Bearded Dragon Diet Guide: What to Feed & Feeding Schedule [2026]

Bearded Dragon Diet Overview

Bearded dragons are omnivores whose diet changes dramatically as they grow. Babies need mostly insects for rapid growth, while adults eat primarily greens and vegetables with insects as a supplement.

Diet Ratio by Age

Staple Insects

These insects can be fed regularly as the primary protein source:

Occasional Insects (Treats)

• Hornworms — High moisture, good for hydration, fast growth makes sizing tricky
• Waxworms — Very high fat, addictive — use sparingly (1-2 per week max)
• Superworms — High fat, hard chitin — for adults only, limit to 5-6 per feeding
• Mealworms — Hard chitin, moderate nutrition — not recommended for babies

Insect Feeding Tips

• Size rule: Never feed insects longer than the space between your dragon's eyes
• Gut-load insects 24 hours before feeding with fresh greens and vegetables
• Dust with calcium — calcium powder without D3 at every feeding, calcium with D3 2-3 times per week
• Dust with multivitamin — once per week
• Offer insects in a feeding dish or by tong-feeding to control portions

Staple Greens

These greens should form the base of the daily salad:

• Collard greens — Excellent calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, can be fed daily
• Mustard greens — High calcium, slightly peppery flavor
• Turnip greens — Very nutritious, high calcium
• Endive/escarole — Good variety green, mild flavor
• Dandelion greens — Outstanding nutrition, can be harvested from pesticide-free areas

Safe Vegetables

Feed regularly alongside staple greens:

• Butternut squash — Peel and shred, high in vitamin A
• Bell peppers — All colors, good hydration and vitamin C
• Acorn squash — Nutritious, can be offered raw or lightly cooked
• Green beans — Chopped small, good fiber
• Snap peas — Chopped, occasional variety

Safe Fruits (Treats Only — 5-10% of Diet)

Fruits are high in sugar and should be offered sparingly:

• Blueberries — Small, antioxidant-rich
• Raspberries — Decent calcium-to-phosphorus ratio
• Papaya — Excellent calcium-to-phosphorus ratio (5:1)
• Figs — Very high calcium
• Mango — Small amounts, high in vitamin A

Foods to Avoid

Calcium Supplementation Schedule

Proper calcium supplementation combined with UVB lighting is the single most important factor in preventing metabolic bone disease.

Feeding Schedule by Age

Baby Bearded Dragons (0-4 months)

• Offer insects 2-3 times per day, as many as they can eat in 10-15 minutes per session
• Fresh salad available at all times (even if they ignore it at first)
• Dust insects with calcium at every feeding

Juvenile Bearded Dragons (4-12 months)

• Offer insects once daily, as many as they can eat in 10-15 minutes
• Fresh salad daily — they should start eating more greens at this stage
• Begin reducing insect ratio gradually

Adult Bearded Dragons (12+ months)

• Offer insects 2-3 times per week only
• Fresh salad daily — this is now the bulk of their diet
• Monitor weight — reduce insects if the dragon is becoming overweight

Hydration

• Offer fresh water in a shallow dish daily (some dragons drink from dishes, many do not)
• Misting — lightly mist the dragon or the salad; many dragons lick water droplets
• Baths — 15-20 minute lukewarm baths 1-2 times per week help with hydration and shedding
• Hornworms and water-rich vegetables also contribute to hydration

Conclusion

A bearded dragon's diet should evolve from insect-heavy (babies) to greens-heavy (adults). Feed staple insects like dubia roaches and BSFL, rotate daily greens (collards, mustard, turnip), supplement with calcium at every feeding, and avoid toxic foods. Proper nutrition combined with UVB lighting is the foundation of a healthy, long-lived bearded dragon.