What Do Baby Bearded Dragons Eat? –
Feeding Baby Bearded Dragons

Dr. Abdul Basit Javed, DVM

July 14, 2022

Baby bearded dragons are omnivores as soon as they are born. The diet of a baby bearded dragon is the opposite of that of a grown-up bearded dragon. Baby beardies need to consume more protein and fat to allow themselves to grow bigger in a brief period. They also need to eat more frequently than adult beardies. 

The feeding and nourishment which your spiky pet will acquire during this period will determine its health and lifespan in the future.
– Dr. Abdul Basit Javed, DVM

Baby bearded dragons are predominantly insect eaters and about 80% of their diet during this age (0-6 months) comprises insects. The remaining 20% includes different vegetables and greens, which they eat to obtain essential vitamins, minerals, water, and other nutrients. 

Baby beardies grow very quickly, and it is vital to provide them with suitable food at the recommended intervals during this phase of their life. It can sometimes be challenging to take care and feed a baby bearded dragon but don’t worry; we are here to assist you. Our article will provide answers to all of your questions like what baby beardies eat, how much they eat, how often to feed them, and many more, so read on. 

Baby bearded dragons have to be fed a combination of insects, greens, and veggies added with calcium and vitamin supplements to promote skeletal development and muscle growth.

Due to their fast metabolism, they need to eat multiple times a day. Rather than an adult who eats one meal per day, a baby bearded dragon requires 4 to 5 meals in a single day to support its rapid growth.

As soon as they hatch, baby bearded dragons are responsible for their food and are fully self-dependent. However, in captivity, it is the responsibility of its owner to feed the baby bearded dragon the best diet possible because baby beardies cannot forage for food and prey on insects while living in a glass enclosure. 

Never overfeed or underfeed your pet, and always follow the advice of experts regarding feeding.
– Dr. Abdul Basit Javed, DVM

The responsibility of feeding a baby bearded dragon is entirely on the shoulders of its owners, and they must commit to this responsibility because the feeding and nourishment which your spiky pet will acquire during this period will determine its health and lifespan in the future.

Baby bearded dragons that are appropriately fed display good development, are less prone to metabolic disorders and can live up to 6 to 10 years and even more. The diet plan of a baby bearded dragon is explained below.

As a general rule, insects constitute about 75 to 80 % of a baby bearded dragon’s diet. Baby beardies can consume different kinds of insects if they are small enough to fit in their mouths. Insects provide baby beardies with essential protein and fat, which allows them to grow fast and reach a bigger size. 

Acquiring a bigger size is important for their survival in the wild because it means that fewer predators will try to attack them. This naturalurge to gain size persists even when they are in captivity. 

Black soldier fly larvae

Black soldier fly larvae are a perfect staple for baby bearded dragons due to their tiny size and ideal phosphorus to calcium ratio.

Because of their exceptional nutritional profile, you don’t have to add additional supplements while feeding black soldier fly larvae. They are readily available, and baby beardies love to gobble them up. Keep offering larvae until the baby bearded dragon is full and doesn’t want more food.

We recommend these Josh’s Frogs Black Soldier Fly Larvae

Dubia roaches

Dubia roaches are one of the safest feeder insects that you can give to your baby beardie. Dubia roaches should be preferred over other types of roaches because they contain fewer parasites and disease-causing microbes. They are also rich in calcium and protein while being low in fat. A baby bearded dragon can consume 25 to 50 of these insects daily, distributed in 4-5 feedings.

You can easily order your dubia roaches from Amazon

Crickets 

Most readily available insects in the market are loaded with protein. A baby bearded dragon can devour up to 20 to 40 crickets per day. Make sure the crickets you feed are alive and small in size so your scaly pet can effortlessly ingest them. Offer crickets for 10 minutes every 3 hours, allowing your baby pet to eat as many crickets as it can in that time. Generally, they will consume about 10 insects during one feed.

The insects you feed your beardie need to be smaller than the space between their eyes. Josh’s Frogs has crickets available in different sizes, so you can choose the proper size for your pet. You can find them here.

Horned worms (goliath worms)

Baby beardies can also eat horned worms. They will eat 20 to 50 of these insects per day. Same as crickets, these insects should be provided during a 10 minutes feeding window multiple times a day (4-5 times). These insects offer satisfactory nourishment to baby beardies. 

Josh’s Frogs also delivers live hornworms, which can be ordered online.

Butterworms

These grubs are a popular food choice for baby beardies in different parts of the world, depending upon their availability. Their yellowish color and constant jiggling movements make them look appetizing to baby bearded dragons. They contain plenty of calcium and protein.

This is our favorite: Josh’s Frogs Butterworms

Veggies and greens are just as important as insects for baby beardies. 

