Baby bearded dragons under 1 month: 2–3 small meals a day. 1–4 months: 2 meals a day. From 4 months: 1 main meal a day. Juveniles eat about 70% insects; adults need greens daily, insects every day or two, and only about 20–30% insects.
Estimates only. Every bearded dragon grows and ages a little differently. See a reptile vet for health concerns.
Bearded dragon feeding schedule by age
A bearded dragon's diet changes more with age than almost any other pet's. Hatchlings are mostly insect-eaters that need several small meals a day. Adults are mostly plant-eaters that may only need insects every day or two. Following a bearded dragon feeding schedule by age means your dragon gets the protein it needs to grow while young and doesn't become overweight later.
Enter your dragon's age above (and its weight, if you like) to get the number of meals per day, the insect-to-vegetable ratio as a bar, the right insect size, a daily greens reminder, general supplement guidance and a sample day. The advice comes from NC State Veterinary Hospital, VCA Animal Hospitals, PetMD and the RSPCA. Where they differ, we say so.
Bearded dragon feeding chart by age
This bearded dragon feeding chart by age summarizes how often to feed and roughly how much of the diet should be insects vs greens and vegetables at each stage. Meal counts are from NC State. Ratios are from PetMD (about 70% insects for juveniles, 20–30% for adults). For sub-adults we use VCA's overall 50:50 figure, in line with the RSPCA's advice to increase greens as dragons grow.
| Age | Meals | Insects : greens & veg | Insects and size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1 month | 2–3 small meals a day | 70% : 30% | Tiny prey only: flightless fruit flies and pinhead crickets (NC State). Feeders no larger than half to two-thirds of the width of the head (PetMD). |
| 1–4 months | 2 meals a day | 70% : 30% | Crickets as the main feeder, with the occasional mealworm or superworm (NC State). No insect longer than the width of the head (NC State). |
| 4–12 months | 1 main meal a day | 70% : 30% | Gut-loaded crickets or dubia roaches as staples; worms such as superworms only now and then (VCA). Feeder no longer than the width of the head (NC State). |
| 12–18 months | 1 meal a day | 50% : 50% | Staple feeders as before; start offering fewer insects as greens take over (RSPCA). |
| 18 months + | Greens daily; insects every day or two | 25% : 75% | Insects every day or every other day (NC State) — PetMD suggests 3–4 insect meals a week. Fatty worms are treats, not staples. |
Sources don't agree exactly. The RSPCA suggests about 65% livefood for young dragons and 40% for dragons longer than 30 cm (12 in). For adults, NC State says insects every day or every other day, PetMD says 3–4 times a week and VCA says adults may only eat every 24–72 hours. Ratios are a guide to what the bowl looks like over a week, not something to weigh out.
Bearded dragon food chart by age: what to feed
Use this bearded dragon food chart alongside the schedule. The same food groups apply at every age; only the balance changes. Young dragons get more of the top rows, adults more of the greens.
| Food group | Examples | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Staple insects | Crickets, dubia roaches (PetMD) | Every insect meal; always gut-loaded and dusted |
| Other feeders | Black soldier fly larvae, hornworms, silkworms (PetMD) | Rotate for variety |
| Fatty worms | Superworms, waxworms, mealworms | Occasional treats, not daily (VCA) |
| Staple greens | Collard, mustard, dandelion and turnip greens (PetMD, NC State) | Daily; leafy greens should be 80–90% of the plant part of the diet (VCA) |
| Other vegetables | Grated or chopped vegetables (NC State: about 20% of an adult diet) | Most days, mixed into the salad |
| Greens to limit | Spinach, Swiss chard, beet greens (oxalates); cabbage and kale (goitrogens) | Sparingly (VCA, RSPCA) |
| Fruit | Small pieces of soft fruit | 5% of the diet or less (NC State, PetMD) |
NC State's adult diet breaks down as about 50% dark leafy greens, 20% chopped or grated vegetables, 25% animal matter (insects) and a maximum of 5% fruit. VCA explains why some greens are limited: spinach, Swiss chard and beet greens contain oxalates that bind calcium, and cabbage, kale and mustard greens contain goitrogens that may affect the thyroid if fed in excess. Variety is the safest approach. PetMD adds that collard, mustard and dandelion greens are generally better staples than lettuce, and that fresh, clean drinking water should always be available.
Foods to avoid
Some foods are dangerous for bearded dragons at any age. Our sources name these:
- Fireflies (lightning bugs): toxic to lizards. VCA and PetMD both say never to feed them.
- Onions and mushrooms: on PetMD's "never feed" list.
- Avocado and rhubarb: PetMD's care sheet lists them among high-oxalate foods to avoid, together with spinach and beet greens.
- Wild-caught insects: NC State warns they often carry parasites. Buy feeders from a reptile supplier instead.
- Dog food, cat food, rabbit food, raw meat and eggs: PetMD's diet guide says not to feed these.
