Bearded Dragon Diet And Nutrition

Reptiles are among the most popular kinds of pets but there isn’t as much research into the diet and nutritional requirements of them to the same degree as other pets such as cats or dogs.

When it comes to bearded dragons, they need to have a carefully curated diet which changes from juvenile to adult. Not only does the food that they eat change but also how often they need to be fed.

Therefore, it may seem cool to have a bearded dragon but taking care of them requires a lot of attention and research to make sure they are getting the best quality of life.

The first thing to know about the bearded dragon’s diet is that it mainly consists of invertebrates and vegetation.

When they are younger, their diet ratio is richer in invertebrates which then shifts to more vegetation as they get older as they swap from an insectivorous diet to an omnivore diet.

Because this isn’t as well known, a lot of pet bearded dragons experience nutritional disorders and often die prematurely simply because their proper dietary needs haven’t been followed correctly.

Other factors that can affect their nutritional status include environmental factors such as poor lighting and heating, cohabitants, substrate or small enclosure size as well as food. 

In this article, we’ll be taking you through everything you need to know about the bearded dragon’s diet and nutritional needs so you can have a better understanding of what they need.

Always consult a vet to see if there are any further suggestions or advice they can provide as well as offering inspections into their state of health and husbandry practices which can influence what types of foods they should have specifically. 

Safe foods that you can give to your bearded dragon

When it comes to deciding what foods to include in your bearded dragon’s diet, it’s important to research thoroughly to ensure that they are getting the right nutrients and maintaining their optimum health.

We’ve compiled several lists of safe foods in different categories to help give a clear breakdown of how they contribute to your bearded dragon’s diet. 

Fruits, vegetables and leafy greens

Making sure your bearded dragon has a diet that is rich in vegetables, fruits and leafy greens will ensure that they are getting the right amount of nutrients and will help to improve their quality of life.

However, what fruit and vegetables you feed your pet and how often can make all the difference. Here is a breakdown of the key fruits and vegetables that you should consider and how often you should feed them. 

Food that should be given often on a daily basis

These foods should be the staples of your bearded dragon’s diet and should be included in multiple meals on a daily basis:

Food that can be given in small amounts on a frequent basis

These foods can often be fed to your bearded dragon as a treat on a frequent basis but should only be given in small amounts:

Foods that can be fed in small amounts infrequently

These foods can be given to bearded dragons but not frequently and only in smaller portions to prevent any long term problems from arising:

Edible flowers that bearded dragons can eat

There are certain flowers that bearded dragons can enjoy in moderation as part of their balanced diet. Bear in mind that they should be given as a treat and in limited quantities to monitor their daily intake.

Here are some of the best flowers to incorporate into your bearded dragon’s diet:

Insects and invertebrates to feed bearded dragons

Insects and invertebrates are essential to a juvenile bearded dragon’s diet.

Providing the most protein and nutrients as they grow, it’s important to make sure that your bearded dragon’s diet is rich in insects to ensure that they have a healthy growth before they swap to their omnivore diet as an adult.

However, some insects and invertebrates are better than others and can add more nutritional value to their daily intake. 

Due to their lack of endoskeleton, there are few invertebrates that can provide a sufficient amount of calcium. However, they are rich in phosphorus when fed live to a bearded dragon.

Feeding in an alternative large container is ideal as it makes it easier for you to collect any uneaten insects.

If you are feeding your bearded dragon in its enclosure, then make sure you are thorough in collecting any uneaten insects as there are some, such as crickets, that are actually capable of eating the predator if they are not caught.

They will start to feed on the eyelids and nose thanks to the amount of moisture in these areas. 

It goes without saying that the nutritional value of the insects and invertebrates is important and some choose to gut load the insects a day prior to being fed.

This can help promote certain nutrients that are essential for the bearded dragon rather than the insect itself.

However, there are nutrients that can prove fatal to invertebrates such as calcium which is why it is recommended to gut load a day before rather than over a longer period of time. 

Rich in a variety of nutrients and should be fed daily

These insects and invertebrates should be incorporated into your juvenile bearded dragon’s daily diet as they are rich in a variety of nutrients and will provide the essential protein they need to promote healthy growth. 

High in calcium

One of the most important nutrients that bearded dragons must have is calcium. Calcium promotes healthy bone growth and maintenance as well as helping the metabolism and muscle function.

