Feeding Bearded Dragons
A bearded dragon's diet changes more over its life than almost any other common reptile, and feeding an adult like a baby is the most frequent mistake keepers make.
Hatchlings and juveniles
Young dragons eat mostly insects, and growing animals eat more often than adults. Greens should be available but will mostly be ignored at this stage.
Extra-small and small discoid roaches, pinhead and small crickets.
Sub-adults
Somewhere around six months the balance starts to shift. Insects remain important, but greens should become a regular part of the diet and are usually taken with increasing enthusiasm.
Medium discoid roaches, medium crickets.
Adults
A full-grown dragon flips the ratio: greens become the bulk of the diet and insects the smaller part. Overfeeding insects to an adult dragon is a common cause of obesity and fatty liver disease, so judge by body condition rather than by appetite.
Large discoid roaches, large crickets, hornworms as a treat.
The size rule
Never feed an insect wider than the space between your dragon's eyes. This holds at every life stage and is the single most useful rule in the hobby. Impaction from oversized feeders is one of the most common preventable illnesses in captive dragons.
Our Feeder Size Guide explains how to judge it.
Which size to buy
| Stage | Crickets | Discoid roaches | Also |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hatchling, 0–4 months | Pinhead 1/16" → Small 1/8" | Pinhead under 1/8" → XS 1/8-1/4" | — |
| Juvenile, 4–8 months | Small/Medium 1/4" | Small 1/4-1/2" | — |
| Sub-adult, 8–12 months | Medium 3/8" | Medium 1/2-3/4" | Small hornworms |
| Adult, 12 months and over | Large 1/2" | Large 3/4-1 1/4" | Medium to Large hornworms |
Ages are a guide. Judge the feeder against the animal in front of you — the eye-width rule beats the table every time.
Variety and supplements
Discoid roaches make a good staple — soft-bodied, low in shell, and easy for a dragon to catch. Crickets add movement, which matters for a reluctant feeder. Hornworms are high in moisture and useful for a dragon that is dehydrated or off its food, but they are a treat rather than a staple.
Feeder insects are commonly dusted with a calcium or vitamin supplement before feeding. Follow the manufacturer's directions for the specific supplement you use.
What to buy
Feeders for bearded dragons · Discoid roaches · Crickets · Hornworms
Keeping feeders between deliveries
Feeders are live animals until the moment they are eaten, and how you hold them affects what your dragon actually gets. See our Care & Storage guides.
Looking for the dragon itself? Visit beardeddragonmorphs.com.
Feeding & care note: The information provided here is general feeder-insect care guidance. Reptile dietary needs vary by species, age, size and health. Follow husbandry and feeding recommendations appropriate for your individual animal.