Baby Bearded Dragon Diet: What Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat?

what can baby bearded dragons eat

If you recently adopted a Bearded Dragon, then congratulations! However, if you have a baby Beardie, then you may be wondering, what can baby Bearded Dragons eat? Don’t worry; we answer that question and more in this article.

what can baby bearded dragons eat

First, we’ll discuss the growth of Bearded Dragons and then dive into how much and how often baby Beardies should eat. In addition, we’ll talk about their digestion process and give an example baby Bearded Dragon feeding schedule. Finally, we’ll share a list of diet options for your baby Beardie ranging from insects, fruits and vegetables.

What Are Baby Bearded Dragons?

Bearded Dragons, also known as Beardies, are friendly, social lizards. They’re an excellent pet to have for an adult or a child (with adult supervision). Beardies can grow up to 24 inches long and have an average lifespan of 10-15 years. So with proper care, you and your Beardie will have a long, happy life together.

However, the care changes depending on the age and size of your Beardie. For example, baby Bearded Dragons have a different diet than adult Bearded Dragons. 

How Old Is A Bearded Dragon When It Becomes An Adult?

A Bearded Dragon is considered a baby from birth until about six months of age. Then, your Beardie is considered a juvenile from 6 to 12 months, or one year.

As soon as your Beardie becomes a year old, they’re considered an adult Bearded Dragon.

In other words, your Beardie’s growth and development are super significant during the first year of their life. After that, they’ll rapidly grow during the first few months.

Once they reach maturity at the age of eight months, your Beardie may stop growing. However, depending on their care and diet, they could grow a few more inches.

Take a look at the Bearded Dragon growth chart below to see for yourself.

Bearded Dragon AgeBearded Dragon Size
1 Month3 – 4 inches
2 Months5 – 9 inches
3 Months8 – 11 inches
4 Months9 – 12 inches
5 Months11 – 16 inches
6 Months11 – 18 inches
7 Months13 – 18 inches
8 Months14 – 20 inches
9 Months16 – 22 inches
10 Months16 – 22 inches
11 Months16 – 24 inches
12 Months16 – 24 inches

Bearded Dragons can grow to be between 16 to 24 inches long as an adult. Their growth will partially depend on what you feed them. 

So, what do baby Bearded Dragons eat? First, let’s talk about some baby Bearded Dragon food to give to your lizard.

What Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat?

Bearded Dragons are omnivores, which means they enjoy plant vegetation and live food.

At a young age, feeding baby Bearded Dragons should consist of 70% insects and 30% veggies. Feel free to sprinkle in some fruit now and then as a treat.

So, what can a baby Bearded Dragon eat?

Best Food for Baby Bearded Dragons

The best diet for baby Bearded Dragons is to feed them more live food than vegetation. This is where they’ll get the majority of the nutrients they need to grow and develop properly.

However, be mindful of the type of insects you feed your baby Beardie. If the insect is bigger than your lizard’s head, then it may pose a choking hazard. So, it’s best to avoid those bugs and stick with smaller ones.

Also, count how many insects you place in the live feeder so you can know how much your baby ate.

There are a lot of vegetables, insects, and even fruit that you can feed your baby Bearded Dragon.

However, certain foods need to be given in small amounts and moderation. Always talk to your Beardie’s veterinarian before trying new foods with your lizard.

How Much Does A Baby Bearded Dragon Eat?

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Baby Bearded Dragons should eat as much food as they can consume within 10 to 15 minutes, about three to five times per day.

In addition, about 70% of their diet should be live food while the other 30% should be vegetables or dark leafy greens. You can also give them a little bit of fruit now and then.

How Often Do Baby Bearded Dragons Eat?

Now that we know how much a baby Beardie can eat, how often should baby Bearded Dragons eat?

Within the first 12 months of their life, baby Bearded Dragons will grow to be about 90% of their final size. This means they’re going to need a lot of food to help them grow and develop.

