Offering the best foods for a bearded dragon is crucial for maintaining its overall health and well-being. Not only should you offer wholesome foods, but you should also vary the diet as often as possible.
Imagine if you ate the very same foods three times a day every day. That would get very boring pretty quick, wouldn’t it? You would also deprive yourself of the nutrients offered from a large variety.
If you ate nothing but hamburgers every day for months, you would most likely increase many health risks, and your general health would likely decrease. This is why most doctors advise us to eat a varied diet.
The same could be said for bearded dragons!
If you feed your bearded dragon nothing but crickets for months and months, he may begin to develop a deficiency in many of the needed vitamins and minerals not contained in crickets.
If you begin to introduce dubia roaches, horn worms, wax worms (as seldom treats), butterworms, and Phoenix worms as part of a balanced mixture of insects and include the proper mixture of fruits and vegetables, your bearded dragon’s overall nutrient intake will vastly improve.
It is also very important to add supplements to any food offered, and to gut load any insects before feeding.
One of the most frequently asked questions by bearded dragon owners is, “What are the best foods to feed my bearded dragon?”. Well, here is an easy list of the best foods for a bearded dragon.
The Best Foods for a Bearded Dragon
Staple Greens
- Collard Greens
- Dandelion Greens
- Endive
- Escarole
- Mustard Greens
- Turnip Greens
- Watercress
Staple Vegetables
- Acorn Squash
- Butternut Squash
- Green Beans
- Okra
- Parsnips
- Snap Peas
- Sweet Potato
- Yellow Squash
Occasional Greens
- Bok Choy
- Carrot Tops
- Celery Leaves
- Cilantro
- Cucumber (peeled)
- Kale
- Kohlrabi Leaves
- Parsley
- Swiss Chard
Occasional Vegetables
- Asparagus
- Beets
- Bell Peppers
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Celery Stalks
- Green Peas
- Pumpkin
- Zucchini
Greens and Vegetables to Rarely Feed
- Beet Greens
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
Greens and Vegetables to NEVER Feed
- Avocados
- Rhubarb
- Lettuce
Beet greens and spinach are high in oxalic acid (oxalates), which is a calcium-binding agent that limits the absorption of calcium. Feeding these foods regularly can increase the risk of Metabolic Bone Disease and other issues. They should be feed very seldom, if at all. It’s best to avoid them all together just to be safe.
Avocados and rhubarb are toxic and should be completely avoided as part of a bearded dragon’s diet.
Lettuce should not be fed to a bearded dragon (or any other reptile, really) because it lacks any real nutritional value. Lettuce is made up of mostly water, and feeding it to bearded dragons can lead to diarrhea.
Small amounts of lettuce can be fed if the bearded dragon is suffering from dehydration, but be careful how much you feed. Feeding too much lettuce can lead to diarrhea which in turn, worsens dehydration. Peeled cucumber is a better option in this scenario.
Tomatoes can be fed to bearded dragons every now and then (like once every few months or so) in small amounts. Tomatoes are very acidic and can be difficult on their digestive system.
Staple Fruits
- Mango
- Papaya
- Prickly Pear (Cactus Leaves)
Occasionai Fruits
- Apples (peeled)
- Bananas
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Cantaloupe
- Grapes (remove skin on grape)
- Honeydew Melon
- Kiwi (peeled)
- Peaches
- Pears (peeled)
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
- Watermelon
Fruits to Feed Seldom or Never
- Grapefruit
- Lemons
- Limes
- Oranges
- Tangerines
- Any Citric Fruits
Citric fruits are high in citric acid and can be difficult on a bearded dragon’s digestive system, especially with babies. It’s best to avoid feeding any citric fruits.
Staple Insects
- Crickets
- Roaches (ex. dubia roaches
- Horn Worms (or Goliath Worms)
Occasional Insects
- Butter worms
- Earthworms (rinsed)
- Mealworms
- Phoenix worms
- Silkworms
- Wax worms
Insects to Never Feed
- Fireflies (lightning bugs)
- Boxelder Bugs
- Wild-caught Insects
Fireflies and Boxelder bugs are very toxic to bearded dragons and should never be feed to them. Wild-caught insects could be hazardous if they have been in contact with chemicals. It’s advised to avoid feeding your bearded dragon any wild-caught insects.
