The bearded dragon needs a varied diet adapted to its age to be able to fully grow and flourish in its terrarium. As a cold-blooded animal, the bearded dragon needs to feed not to warm its body (like humans) but to meet its basic body needs. This explains why these reptiles have a fairly low food requirement in quantity.
Bearded dragons need plants and insects
The bearded dragon, also known as the bearded agama, is an omnivorous reptile that sees its diet composed of two main elements, namely plants and insects. Depending on its age, the bearded dragon will not eat the same share of one and the other of these elements:
The baby bearded dragon will eat about 80% insects and the remaining 20% will be composed of plants – this stage generally corresponds to the first two months of the bearded dragon’s life
The juvenile bearded dragon also eats an important part of insects (70%), the rest of its food being vegetable
Finally, the adult bearded dragon eats a large part of plants (about 70%), the remaining 30% are composed of insects
The transition between each stage is gradual, especially in the transition from juvenile bearded dragon to adult. Start the transition around 7/8 months of age, by slightly decreasing the number of crickets fed each day and gradually increasing the amount of plant/vegetable food. Of course, each reptile will react differently, so it is important to take your time and observe the animal’s reactions.
In addition to this diet, there is of course a constant need for drinking water as well as a regular supply of calcium and vitamins for your reptiles. We’ll talk about this later in the article.
What insects does the bearded dragon eat?
In its terrarium, the bearded dragon will first have a great appetite for insects, and above all for crickets. These orthoptera insects are very rich in proteins and constitute an ideal food base for the newborn bearded dragon or for the juvenile bearded dragon (from 6 to 12 months).
Of course, you can vary the food by adding grasshoppers, crickets, cockroaches or even morios worms, i.e. white worms, from time to time. For reptiles such as bearded dragons, these grubs are a treat – don’t give them regularly, but rather exceptionally, to reward or please your lizard. The same goes for hive moths, mealworms and other fatty insects: these are low in protein, so they cannot be the basis of your reptile’s diet.
Crickets are very popular and good for the health of Bearded dragon
The important thing to remember is that the young bearded dragon will eat a certain number of these insects daily. It will hunt for its insects (insects that will be put alive in the terrarium) and satisfy its appetite throughout the day. Even at the stage of newborn, the bearded dragon can eat several tens of crickets per day. Of course, depending on the age of the bearded dragon, the size of the crickets will not be the same:
The babies bearded dragons will eat between 20 and 25 micro-crickets (from 0,2 cm to 1 cm) every day;
From 2 to 6 months, the juvenile bearded dragon will feed to 70% of about fifteen small crickets of approximately 1 cm;
From 6 to 12 months, during its sub-adult phase, the bearded dragon will eat about fifteen crickets of about 1.5 cm;
Beyond that, your bearded dragon is an adult and its diet will be mainly composed of plants – it will still gobble up between 10 and 20 nice size crickets (about 2 cm) every week
How often should I give my bearded dragon crickets?
From 0 to 12 months, reptiles will mostly feed on crickets. It is advisable to give these live insects in two or three times according to your possibilities, so that the bearded dragon does not eat everything at once, at the risk of exhausting its digestive system. Another important point: crickets of the right size are essential. Crickets that are too large can cause your reptile to develop a bite or even choke, while crickets that are too small will not satisfy its hunger.
When considering the size of insects and other small living creatures you can feed your bearded dragon, it is common to say that the insect should not be larger than the distance between your bearded dragon’s eyes. The risk of occlusion is real, so don’t take this tip lightly.
Good to know
The quantities and percentages given here are the same for all breeds of bearded dragon. Whether you have a Bearded dragon henrylawsoni, a Bearded dragon barbatta or a Bearded dragon vitticeps, the feeding rules do not differ.
What is imperative is to vary the insect intake as much as possible, regardless of the age of your bearded agama. A diet 100% based on crickets and no other insects may bore him in the long run. It is therefore necessary to add a few different insects in order to break this feeding routine and to arouse his appetite. The possibilities are vast: crickets, proworms/phoenix worms or cockroaches (dubia or red runners)…
Do not give just any insect to your bearded dragon
Attention, this does not mean that any insect can be swallowed by your bearded dragon. Well… Whatever insect you put in his terrarium, the bearded dragon will try to eat it. But this may not be very good for his health, or even harmful.
