What Do Bearded Dragons Like To Eat? A Diet and Nutrition Guide
The Inland Bearded Dragon is the type of lizard most commonly kept as a pet. They are also known as Central Bearded Dragon. This dragon is very popular as they are docile and friendly, and make a great pet for children.
To ensure your bearded dragon is kept happy and healthy, it is important he is fed a nutritious, balanced diet. Bearded dragons, or ‘beardies’ as they colloquially known, enjoy a variety off different foods.
In this blog post, I will talk about the different foods bearded dragons like to eat, what foods to avoid, and how to feed them.
Dr. Bobby Ortiz, BA, BSc, MVB, GPCert/PgC (ExAP), MRCVS
Dr Bobby Ortiz | also known as ‘Dogtor Bob’, is a specialist small animal and exotic pet veterinary surgeon based in Dublin. A regular contributor to Ireland AM, and spokesperson for responsible pet care, Bobby has worked with Petmania as a guest blogger, content-creator and Operation TransPAWmation spokesperson since 2020.
What To Feed Your Bearded Dragon
Bearded dragons are omnivores, meaning they have a mixed diet of leafy greens and insects. Their diet is dependent upon their age, with hatchlings (also known as ‘juveniles’, under 1 year old) receiving 25% of mixed greens and 75% of appropriately sized live food, such as crickets and mealworms. An adults’ diet should consist of 75% leafy greens and 25% of live insects.
| Suitable Leafy Greens | Suitable Insects | Suitable Fruits (as treats) |
| Cabbage | Crickets | Apple |
| Mixed Lettuce | Mealworms | Mango |
| Rocket | Morio Worms | Papaya |
| Kale | Wax Worms | Banana |
| Dandelion | Cockroaches | Watermelon |
| Bell peppers | Earthworms | Grapes |
| Broccoli | Blackberries | |
| Parsley |
Ensure any uneaten insects are removed if they are not eaten after a day.
Always make sure your bearded dragon has access to clean, fresh drinking water. If he doesn’t seem interested in drinking from the shallow bowl of water in his habitat, try lightly misting his fruits and vegetables with clean water.
Do Bearded Dragon Need Food Supplements?
Food supplements are very important for your bearded dragon. They can be used by sprinkling over their food or gut loading insects that they eat. The first supplement that should be given is a general multi vitamin powder such as EXO TERRA Multivitamins Supplement, 30g, and the other being a calcium supplement such as EXO TERRA Reptile Calcium + Vitamin D3, 90g. Calcium deficiency is a major dietary problem in captive reptiles, and can lead to metabolic bone disease. Therefore, it is important these supplements are given to your beardie.
How Often You Should Feed Your Bearded Dragon
Juvenile bearded dragons should be fed every 1-2 days, and mature adults every 2-3 days. Always chop up food for a bearded dragon where possible, and as a rule, live food should be no larger than the half the size of your Bearded Dragon’s head. If your beardie doesn’t finish all his food, try feeding him less next time.
How to Feed Your Bearded Dragon
It is a good idea to prepare food away from your pet where they cannot see you; if they can see food, they may become hyperactive and try to reach the food, which could mean escaping from their enclosure.
Make sure any food you give them is placed in a bowl. Often bearded dragons, particularly juveniles, tend to eat too quickly and indiscriminately, and may inadvertently ingest some of their cage substrate alongside their food if you simply put the food inside their cage. Instead, put the food in a shallow dish, which can then be put inside the cage when it is mealtime.