If your bearded dragon does not get enough calcium in its diet, it may suffer into adulthood as they will start to experience muscle pain and lethargy among other conditions.

Here are the best insects and invertebrates that you should feed your bearded dragon to provide plenty of calcium in their diet:

• Black Soldier Fly 
• Earthworms
• Phoenix worms (Black Soldier Fly larvae)
• Red wiggler worms 

Commercial diets

Commercial diets are a more modern option that has seen a huge surge in popularity. This is because they are seen as an easier and cheaper option to getting fresh foods as they can be bought in bulk and stored away for long periods of time.

However, it is important to bear in mind that they are not always regulated which means that they may not necessarily provide the nutrients that the manufacturers are claiming they have.

They have been proven to reduce the risk of imbalanced diets at the hands of the pet owner and can improve the quality of life if the instructions are followed correctly. 

Can bearded dragons be fed wild insects?

Bearded dragons can be fed wild insects. After all, it is a more natural option as this is what they would be feeding on if they were living in the wild.

They can be part of a balanced diet and gathered via the sweeping method which is when the grass is swept with a net.

This method is recommended by various professionals as it is a fresher option and means that there are more natural nutrients in the food.

However, always ensure that you have not caught any poisonous invertebrates and that you have swept grass that hasn’t been contaminated with any pesticides or herbicides or any equivalent poison as this can be fatal to your bearded dragon. 

Can bearded dragons have eggs?

Cooked eggs are a great way to incorporate protein into your bearded dragon’s diet.

Always make sure that there is a small amount of egg in comparison to the amount of vegetation when feeding your pet to make sure that there is a balance in the meal.

They can be included in your bearded dragon’s meal on a daily basis in small amounts without causing any long term issues. 

How often should you feed your bearded dragon and what to feed it

Now that you have an idea of what kinds of foods a bearded dragon’s diet should consist of, it’s time to delve into how often you should feed your pet and what you should feed it.

There are a variety of factors that dictate what foods you should incorporate into their diet with the main one being age.

As mentioned before, bearded dragons are unique in that their diet changes as they mature from a protein rich diet consisting mainly of insects and invertebrates to a vegetation dominated diet when they are adults.

Therefore, it’s important to always monitor your bearded dragon’s behavior and seek the advice of a vet if you are ever unsure. Here we give a general overview of what a bearded dragon’s balanced diet would look like over time:

Baby bearded dragons

Bearded dragons start life as insectivores which means that they should have a wide range of insects and invertebrates in their diet.

In particular, baby bearded dragons should have a diet that is rich in smaller insects such as cockroaches and nymph crickets.

Other professional recommendations include: flies, mealworms, moths, small crickets, small grasshoppers and soldier fly larvae among many other grubs.

The majority of their meals should always be insects and invertebrates alongside some vegetation to bring a balanced diet. However, vegetation isn’t essential to a baby bearded dragon’s diet.

When hatched, baby bearded dragons are almost immediately ready to eat invertebrates and insects within a day so make sure you have some to hand ready to feed.

As they grow rapidly, they need plenty of calcium and protein to ensure that they have healthy bone maintenance and growth.

Therefore, it’s important to make sure that there is appropriate lighting, calcium and D3 at this age to prevent any metabolic bone diseases that often arise from dietary mistakes at the hand of the pet owner. 

Lighting is another important factor of a bearded dragon’s growth and they should be exposed to as much natural sunlight as possible.

A lot of pet owners make the mistake of incorporating UVB lighting only which is a huge mistake. Making sure that there is a healthy mix between the two with natural sunlight dominating as much as possible will enhance their overall quality of life.

How often should you feed a baby bearded dragon?

Baby bearded dragons should be fed multiple times a day to ensure that they have a constant intake of essential nutrients. 

Juvenile bearded dragons

When a bearded dragon has entered its juvenile stage, there is more incorporation of vegetables and fruit into their diet with insects and invertebrates still dominating their meals.

The juvenile stage is when the bearded dragon will begin to switch from an insectivore to omnivore so you will likely start to see the changes in their personal preference during this time.

They tend to start favoring vegetation when they reach around 80-100 mm or 3-4 inches in length. Feeding live prey to your bearded dragon is good for them as it promotes constant movement and exercise.

Professionals and research recommend that an initial diet of 50% vegetation and 50% insects will ensure that they are still getting their essential nutrients.

The more they age, the vegetation percentage should slowly be increased while the insect and invertebrate amount should be reduced.