Gut-loading and dusting explained
Gut-loading means feeding your feeder insects nutritious food before they are offered to your dragon, so the nutrients pass on to the lizard. VCA says insects should be gut-loaded within 12 hours of feeding, and PetMD suggests gut-loading for 6–12 hours beforehand. NC State describes gut-loading with a high-calcium diet 24–72 hours before feeding. Whichever timing you use, the point is the same: an empty cricket has little nutritional value.
Dusting means coating insects in a supplement powder just before feeding. The general guidance from our sources is:
- VCA: sprinkle a phosphorus-free calcium powder on food daily, and use a calcium powder that contains vitamin D3 two to three times a week.
- PetMD: dust feeder insects with calcium, and with a reptile multivitamin one to two times a week.
- RSPCA: dust livefood lightly with vitamin and mineral supplement powders.
Too little calcium can cause metabolic bone disease, but too much of some vitamins can also cause harm. How much and how often depends on your dragon's age, health and UVB setup. Ask a reptile vet to set a supplement plan for your dragon. This page does not give dosing advice.
Feeding babies, juveniles and adults
Baby bearded dragons (under 4 months)
Hatchlings under a month old do best with 2–3 small meals a day (NC State), and PetMD likewise suggests two to three small meals a day. NC State suggests tiny prey such as flightless fruit flies and pinhead crickets at first, then regular crickets from about a month. From 1 to 4 months, NC State says 2 meals a day. PetMD's insect-size rule is strictest here: feeders no larger than half to two-thirds of the width of the head. Offer finely chopped greens daily even if your baby barely touches them. It builds the habit.
Juvenile bearded dragons (4–12 months)
From about 4 months NC State moves to 1 main meal a day. The diet is still about 70% insects (PetMD), with a fresh salad available daily. Juveniles are growing several inches a month, so check progress against the bearded dragon size chart by age. A juvenile that stops growing or seems weak should see a reptile vet.
Sub-adults (12–18 months)
Growth slows and the balance tips toward plants. Keep to 1 meal a day and move toward roughly 50% insects and 50% greens, increasing greens as your dragon grows (RSPCA).
Adult bearded dragons (18 months and older)
Adults need fresh greens every day and insects every day or every other day (NC State). PetMD suggests insect meals 3–4 times a week, with 70–80% of the diet from vegetables. Because adults aren't growing, overfeeding insects, especially fatty worms, easily leads to weight gain. If you're not sure how old your dragon is, convert its age with the bearded dragon age calculator or estimate it from size first.
How the feeding tool works
The tool converts your entry to months and picks the matching feeding stage from the chart above: under 1 month, 1–4 months, 4–12 months, 12–18 months or adult. The ratio bar shows that stage's insect-to-greens split. If you enter a weight, it is compared with the typical weight range for that age from our growth chart. A result outside the range isn't a diagnosis, but it's worth mentioning to your vet if your dragon also seems thin or unwell.
Frequently asked questions
What is the bearded dragon feeding schedule by age?
Under 1 month: 2–3 small meals a day. 1–4 months: 2 meals a day. 4–18 months: 1 main meal a day. Adults: greens daily; insects every day or two (NC State). The insect share falls from about 70% for juveniles to 25% for adults.
How often should I feed a baby bearded dragon?
Hatchlings under a month old: 2–3 small meals a day. From 1 to 4 months: 2 meals a day (NC State). Offer chopped greens every day as well.
How often should a juvenile bearded dragon eat?
From about 4 months, 1 main meal a day (NC State), with about 70% insects and a fresh salad daily (PetMD).
How often do adult bearded dragons eat?
Adults need fresh greens daily and insects every day or every other day (NC State). PetMD suggests insects 3–4 times a week, and VCA says adults may only eat every 24–72 hours.
What is the insect to vegetable ratio for bearded dragons?
About 70% insects and 30% vegetables for juveniles, and about 20–30% insects and 70–80% vegetables for adults (PetMD). We use 50:50 for sub-adults, following VCA's overall 50:50 figure.
What should a bearded dragon feeding chart by age include?
Meals per day, the insect-to-greens ratio, the right insect size and supplement guidance for each stage. Our chart covers under 1 month, 1–4 months, 4–12 months, 12–18 months and adults.
How big should feeder insects be?
NC State says never to feed an insect longer than the width of your dragon's head, and PetMD says hatchling feeders should be no larger than half to two-thirds of the head's width.
What foods are toxic to bearded dragons?
Never feed fireflies (VCA, PetMD), onions or mushrooms (PetMD). Avoid avocado and rhubarb (high oxalates, PetMD) and wild-caught insects (parasites, NC State).
Do bearded dragons need calcium and vitamin supplements?
General guidance: VCA suggests phosphorus-free calcium daily plus calcium with vitamin D3 two to three times a week, and PetMD adds a multivitamin one to two times a week. Ask a reptile vet for a plan that suits your dragon.
What is gut-loading?
Feeding nutritious food to feeder insects shortly before they go to your dragon, so the nutrients pass on. VCA says within 12 hours of feeding; PetMD says 6–12 hours.
Can bearded dragons eat fruit?
Yes, but only a little. NC State and PetMD both say fruit should be 5% of the diet or less.
This calculator gives an estimate for education and fun. Every pet ages differently — for health decisions, talk to your veterinarian.