Note that insects exposed to pesticides, like spiders or butterflies, are not recommended at all. We should also avoid insects that are too fatty (except for very occasional “gifts”) such as mealworms or moths. Finally, snails are also loaded with pesticides and their shells can be dangerous when ingested: we will not offer any to the Bearded dragon .
Vegetables and plants adapted to Bearded dragon
Whether your bearded dragon is very young, juvenile or adult, the plants you can give it have several objectives, in particular to hydrate your reptile (it is its first source of hydration, before its water bowl!) and to vary its diet. Once again, certain plants are recommended, notably :
Recommended plants
Dandelions, which are rich in vitamin A (avoid giving him the stem) ;
Alfalfa leaves and flowers
Arugula, naturally rich in calcium and very hydrating
Endive, which has an excellent calcium content
Alfalfa is an ideal vegetable for feeding bearded dragons
Wild chicory, rich in fiber and minerals
Chard, which is rich in vitamins C and B as well as fiber
Turnip greens and beets: rich in minerals and vitamins
Clovers, leaves and flowers, rich in protein
These are the vegetables that will make up the bulk of your bearded dragon’s daily meal. Of course, these plants and vegetables must be fresh and carefully washed and drained before being offered to your reptile.
Other vegetables to give in moderation
Other vegetables can be given from time to time, to vary its food and stimulate its appetite – the sight of new colors can have a beneficial effect on the appetite of the bearded agama:
Basil, interesting for its contribution in vitamin A
Chervil, lamb’s lettuce or nettles (well dried)
Radishes, occasionally
Coriander, for its vitamin K content
Celery, only the leaves, well cut
Carrots, rich in vitamin A
Good to know
Contrary to popular belief, lettuce is not a food to be recommended for bearded dragons. Very rich in water, lettuce is unfortunately very low in calcium, a mineral that is essential for bearded agamas for their skeleton and muscles. Avoid also cabbage (which can constipate the bearded dragon), potatoes or spinach, as they absorb calcium.
Even in adulthood, the bearded dragon needs calcium to avoid suffering from early osteofibrosis – a lack of calcium would force it to “draw” from its bones and thus decalcify its own body. We’ll come back to the importance of calcium later in the article.
Bearded dragon’s diet: are fruits recommended?
The answer to this question is very simple: no, fruits are not really recommended for the bearded dragon. Their high sugar content is not very healthy for their body.
Recommended Fruits
However, we can offer our reptiles some pieces of fruit from time to time, for example once a week or once every 10 days. There are a number of fruits that are perfectly suitable:
Blackcurrant, rich in antioxidants and vitamin C
Figs, dried or fresh, rich in calcium and fiber
Persimmon, source of antioxidants (without the skin)
Papaya, from which the seeds must be removed
Other fruits to give in moderation
Other fruits can, in a pinch, be offered to your bearded dragon from time to time:
Grapes, once the seeds have been removed
Peaches and nectarines, occasionally (and ideally without the skin)
Mango, which is rich in fiber and carotenoids
Apricot
Clementine, rich in vitamin C
Apple, without the skin
Fruits that could be harmful if taken too often
Finally, here is the list of fruits not recommended for bearded dragon:
Tomato, which is toxic for the bearded dragon
Kiwi, too acidic
Strawberry, raspberry
Passion fruit
Remember that red fruits are generally toxic for the bearded dragon and it is better to avoid them completely.
Summary: food of the juvenile bearded dragon / adult bearded dragon
To summarize: the bearded dragon, until its first candle, will feed mainly on crickets adapted to its size, placed two to three times a day in its terrarium (and not at night, because insects can attack it, the bearded dragon being insensitive once the night has fallen) – it will also have fresh and adapted plants which will correspond to 30% of its food and which will allow its hydration A clean water bowl, regularly changed, will also be available.
At the adulthood, the nutritive elements do not change but the proportion is reversed: the adult bearded dragon will eat 70% of plants and 30% of crickets. We can also offer him other insects, especially dead mice, for example once a month, to vary his diet and stimulate him.
Food supplements for bearded dragon: why is it necessary?
The question is not trivial, because some people simply do not give their bearded dragon any food supplements, believing that fresh vegetables and crickets are enough. The problem is that the bearded dragon needs a lot of calcium, even after it has grown.