A juvenile bearded dragon is more vulnerable to metabolic bone disease so it is important that you are maintaining as much natural sunlight as possible to prevent this.

How often should you feed a juvenile bearded dragon?

How often you should feed a juvenile bearded dragon is dependent on how old it is during this time. At a younger age of around 3 months, they should be fed 1 or 2 times a day which is then reduced to 5 to 7 times a week by the time they are 6 months old. 

Adult bearded dragons

The adult bearded dragon’s diet is a lot more varied as they have shifted to an omnivore diet which is more dominant in vegetation.

Vegetation should add up to approximately 75% of your bearded dragon’s diet with the remaining 25% consisting of insects and invertebrates. The majority of the vegetation should be leafy greens with vegetables not exceeding 20% of the overall diet.

Research has shown that between 60% to 70% of your bearded dragon’s diet can consist of commercially prepared foods if this is the route you are wishing to take.

However, always ensure that you are giving them some leafy greens as the commercially prepared foods act more as an insect and invertebrate replacement. 

The main reason why adult bearded dragons shouldn’t be fed too many insects or invertebrates is because adult bearded dragons don’t often feed on them in the wild.

Research showed that adult male bearded dragons in the wild ate more than 90% vegetation in their diet with females eating slightly less.

During their more active times of year, smaller frequent meals can benefit your bearded dragon, however, do not be tempted to increase their daily intake as this can cause long term illnesses and cause obesity.

How much you feed your adult bearded dragon should be dependent on the following factors:

• Biological state such as growing, gravid, shedding
• Brumation
• Current condition such as health and weight
• Environment

How often should you feed an adult bearded dragon?

Adult bearded dragons can either be fed once a day or once every other day. However, bear in mind that pregnancy, illness or other biological states can require an entirely different feeding regime.

If this is the case, consult your vet who will be able to give you a tailored dietary plan that is best for your bearded dragon during this time. 

When should you feed your bearded dragon?

The best time to feed your bearded dragon is when they need to bask. You should always allow hours in between feeding and lowering temperatures which will help them to digest their food properly.

Feeding them during the hotter times of the day will mean that they will be engaged in more activity and exercise so long as the volume of food doesn’t increase over time.

The preferred optimum temperature zone, known as POTZ, is crucial for any reptiles’ feeding time as it will ensure that they digest their food correctly.

If they are fed during low temperatures on a regular basis, this may cause malnutrition as they won’t be able to process the food properly. 

If you feed your bearded dragon as the temperature starts to increase then it will give them plenty of time to digest.

This is because they rely on the sun and natural heat to digest their food as they are Ectotherms which means that their body temperature changes according to the environment.

Animals such as cats are known as Endotherms which means that they can generate their own metabolic heat which maintains their body temperature so they can be fed at any time of the day.

How much should you feed

Overall, food should accumulate to approximately 5% of a bearded dragon’s ideal body weight. This is because reptiles have around 10% of the energy requirements that mammals have.

Therefore, when you are deciding what food and how much food you plan on feeding to your bearded dragon, it’s important to remember that they have entirely different criteria and requirements. 

Freezing your bearded dragon’s food

One method that is popular among pet owners, especially those who lead busy lifestyles, is freezing their bearded dragon’s food.

Food can be prepared and frozen ahead of feeding which can make the process more convenient and economical in the long run. By allowing you to purchase your supplies in bulk, you can find that it is cost effective and less time consuming.

However, the downside to this is that you are risking losing certain nutrients in the fruit and vegetables although there has been research to suggest that freezing helps to break down cell walls which can make some nutrients more available.

Other foods that can be frozen include certain invertebrates such as maggots although bear in mind that live insects and invertebrates are always the better option as they are fresher and encourage exercise and activity. 

Preparing the food for feeding

Certain foods such as the leafy green and fruits require little to no preparation at all aside from a wash. However, harder foods should be lightly cooked or grated to make it softer.

Hard bodied insects and rougher vegetation helps to promote stronger teeth and also linger in the mouth for longer periods of time which fills your bearded dragon up quickly meaning that they will be able to cope with an appropriate amount of food at a time. 

Chopping the food

If you decide to chop the food then make sure that it isn’t any bigger than the distance between your bearded dragon’s eyes. This is because they should only have smaller portions of food which is easier for them to swallow and digest.

Chopping the food into cubes rather than slices will encourage your bearded dragon to bite into the food which in turn helps to keep their teeth clean and strong as it is more likely to have a rougher surface.

