Bearded dragons are fascinating reptiles, and if you’re a proud owner or considering becoming one, understanding their diet is crucial for their health and well-being. As omnivores, bearded dragons thrive on a varied diet consisting of both plant-based and animal-based foods. Providing a diverse and balanced diet is key to ensuring your beardie gets all the necessary nutrients to live a long and healthy life. They enjoy a range of foods, from live insects that stimulate their natural hunting instincts to nutritious greens and vegetables, and even limited amounts of fruit as treats.
The dietary needs of your bearded dragon will change as they grow. Juvenile bearded dragons, being in a rapid growth phase, require a diet richer in protein to support their development. For young beardies, around 80% of their diet should consist of insects, with the remaining 20% being plant matter. However, as they mature into adulthood, this ratio flips significantly. Adult bearded dragons thrive on a diet that is approximately 80% plant-based and only 20% insects. This shift is essential to prevent obesity and ensure they receive the right balance of nutrients for their adult stage of life. While fruit can be offered to both juveniles and adults, it should always be given in moderation due to its higher sugar content.
Feeding frequency and portion sizes are also important aspects of your bearded dragon’s diet. Younger bearded dragons need to eat more frequently to fuel their growth, typically eating multiple times a day. As they reach adulthood, around 18 months of age, their feeding schedule can be reduced to about twice a day. A good rule of thumb is to allow your bearded dragon to eat for about 10-15 minutes during each feeding session, especially when offering insects. After this time, remove any uneaten insects to prevent them from stressing your dragon or lingering in the enclosure. For vegetables and fruits, leaving them in the enclosure for about 30 minutes is usually sufficient, ensuring they have ample time to eat without the risk of overfeeding or food spoilage.
Live insects are a vital part of a bearded dragon’s diet, particularly for younger dragons. There are many options available, and variety is beneficial. Excellent choices for live food include crickets, mealworms, earthworms, butterworms, and silkworms. Superworms, cockroaches, wax worms, king worms, and hornworms can also be offered. You can typically find many of these insects at pet stores. Crickets are not only nutritious but also provide enrichment as bearded dragons enjoy chasing them, mimicking their natural foraging behavior in the wild. When selecting live food, consider factors like nutritional value, ease of storage, and cost. It’s also recommended to rotate the types of insects you offer to provide a diverse range of nutrients. Avoid feeding your bearded dragon wild-caught insects as they can carry parasites or diseases that could be harmful. Remember to “gut load” insects before feeding them to your dragon. This means feeding the insects nutritious foods, ideally similar to the vegetables your dragon eats, so that your pet benefits from the added nutrients indirectly.
Vegetables are a cornerstone of the adult bearded dragon diet and should be offered daily. A wide variety of vegetables are safe and beneficial. Staple vegetables that can be offered regularly include kale, asparagus (raw), butternut squash, yellow squash, acorn squash, spaghetti squash, celery, peeled cucumber, yams (raw), turnip greens, collard greens, and mustard greens. Other excellent choices include zucchini (raw), okra (raw), radicchio, bell peppers (raw), cabbage (raw), artichoke hearts, bok choy, carrots, endive, pumpkins, parsnips, cooked lentils, and chicory. This extensive list allows for plenty of rotation and ensures your bearded dragon receives a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals.
Fruits should be offered sparingly as occasional treats due to their higher sugar content. While bearded dragons enjoy sweet flavors, too much sugar can be detrimental to their health. Safe fruits to offer in limited quantities include apples, peaches, strawberries, apricots, blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, cherries, chayote, figs, grapes, grapefruit, melons, plums, watermelon, guava, nectarines, prunes, raisins, pears, pineapple, papaya, and mango. Remember to remove seeds and pits from fruits before offering them to your bearded dragon, and always offer fruit in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
When feeding your bearded dragon, it’s important to consider the substrate in their enclosure. Smaller bearded dragons, in particular, can accidentally ingest substrate while eating, which can lead to impaction, especially if the substrate is loose. Therefore, it’s generally recommended to avoid loose substrates like sand for younger dragons, especially in feeding areas. Older bearded dragons are typically more adept at eating without ingesting substrate and may be able to pass small amounts of substrate more easily. Consider feeding your bearded dragon in a separate, bare enclosure or on a flat, solid surface to minimize the risk of substrate ingestion, especially when they are young.
While there isn’t a single, definitive bearded dragon diet chart, the information provided here offers a comprehensive guide to what bearded dragons can and should eat. For personalized dietary advice tailored to your specific bearded dragon, consulting with a veterinarian specializing in exotic pets is always recommended. They can assess your dragon’s individual needs based on age, health, and lifestyle, and provide specific guidance to ensure your pet receives the optimal nutrition for a long and thriving life.
