How often to feed my bearded dragon (Complete Feeding Guide by Age)

How Often to Feed My Bearded Dragon (Complete Feeding Guide by Age)

Bearded dragons are one of the most popular pet reptiles, known for their friendly nature and quirky personalities. But if you’re a new owner (or even experienced), one of the most common questions is:
“How often should I feed my bearded dragon?”

Feeding frequency depends on your dragon’s age, size, and diet type—insects vs. greens. In this guide, we’ll break it all down so your dragon stays happy and healthy.

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🐣 Baby Bearded Dragons (0–4 months)

Feeding Frequency:

• 3–5 times per day

• They need lots of protein for rapid growth.

What to Feed:

• 70–80% insects like small dubia roaches, crickets, or black soldier fly larvae

• 20–30% finely chopped greens (collard greens, mustard greens, dandelion)

How Many Insects:

• Let them eat as many dubia roaches as they want in a 10-minute period, 3 times per day

• Usually 30–80 insects per day depending on size

Dubia Roach Tip:
Use ¼” to ⅜” dubia roaches for babies. They're soft-bodied, easier to digest, and more nutritious than crickets.

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🧒 Juvenile Bearded Dragons (4–12 months)

Feeding Frequency:

• 2–3 times per day

What to Feed:

• Roughly 50% insects and 50% veggies

• Still high in protein, but begin transitioning to more greens

How Many Insects:

• About 20–40 dubia roaches per day, depending on appetite and size

Greens to Offer Daily:

• Collard greens, arugula, squash, bell peppers, carrots (shredded), and occasional fruits (in moderation)

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🦎 Adult Bearded Dragons (12+ months)

Feeding Frequency:

• Once per day or every other day

• More plant-focused diet now

What to Feed:

• 70–80% greens

• 20–30% insects (2–3 times per week)

How Many Insects:

• 5–10 large dubia roaches (¾” to 1”) per feeding

• Or equivalent in other feeders like hornworms or BSFL

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🍃 Best Insects to Feed Bearded Dragons

Not all feeders are equal. Here’s why dubia roaches are the top choice:

✅ High protein-to-fat ratio
✅ No smell like crickets
✅ Don’t jump or chirp
✅ Easier to gut load and dust
✅ Live longer than other feeders (less waste)

Other acceptable insects:

• Black soldier fly larvae

• Hornworms

• Mealworms (in moderation – harder to digest)

• Superworms (occasionally for adults only)

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🧂 Calcium & Vitamin Supplementation

To prevent Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD), dust your feeders:

• Calcium powder without D3: 4–5x per week

• Multivitamin or calcium with D3: 1–2x per week

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💡 Feeding Tips

• Feed insects in a separate bin to avoid loose substrate ingestion

• Remove uneaten insects after 15 minutes

• Keep fresh water available

• Always supervise young dragons during feeding

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📦 Where to Buy Quality Dubia Roaches

Looking for affordable, live dubia roaches shipped to your door?
We breed clean, gut-loaded roaches ready for your dragon.

👉 Shop Feeder Packs Now at HealthyDubia.com

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Summary: Bearded Dragon Feeding Schedule