However, if you chop pieces that are too large then you will find that your bearded dragon may eat them without breaking it down which in turn will slow their feeding time down and cause problems when digesting.

As discussed previously, this can contribute to long term issues such as obesity. 

Should you cook vegetables for your bearded dragon

Cooking certain vegetables can prove beneficial in some respects to your bearded dragon’s diet. This is because the cooking process can help reduce certain antinutrients such as oxalates and trypsin inhibitors.

Oxalates aren’t necessarily an issue that can cause any long term problems but trypsin can be hugely problematic over time.

This is because it is an enzyme that is part of the breakdown process for a variety of proteins during digestion which can be an issue if tough vegetables such as sweet potato are consumed.

However, cooking vegetables for a short period of time will help to soften tough vegetables which means that they are prepared for digestion. 

It is always advised that vegetables that do not need to be cooked should not be cooked. This is because of the risk that cooking takes away vital nutrients such as thiamin.

Therefore, vegetables such as leafy greens should be left in their natural state. Alternatively, you can grate harder vegetables if you want to prevent cooking at all. 

Dusting invertebrate

Before feeding your bearded dragon any invertebrates, they should always be dusted.

If the invertebrates can have supplements stuck to them easily then this may be done in bags; however, invertebrates such as mealworms should be placed in a shallow bowl of calcium powder and then offered to the bearded dragon.

Coating an invertebrate in vitamin or mineral powder once or twice a week will ensure that your bearded dragon is getting all they need for a balanced diet. 

How much calcium your bearded dragon needs is dependent on a variety of factors such as age and gravid. Therefore, it’s important to make sure that they are getting enough calcium and phosphorus in their diet.

If too much calcium powder is dusted onto the invertebrate, this can actually cancel out the phosphorus which can lead to a variety of problems later in life. 

Variation in food data

If you are wanting to do deep research into the science and the data they have collated, it can make for a very confusing and overwhelming experience.

This is because there have been many conflicting results over the years due to a variety of factors that have influenced their results one way or the other.

All information that you can find should always be taken as a generalisation only as your bearded dragon’s specific needs are not guaranteed to be the same as another’s.

Therefore, it’s always best to consult a vet if you are unsure what diet is going to benefit your bearded dragon the most. 

If you are reading a lot of scientific articles, then always bear in mind that the following factors could have influenced their research into the foods and the nutrients or antinutrients that they discovered:

• How it was initially tested
• What fertilisers were used
• The condition of the soil
• What time of day it was picked
• The conditions of transportation
• Whether they are new or old leaves
• The cultivar

Links between your bearded dragon’s diet and disease

As we have discussed the various foods that are important to your bearded dragon’s diet as well as how those foods should be prepared, it’s also essential to understand the links between your bearded dragon’s diet and potential diseases.

Reptiles have different requirements to other pets such as cats or dogs so it’s important to make sure that their needs are catered to correctly.

One such difference is that adult bearded dragons are more efficient with their energy so they can easily miss a day of food with no issues.

This section will help you to prevent any common mistakes and ensure that your pet gets the best quality of life as much as possible. It’s important to understand the risks that come with a misinformed diet and not portioning correctly.

Not only will this guarantee that your bearded dragon lives a long and healthy life, it will also save you a lot of money in veterinary bills so there is a financial benefit as well. 

Common mistakes

The first mistake that many pet owners make is overfeeding and feeding foods that are high in fat and sugar. This will lead to obesity in your bearded dragon over time which can be deadly and cause a variety of diseases.

A common condition that can occur in bearded dragons specifically is gallstones when they are exposed to diets that are excessively rich in fat and protein.

Remember that adult bearded dragons should have a limited amount of insects and invertebrates as they shift to an omnivore diet as they mature.

Pet owners who don’t do a lot of research into reptiles don’t realize this and therefore think that the bearded dragon has a consistent diet throughout their life.

However, research has proven that doing so shortens the lifespan and causes a lot of disease and pain. 

The second major mistake that is made when it comes to the bearded dragon’s diet is their reliance on the temperature of their environment.

As mentioned before, bearded dragons are ectotherms which means that their body temperature is dictated by the temperature of the environment. Therefore, they can only be fed at certain times of the day when it is hotter.

This means that they can digest their food properly when the temperature has cooled down. A lot of pet owners who have never owned reptiles before and don’t do the correct research treat their new pet as they would a dog or cat.

