearded dragons come with optimized layouts for feeding, misting, and spot cleaning—making daily routines easier for pet shops and breeders alike.

Best Vegetables for Bearded Dragons (Daily Greens Guide)

Vegetables should make up the majority of your adult bearded dragon's diet — especially high-calcium, low-phosphorus leafy greens. The ideal calcium-to-phosphorus ratio is 2:1 or higher to support bone health and prevent metabolic bone disease (MBD).

Top Daily Staples (High-Calcium / Safe Oxalate Levels):
• Collard greens (Ca:P ≈ 14.5:1)
• Dandelion greens (Ca:P ≈ 2.8:1)
• Mustard greens (Ca:P ≈ 2.4:1)
• Turnip greens (Ca:P ≈ 4.5:1)
• Endive & Escarole
• Arugula
• Alfalfa (sprouts or fresh leaves)
• Hibiscus leaves

Occasional Additions (Rotate Weekly):
• Kale (medium oxalates; limit to 1–2x/week)
• Bok choy
• Cactus pads (nopales)
• Squash (shredded)
• Carrot tops
• Spring mix (choose blends without spinach, beet greens, or iceberg lettuce)

Caution Vegetables (High Phosphorus or Oxalates — Limit Use):
• Spinach (very high in oxalates — rarely use)
• Beet greens (high oxalate and phosphorus)
• Swiss chard
• Broccoli (goitrogenic, avoid frequent feeding)

Pro tip: Chop veggies finely for juveniles and mix a few colorful pieces (e.g., squash, berries) to encourage picky eaters.

Safe Fruits for Bearded Dragons (Treat Only!)

Fruits should only make up around 5–10% of your dragon's diet. While they're delicious and hydrating, many are high in sugar or water content, which can cause loose stools or metabolic issues if overfed.

Safe Fruits to Offer Occasionally:
• Blueberries
• Blackberries
• Strawberries
• Mango
• Papaya
• Grapes (seedless)
• Figs (fresh only)
• Cherries (pitted)
• Guava
• Honeydew
• Watermelon
• Cantaloupe

Avoid All Citrus:
• Oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit should be completely avoided. Their high citric acid and oxalate levels can irritate the digestive system and impair calcium absorption.

Best Insects for Bearded Dragons (Staple Protein Sources)

Young beardies need a lot more protein than adults. However, not all bugs are created equal. Choose insects that are easy to digest, nutritious, and ideally high in calcium or easy to gut-load.

Top Insects to Feed:
• Dubia roaches (easy to digest, nutrient-dense)
• Crickets (staple but noisy and smelly)
• Black soldier fly larvae (naturally high in calcium)
• Hornworms (hydrating, treat-level)
• Silkworms (soft-bodied and nutritious)
• Discoid roaches (quiet, nutritious)

Occasional Treats (High Fat):
• Superworms
• Waxworms
• Mealworms (harder to digest, avoid in babies)

Gut Loading & Dusting Feeder Insects for Bearded Dragons

Insect nutrition depends on what they eat. Always “gut-load” insects 24–48 hours before feeding using nutrient-rich foods like:

• Dark leafy greens
• Sweet potato
• Squash
• Commercial gut-load formulas

Then, dust insects before feeding:

• Calcium with D3: 3–4x/week if no strong UVB, 1–2x/week if UVB is sufficient

• Multivitamin powder: Once weekly

Gut-loading + dusting = the most complete nutrition for your dragon.

UVB Lighting & Vitamin D3 for Bearded Dragons

Bearded dragons synthesize vitamin D3 through UVB exposure, which is crucial for calcium absorption. Without enough D3, even a calcium-rich diet won't protect against MBD.

Lighting Tips:

• Use a high-quality UVB bulb (e.g., T5 HO 10.0)
• Replace UVB bulbs every 6–12 months — they degrade even if still lit
• Ensure the bulb covers 2/3 of the tank and the dragon can get within 10–12 inches
• No glass or plastic should block UVB rays

If you're unsure your lighting setup is effective, supplement with D3 more frequently — but avoid overdose.

Toxic Food for Bearded Dragons

Some foods are dangerous, even toxic. Avoid these at all costs:

• Avocado – Contains persin, toxic to reptiles
• Rhubarb – High oxalates, can cause organ failure
• Fireflies / wild-caught bugs – May carry parasites or toxins
• Iceberg lettuce – No nutritional value, high water
• Beet greens / spinach / chard – High oxalate: calcium binders
• Citrus fruits – Acidic, irritating, blocks calcium

Hydration & Water Needs for Bearded Dragons

Bearded dragons get much of their hydration from food and occasional misting.

Tips for Proper Hydration:

• Provide a shallow water dish with clean water daily
• Mist greens lightly to increase intake
• Gently drip water on the nose or leaves for drinking stimulation
• Note: Many dragons don't drink from bowls — this is normal!
• Monitor stool moisture: well-hydrated dragons pass soft but formed feces with white urates

While most bearded dragons do not actively drink from water bowls, proper enclosure design plays a crucial role in maintaining optimal humidity and access to hydration sources.

For breeders and reptile facilities, investing in a well-ventilated, stackable enclosure with a hydration-friendly layout ensures better overall husbandry.

If you're sourcing durable, scalable reptile enclosures for bearded dragons, contact us for wholesale and OEM solutions.

Is My Bearded Dragon Overweight?

Signs of obesity in bearded dragons:

• Fat pads behind the arms and under the chin
• Round belly dragging on the ground
• Thick tail base

Solutions:
• Reduce insect frequency (1–2x/week)
• Offer more low-calorie greens
• Increase activity or enrichment time

What If My Bearded Dragon Won't Eat Greens?

Picky eaters are common! Try these:

• Offer greens in the morning, insects later
• Add a drop of unsweetened fruit juice for scent
• Mix up textures and colors
• Warm veggies slightly to release aroma
• Reduce insect feedings to increase veggie interest

Reading Poop: What It Tells You

A healthy dragon's stool is:

• Solid brown portion (digested food)
• White chalky urate (concentrated urine)
• Slight odor but not foul

Warning signs:
• Watery = too much fruit or poor hydration
• Smelly or runny = parasites or bad food
• Bloody = time to see a vet

Conclusion: Feed With Confidence

Giving your bearded dragon a healthy, balanced diet is one of the most powerful ways to show you care. With proper veggies, safe fruits, high-quality insects, and a focus on calcium, hydration, and UVB, your dragon will thrive. Every dragon is different — observe their energy, poop, and appetite to fine-tune your approach. Feeding time can be fun, enriching, and a bonding opportunity for you and your pet. Proper nutrition is just one part of keeping your bearded dragon healthy—the right habitat enclosure matters just as much.

Whether you're managing a retail pet store, running a breeding operation, or sourcing reptile enclosures in bulk, we're here to help. Contact us for wholesale reptile enclosures, OEM options, and fast delivery for global clients.