Best Bearded Dragon Diet for Adults and Juveniles

Best Bearded Dragon Diet for Adults and Juveniles

Hey, reptile fans! If you’re digging around for the best bearded dragon diet for adults and juveniles, look no further. I’m JV Charles, founder and senior editor over at Diggity Dog, and I’ve been messing with these awesome lizards for well over a decade pulling them out of rough spots, breeding a few batches, and picking vets’ brains on what really makes tick. Right now, I’m dishing out the lowdown on the best bearded dragon diet for adults and juveniles, straight from the hottest 2025 vet tips, ’cause nothing beats watching your beardie puff up its beard after a killer meal.

Here at Diggity Dog, we’re all in on healthy pet vibes, handing out no-nonsense tips to dodge stuff like brittle bones or extra fluff on your dragon. Newbie or old hand, dialing in that bearded dragon diet is huge. Hang tight, and we’ll sort your scaly buddy’s menu like pros!

Key Takeaways

• Little juvenile bearded dragons (under 12 months) need mostly bugs—70-80% insects to crank up that growth, with 20-30% greens tossed in.
• For the grown-up adult bearded dragons (a year and up), flip it: 70-80% veggies and plants, insects down to 20-30% to stay fit.
• Hit those bugs and salads with calcium dust regularly keeps bones rock solid.
• Shake up the menu to fend off boredom and nail all the nutrients.
• They snag most water from food, but a light spray in the tank helps.
• Ditch dangers like fireflies or spinach to avoid nasty surprises.

Figuring Out Your Beardie’s Food Basics

These guys come from Australia’s dusty backcountry, so we mimic their wild eats but tweak for home life. Age flips the script big time, and skimping on that? I’ve nursed back plenty of draggy dragons from diet goofs.

Vets in 2025 are hammering home balanced eats: protein blasts for babies, vitamin-loaded greens all around, and fat watch to skip the chub. Let’s chop it up by stage it’s a game-changer.

Feeding Those Energetic Juveniles

Juveniles are total whirlwinds, shooting up fast and needing chow to match. The juvenile bearded dragon diet is bug-heavy: insects rule at 70-80%, building that frame.

Back when I had my first juvies, they’d ambush crickets like mini ninjas it was hilarious and spot-on for them. Dish out live bugs daily, letting chow for 10-15 minutes a couple-three times. Round it out with fresh chopped greens.

Calcium’s the boss, balanced with phosphorus. Skipped it once early on lesson learned. Dust every feed with calcium, multivitamin twice weekly.

Easing Into Adult Eats

Cross that year mark, and tone down the bug party. The adult bearded dragon diet goes green: 70-80% plants, bugs just 20-30%, maybe every few days.

Grown-ups chill more, so extra protein means extra weight. I’ve guided owners through slimming tubby beardies with salad swaps. One good feed daily, crammed with nutrients to keep spry.

Supplements lighten up: calcium a few times weekly, multi once.

Killer Foods to Stock for Your Dragon’s Plate

Variety’s the spice keeps interested and hits every nutrient angle. Here’s the goods for the best bearded dragon diet for adults and juveniles.

Prime Bugs for That Protein Punch

Bugs star for young’uns, treats for elders. Gut-load first stuff the insects with good grub for max benefit.

• Dubia roaches: Always my fave; sturdy, not greasy.
• Crickets: Budget-friendly and zippy, but escape artists.
• Black soldier fly larvae: Calcium bombs awesome.
• Silkworms: Moist and mix it up.

No wild bugs; pesticides ruin the fun.

Greens and Veggies: The Go-To Goodies

Core for adults, solid side for kids. Dice small for easy nibbling.

• Collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens: Low bads, high goods.
• Squash, bell peppers, carrots: Colorful crunchers.
• Dandelion greens: Yard freebies if clean score!

Rotate my dragons pick favorites, just like picky eaters.

Fruits: Sweet Spots Sparingly

Sugar alert cap at 10%. Great for tempting finicky ones.

• Berries, papaya, mango: Wee bits, weekly max.
• Skip citrus; too tangy for their guts.

No-Gos to Skip Altogether

Some stuff seems fine but spells trouble.

• Spinach, beet greens: They steal calcium.
• Iceberg lettuce: All fluff, no stuff.
• Fireflies: Lethal even one.
• Avocado: Rich and risky.

Double-check newbies I’ve averted disasters that way.

Meal Times and Handy Hacks

Juvies: Snack-sized feeds all day. Adults: One hearty hit, bugs occasional.

Tip from my playbook: Hand-feed for bonding. Watch the waistline a toned tail’s ideal, no guts spilling over.

Thirsty? Food covers most, but mist or shallow dish works.

Extra Boosts for a Long, Happy Life

No bearded dragon diet flies without add-ons. Reptile calcium (no phosphorus) and multis are musts. Follow doses overkill’s uncommon but possible.

2025 buzz: Team with UVB for D vitamins dynamic duo.

FAQs

How often do juveniles eat?

Couple-three times daily, bug-focused. Short bursts of munching.

Top green for adults?

Collards reliable and nutrient-jammed.

Fruits every day?

Nah treat territory, or sugar spikes hit.

Diet win signs?

Sparkly eyes, peppy moves, steady poops. Yearly vet thumbs-up.

Commercial foods okay?

Backups like Mazuri pellets, but fresh rules.

Veggie hater? Fixes?

Blend with bugs or experiment. They’ll cave eventually!

References

• The Complete Bearded Dragon Diet Plan. DragonsDiet.com. Accessed November 2025.
• How To Feed Your Bearded Dragon. NC State Veterinary Hospital. Accessed November 2025.
• Vet’s 2025 Guide to Bearded Dragon Care. AskAVet.com. Published June 2025.
• Bearded Dragon Basics. Clarington Animal Hospital. Published June 2025.
• Mazuri® Bearded Dragon Diet. Mazuri.com. Accessed November 2025.