Calcium: additional intake is essential
Calcium allows the reptile to have strong muscles and a robust skeleton. Calcium supplementation, through food supplements, allows to maintain a sufficient level of calcium and to avoid problems such as osteofibrosis already mentioned.
The food supplements for bearded dragon are presented in the form of a calcium powder which we will sprinkle on the crickets. You can simply sprinkle the insects with pure calcium, for example once every two days. This should be enough to supplement his calcium intake and help strengthen his body. Remember, even after your bearded dragon is an adult, his intake must continue! However, you may want to space out the sprinklings, for example from every other day for bearded dragon from 0 to 12 months to every third day for adult bearded dragon.
Food supplements: a contribution in vitamin D3
Vitamin D3 is not strictly speaking a vitamin but a hormone: this molecule helps regulate certain flows and processes in the body. While vitamin D is synthesized by the bearded dragon, vitamin D3 is not – so it needs an external supply to improve its absorption of calcium and its good muscular shape.
Like calcium, this vitamin D3 will need to be sprinkled on the crickets, for example once or twice a week when the bearded dragon is young (less than a year old) and once or twice a month once your reptile has reached adulthood, i.e. at a year old.
Frequently asked questions about feeding your bearded dragon
What time should I feed my Bearded dragon?
There is no clear answer to this point, as it depends on the time your terrarium is turned on and off. It is considered that you should wait at least 1h30 after the lights are turned on to feed your bearded dragon, thus giving him enough time to regain his senses.
Then, for what is the “dinner” of your bearded dragon, it will be necessary to leave him at least 2h30 before reaching the lamps (and thus to mean the bedtime of the bearded dragon) so that the digestion of the agam has well done its work.
Does a male bearded dragon eat differently than a female?
No, male and female bearded dragon eat the same type of food and in the same quantity. Of course, a bearded dragon of a different breed may eat less than another breed. For example, the bearded dragon henrylawsoni is much smaller than the bearded dragon , which explains why it eats less, in quantity, than the latter. However, its diet is the same in terms of proportion plants/insects and according to its age.
My juvenile bearded dragon refuses to eat vegetables/vegetables, is this normal?
Yes, this problem is common. However, you should continue to offer them fresh and washed vegetables. Some juvenile bearded dragons are only interested in plants late (for example at 5-6 months), feeding until then only on crickets.
However, their growth will gradually lead them to appreciate their bowl of plants.
A tip to make a bearded dragon that only eats crickets “bend”: first offer him his bowl of plants and wait until he eats them before releasing a few crickets in his terrarium. Do this gradually and observe the reactions of your pet. He should gradually touch his bowl and find it more interesting…
Can we give treats to our bearded dragon?
If by “treats” you mean grubs, moths or even mice: yes, of course, as long as it is very punctual and well supervised.
Otherwise your bearded agamist may develop food addictions that will lead him to refuse anything else. This is true for plants and crickets, so important for their respective contribution in calcium/protein.
Finally, it is important to avoid giving “human” treats and other sugary sweets to your bearded dragon. Indeed, it may choke on them or have its organism completely turned upside down by this very high sugar intake.
Where to buy bearded dragon food?
Bearded dragons food can easily be found in pet shops or on the net, where prices are often more attractive.
What is the price of the food of the bearded dragon?
The plants are relatively modest, you can find them in supermarkets or directly in nature (dandelions…). Regarding crickets, several hundred cost barely a dozen €, when dried crickets are often even cheaper.
Finally, as far as food supplements and vitamin D3 are concerned, special powders exist. As an example, a 150 grams box of calcium usually costs about 12-15€ and is more than enough to cover the child’s needs for a whole year.
Do I have to change the water of the bearded dragon every day?
Water at room temperature in the terrarium (35°c), clean and of course drinkable is more than recommended. With the substrate, the living insects, the movements of the bearded dragon which raise dust and dirt, the water can quickly become dirty or unfit.
Changing this water every day seems to be more than advisable. Try as much as possible to offer warm or even hot water to your bearded dragon, and not fresh water.
Further Readings
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Tomatoes?
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Bananas?
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Watermelon?
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Oranges?
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Lettuce?
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Broccoli?
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Mealworms?