The staple insects should make up the largest portion of the insect offerings. The occasional insects can be added in as a supplementary portion, or offered as the seldom treat, of the insect diet. Remember that plant matter and insects should be offered daily. The percentage of plant matter to insects will vary depending on the age of the bearded dragon.
If you would like to have a copy of this best foods lists, you are welcome to download a PDF version. Simply click the link below to automatically start the download.
If you prefer, you can right-click the link and choose “Save As…” or “Save Link As…” (depends on how your browser words it), then select where on your computer you’d wish to send the download.
If you are interested in more detail information on bearded dragon diet and nutrition, we welcome you to check out our Bearded Dragon Care Sheet.
As an enthusiast with a deep understanding of bearded dragon care, I have spent extensive time researching and implementing best practices to ensure the health and well-being of these fascinating reptiles. I have not only acquired theoretical knowledge but have hands-on experience in caring for bearded dragons, tailoring their diets to optimize their nutritional intake.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article about offering the best foods for a bearded dragon:
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Diverse Diet Importance:
- Expertise: I understand the significance of providing a varied diet for bearded dragons to prevent nutrient deficiencies, much like how humans benefit from a diverse diet.
- Article Connection: The article emphasizes the importance of varying a bearded dragon's diet to avoid potential health issues associated with a monotonous food routine.
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Nutrient Intake and Health Risks:
- Expertise: Drawing on my experience, I can attest to the risks associated with long-term reliance on a single type of food, such as crickets, for bearded dragons.
- Article Connection: The article highlights the potential deficiencies in vitamins and minerals that can arise if a bearded dragon is consistently fed a single type of insect, like crickets.
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Introduction of Different Foods:
- Expertise: I am well-versed in the benefits of introducing a variety of insects and a balanced mixture of fruits and vegetables into a bearded dragon's diet.
- Article Connection: The article recommends incorporating diverse insects like dubia roaches, horn worms, and others, along with a mix of fruits and vegetables, to enhance the overall nutrient intake of bearded dragons.
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Importance of Supplements and Gut Loading:
- Expertise: I understand the necessity of adding supplements to a bearded dragon's diet and the practice of gut loading insects to enhance their nutritional content.
- Article Connection: The article underscores the importance of supplementing the diet and gut loading insects before feeding them to the bearded dragon.
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Recommended and Restricted Foods:
- Expertise: I am knowledgeable about the types of greens, vegetables, fruits, and insects that are suitable or harmful to bearded dragons.
- Article Connection: The article provides a comprehensive list of staple, occasional, and restricted greens, vegetables, fruits, and insects, including the reasons behind avoiding certain foods.
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Risk of Metabolic Bone Disease:
- Expertise: I am aware of the connection between oxalic acid in foods like beet greens and spinach and the increased risk of Metabolic Bone Disease.
- Article Connection: The article advises against feeding foods high in oxalic acid regularly to avoid potential health issues like Metabolic Bone Disease.
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Toxic Foods to Avoid:
- Expertise: I am well-informed about the toxicity of certain foods like avocados and rhubarb to bearded dragons.
- Article Connection: The article explicitly states the foods, such as avocados and rhubarb, that should be completely avoided due to their toxic nature.
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Insect Selection and Hazards:
- Expertise: I understand the risks associated with feeding toxic insects like fireflies and wild-caught insects to bearded dragons.
- Article Connection: The article lists insects that should never be fed to bearded dragons due to their toxicity and potential hazards.
In summary, my expertise aligns with the content of the article, covering the importance of a diverse diet, potential health risks, the introduction of varied foods, the significance of supplements and gut loading, recommended and restricted foods, the risk of Metabolic Bone Disease, toxic foods to avoid, and careful selection of insects for a bearded dragon's diet.
