What do bearded dragons eat?

Insects: the protein part of the diet

Crickets and dubia roaches are the most commonly fed live insects, and both should be an appropriate size for your dragon — roughly no bigger than the space between its eyes, so it can eat comfortably without strain. Insects should be gut-loaded, meaning fed nutritious food themselves in the day or two before being offered, since a dragon gets much of its nutrition second-hand this way.

Dusting insects with a calcium supplement before feeding is standard practice, usually most days for young, fast-growing dragons and a little less often for adults. Avoid wild-caught insects, since they can carry pesticides or parasites, and remove any uneaten live insects from the enclosure rather than leaving them to bite a sleeping dragon.

Vegetables and greens

Leafy greens such as collard greens, dandelion leaves, rocket and butternut squash should make up a growing share of the diet as a dragon matures, until vegetables are the larger part of an adult's meals. Chopping vegetables to a size a dragon can manage, and offering a mix rather than the same leaf every day, both help.

Some vegetables and fruits are best avoided or given rarely: avocado is toxic to reptiles, rhubarb leaves are best left out entirely, and iceberg lettuce is too watery to offer much nutrition. Fruit can be given occasionally as a treat but should stay a small part of the diet given how much sugar it carries compared with vegetables.

Getting the routine right

Young bearded dragons are typically fed insects once or twice a day alongside a daily offering of chopped vegetables, while adults often move to insects a few times a week with vegetables offered daily. A shallow water dish should always be available, even though dragons get much of their fluid from food.

If your dragon stops eating, loses weight, or you notice swelling, discolouration or a change in droppings, get them seen by a vet experienced with reptiles. Diet-related problems in bearded dragons often show up gradually, so a change that persists for more than a day or two is worth having checked rather than waiting.

Common questions

Do bearded dragons eat more insects or vegetables?

It depends on age. Young, fast-growing dragons need more insects to fuel their growth, while adults do better with vegetables making up the larger share of their diet. The balance shifts gradually as a dragon matures rather than switching overnight.

What vegetables can bearded dragons eat?

Collard greens, dandelion leaves, rocket and butternut squash are all good regular choices, chopped to a manageable size. Avoid avocado, which is toxic to reptiles, and rhubarb leaves, and keep watery leaves like iceberg lettuce to a minimum since they offer little nutrition.

Should insects be dusted with calcium?

Yes, most keepers dust insects with a calcium supplement before feeding, usually daily for young dragons and a little less often for adults. This helps support healthy bone growth alongside appropriate UVB lighting in the enclosure.

Can bearded dragons eat fruit?

In small amounts occasionally, yes. Fruit carries more sugar than the vegetables that should form the bulk of the diet, so it works best as an occasional treat rather than a regular addition to meals.

Why has my bearded dragon stopped eating insects?

A loss of appetite can have several causes, including temperature, lighting, stress or illness, so it is worth having your dragon checked by a vet experienced with reptiles if it continues for more than a day or two, especially alongside any other change you notice.