Bearded Dragon Feeding Chart & Calculator: How Much to Feed by Age

By Haseeb Wattoo — Reviewed against standard exotics husbandry guidance — Last updated July 2026

Quick answer: Feeding Baby bearded dragons (0–3 months) eat insects 2–3 times a day at roughly an 80:20 insect-to-veggie ratio. Juveniles (3–12 months) eat twice a day at about 55:45. Adults (18+ months) eat insects only 2–4 times a week, with daily vegetables making up about 80% of the diet. Use the calculator above for an exact plan by age.

Bearded Dragon Feeding Calculator

Get a daily feeding plan based on your dragon’s age — feeder size, portion count, and protein-to-veggie ratio.

Protein (insects) Veggies & greens
Insect feedings per day
Insects per feeding
Max insect size
Fresh greens/veggies
Calcium dusting
Multivitamin
Every dragon is different. This is a general starting point, not a personalized prescription — if your dragon is underweight, gravid, ill, or off its food, check with an exotics vet rather than relying on these numbers alone.

This calculator gives general husbandry guidance for healthy bearded dragons and isn’t a substitute for advice from an exotics veterinarian. Always size feeder insects no wider than the space between your dragon’s eyes to prevent impaction, and never feed wild-caught insects.

What are the best feeder insects for a bearded dragon?

Dubia roaches are the best staple feeder insect for bearded dragons — high in protein, low in fat, easy to digest, and unable to escape or climb enclosure walls. Other options, ranked by suitability:

  1. Dubia roaches — staple, all ages (sized appropriately)
  2. Black soldier fly larvae — staple alternative, high protein and calcium
  3. Crickets — widely available, but can smell, bite a sleeping dragon, and occasionally carry parasites
  4. Silkworms & phoenix worms — nutrient-dense treats, naturally calcium-rich
  5. Superworms — occasional treat for sub-adults/adults only; too fatty as a staple
  6. Mealworms — avoid for babies and juveniles; their hard chitin exoskeleton is a common impaction cause. Only feed sparingly to healthy adults.
  7. Wild-caught insects of any kind — never feed these; pesticide and parasite risk.

Common feeding mistakes

  1. Feeder insects too large — always size to the gap between the eyes.
  2. Feeding mealworms to babies — high impaction risk.
  3. Skipping vegetables early on — creates picky adults later.
  4. Leaving live insects in the enclosure overnight — they can bite a sleeping dragon.
  5. Not tapering insects down with age — the #1 cause of adult obesity.
  6. Using wild-caught insects — pesticide and parasite risk.

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