However, cats and dogs are endothermic which means that they can maintain their own body temperature which means they can be fed any time of the day with no problems. 

Fruit should always be considered a treat for bearded dragons as they are high in sugar content. Fruit should not exceed 5% of an adult bearded dragon’s diet as the sugar content in fruit is more geared for human consumption.

Another issue with fruit is the soft and mushy texture that can often get stuck in the bearded dragon’s mouth for longer periods of time which can lead to periodontal disease that is one of the most common illnesses for pet bearded dragons.

Signs of periodontal disease can include swelling of the mouth, brown teeth and gums. The longer a bearded dragon is left in this state, the teeth and gums can eventually turn black.

Antinutrients that can be found in foods

Antinutrients in the bearded dragon diet should be avoided as much as possible. However, what qualifies as an antinutrient has been the subject of much debate.

Common compounds such as oxalates, goitrogens and tannins have been considered antinutrients but this isn’t always the case.

In fact, foods that are high in oxalates and goitrogens have been proven to be safe to feed bearded dragons and other reptiles. 

Why oxalates are considered a problem

Oxalate, known as oxalic acid, is a natural compound found in many foods. The oxalate binds to calcium and other trace minerals when the food moves through the stomach intestines before leaving the body in stools.

However, when the minerals are bound by the oxalate, they cannot be absorbed by the body but it is determined by the amount of oxalate that is found.

By eliminating any trace of oxalate would limit the amount of food that you could give to your bearded dragon which in turn could prevent them from getting certain essential nutrients.

Therefore, allowing for foods with a small amount of oxalate isn’t going to pose any short or long term issues if they are fed to your bearded dragon in moderation.

Foods that are high in oxalates include:

• Asparagus
• Beet greens
• Brussels sprouts
• Grape leaves
• Silverbeet or Chard
• Spinach

Why goitrogens and brassicas are considered a problem

The other antinutrients that you should keep an eye out for are goitrogens and brassicas which contain thiocyanate which can increase iodine levels. While this is dangerous for certain species, this actually isn’t an issue for reptiles.

Therefore, while it is considered an antinutrient, it doesn’t have to be entirely eliminated from your bearded dragon’s diet so long as the amounts that are incorporated into their diet is monitored closely. 

Foods that are high in goitrogens include:

• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Cabbage
• Kale
• Mustard greens
• Radish greens

Tannins

Another substance to look out for are tannins which naturally occur in the majority of plants. Tannins can bind and precipitate proteins and are found in lots of fruit such as bananas, grapes and blueberries as well as vegetation such as basil, mint and corn. 

Foods that are dangerous and should be avoided

While there are some foods that can be fed in small quantities when monitored closely such as the above, there are certain foods that should be avoided at all costs.

This is because they are bad for the bearded dragon diet and are full of debilitating nutrients that are not beneficial to their diet as they can impede the calcium metabolism. 

Here are the foods that you shouldn’t feed your bearded dragon:

• Avocado
• Fatty foods
• Rhubarb

What do wild bearded dragons eat?

For those who want their bearded dragons to be exposed to as natural a diet as possible, you may want to look into what bearded dragons eat in the wild.

A wide array of studies and research has been conducted that looks into bearded dragons at all ages and observe what they eat when living in their natural environment.

However, the results vary and it’s important to remember that there are certain factors that mean that a pet bearded dragon should have a slightly altered diet as they are living in a contained enclosure with limited natural resources such as limited natural sunlight and a limited amount of space among others. 

Here are the top herbs, grasses and vegetation that are consumed by bearded dragons in the wild:

• Clover
• Dandelions
• Flowers
• Glycine spp
• Grasses such as Kangaroo grass (known as Themeda australis)
• Xanthosia spp

Here are the top invertebrates and insects eaten by bearded dragons in the wild:

Conclusion

Overall, the bearded dragon’s diet and nutritional requirements is a hugely important component to ensuring that your pet is as healthy as possible through all stages of life.

Knowing how its main diet shift over time is going to prevent any common mistakes that uninformed pet owners tend to make.

Making sure that they have plenty of vegetation as they mature will ensure that they are getting the vitamins and minerals they need to promote a balanced diet and prevent any long term illness.

If you are ever unsure or concerned about your bearded dragon’s diet then always seek the advice of a vet who can give you a more specific plan that is catered to your bearded dragon’s needs.