This is because many minerals and vitamins can only be obtained from veggies and greens. They are also a source of water for baby beardies to keep them hydrated.

They should be regularly fed to baby bearded dragons when they are young to develop their taste for veggies because as they grow, most of their diet will be plant-based. You can feed veggies and greens to your pet every other day. 

Some greens can be fed as a staple every day, but until bearded dragons are fully grown, insects are the main priority in their diet.

However, there are some veggies and greens that you should avoid feeding your baby beardies because they can induce harm to them. Some of the ones you can safely feed your spiky pet are listed below. 

Vet’s Tip

Veggies or greens should be thoroughly rinsed to remove dirt or any chemicals and diced into bite-size pieces before feeding.

Vegetables

Here are examples of vegetables baby beardies can eat. You should keep rotating different foods to offer a varied and balanced diet. Feed veggies 2 to 3 times a week in little quantities to avoid any problems. 

• Peas
• Bell peppers
• Asparagus
• Artichoke hearts 
• Squash
• Zucchini 
• Cabbage
• Carrots 
• Sweet potato 
• Green beans 

Greens

You can feed the following greens alongside veggies to baby beardies but only in recommended quantities because some of them can cause digestive issues. 

• Collard greens
• Mustard greens 
• Dandelion greens
• Kale 
• Turnip greens 

A detailed explanation of vegetables and greens:

What greens can bearded dragons eat?

What vegetables can bearded dragons eat?

Baby beardies can eat fruits as occasional treats. They cannot be fed to babies frequently due to their high water and sugar content. Occasional feeding causes no harm and provides your baby bearded dragon with minerals and vitamins, but when fed too often will provide too much sugar and water.

Fruits are also a good source of energy. Some of the fruits that can be consumed by baby beardies are:

● Figs

● Apples

● Blackberries

● Blueberries

● Pears

● Grapes

● Peaches

● Melon 

If the diet you are feeding your baby bearded dragon is poor in calcium and vitamins, or you cannot feed fresh greens to your pet, then you can add supplements to the feed. 

Even if the feed is good, you should still add vitamin AD3 and calcium supplements because baby beardies can easily lack calcium which can lead to bone disorders. 

Sprinkle the supplement powder on the feed 2 to 3 times per week if your feed quality is good, and if you think that your feed lacks calcium and vitamins or it isn’t fresh, then daily supplementation is required. RepCal is a widely used supplement powder for reptiles. 

Owners often want a list of foods they can give their beardies. Here are some of the most common ones:

What Vegetables Do Baby Bearded Dragons Eat?

• Peas
• Cucumber
• Bell peppers
• Asparagus
• Artichoke hearts 
• Squash
• Zucchini 
• Cabbage
• Carrots 
• Squash
• Sweet potato 
• Green beans
• Broccoli

What Fruit Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat?

• Figs
• Apples
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Pears
• Grapes
• Peaches
• Melon 
• Strawberries
• Bananas
• Papayas
• Plums
• Mangos

What Insects Do Baby Bearded Dragons Eat?

• Black soldier fly larvae
• Dubai roaches
• Crickets
• Small locusts
• Horned worms
• Butter worms 
• Earthworms (little nutritional value)

How and how often are the most common questions asked by baby bearded dragon owners. Answers to these questions are particularly important because overfeeding or underfeeding can both cause health issues in beardies. 

How Much Do Baby Bearded Dragons Eat?

The amount of food required by baby beardies each day is difficult to estimate in terms of weight, so the best solution is to allow your baby bearded dragon to eat as much food as it can eat in 10 to 15 minutes, depending upon the type of food and pace of eating. 

How Often Do Baby Bearded Dragons Eat?

Baby beardies have a fast metabolism which enables them to grow rapidly. To support their metabolism, baby bearded dragons need to eat frequently. Ideally, you should feed your baby pet every 3 hours 4 to 5 times a day. Underfeeding can slow down their growth. 

A baby bearded dragon can eat a variety of foods, but most of its diet is composed of insects. Always try to feed live insects because they are more appealing to beardies.

Veggies, greens, and fruits should be fed fresh. If you are feeding cooked, canned or frozen veggies or greens, make sure they are free from preservatives and flavors. Diet during this age will decide the future health of your pet.

Vet’s Comment

A healthy diet plays a very important role in the life of not only humans but also animals, including baby bearded dragons. Baby beardies are tough animals, but if you don’t feed them properly and neglect the importance of a good diet, your pet can suffer from many diseases and disorders, with MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease) being the most common one which occurs due to lack of calcium in the diet.

Feed your baby bearded dragon regularly, as skipping meals can negatively affect its growth. Never overfeed or underfeed your pet, and always follow the advice of experts regarding feeding. 

– Dr. Abdul Basit Javed, DVM