You can count on feeding your baby Beardie at least three times per day. Some days, it might be four or five times per day.

Each baby Bearded Dragon feeding should consist of enough food for your baby lizard to consume within 10 to 15 minutes. 

Since they need more insects than vegetables, you can count on your baby Beardie to eat about 20 to 60 insects per day.

Do Baby Bearded Dragons Drink Water?

Baby Bearded Dragons do drink water. But, of course, they’ll drink water at any age.

However, Beardies come from Australia and are used to desert terrains. They can’t always get to a water source in the wild, so they’re used to adapting without water.

Luckily, they’re not in the wild when you have one as a pet.

They’ll get water through the insects they eat. Also, you can mist their veggies, so they get a little water content from them. On the other hand, fruit is often high in water content, so little bits of fruit can help.

Regardless, a small bowl of water should always be available for your Beardie. This way, they can hydrate when they need to. The water should always be fresh and should be changed at least once or twice a day.

How To Get A Baby Bearded Dragon To Eat

There are a few reasons why a baby Beardie might not want to eat. For instance, they could be stressed, shedding, or sick.

Alternatively, they could be picky. For example, most Beardies love fruits and vegetables, but some might pick and choose what they want to eat.

If you’re worried they’re not eating enough vegetables, then you can trick them into eating more.

For instance, chop the fruit and/or vegetables into fine pieces and place a couple of your Beardie’s favorite insects on top.

Most of the time, your Beardie will gobble up the insect, grabbing some of the other food without realizing it. 

Example Juvenile Bearded Dragon Diet

As your Beadie grows into a juvenile Bearded Dragon, you’ll still want to feed them a couple of times per day. But, remember only to give them as much food as they can eat within 10 to 15 minutes.

So, what do juvenile Bearded Dragons eat? Feeding juvenile Bearded Dragons are similar to feeding baby Beardies.

For example, you can take a look at the example juvenile Bearded Dragon food chart below.

Time Of DayInsectsFruits And Vegetables
6 am10 small cricketsFinely chopped variety of 2 – 3 vegetables with a sprinkle of fruit
9 pm10 dubia roachesFinely chopped variety of 2 – 3 vegetables with a sprinkle of fruit
12 pm10 small cricketsFinely chopped variety of 2 – 3 vegetables with a sprinkle of fruit
3 pm10 dubia roachesFinely chopped variety of 2 – 3 vegetables with a sprinkle of fruit
6 pm10 small cricketsFinely chopped variety of 2 – 3 vegetables with a sprinkle of fruit

Depending on your schedule, you can play around with the times. However, make sure you feed your Beardie their last meal of the day at least three hours before you turn off the basking lamp for the night. This will allow your juvenile Beardie the proper time to digest their food.

In addition, you can mix and match the insects, fruits, and vegetables for each feeding. Otherwise, your Beardie might get bored of eating the same meal over and over every day.

Also, you only need to feed them at least three times per day. It doesn’t need to be exactly every three hours. Do what’s best for your Bearded Dragon. If you’re unsure, talk to your vet.

Watch this video:

What Food To Avoid In A Baby Bearded Dragon Diet

The baby Bearded Dragon diet list is quite long, but there are still some foods you should avoid altogether.

For example, here are some foods not to feed your baby Bearded Dragon:

  • Avocados
  • Buttercup
  • Elderberry Tulips
  • Insects that glow
  • Ivy
  • Lettuce
  • Mealworms
  • Oak
  • Rhubarb
  • Spinach
  • Wild insects

Can You Overfeed A Baby Bearded Dragon?

Yes, you can overfeed a baby Bearded Dragon. You can overfeed your Beardie no matter how old they are.

Having an obese Bearded Dragon isn’t a good thing since they could get sick.

However, babies are hungry most of the time because they’re growing. So, if you put food in front of them, they’re going to eat it.

If they overeat, then your baby, Beardie, won’t be able to digest it all. Thus, they’ll get sick.

For instance, it’s important only to feed your baby lizard three to five times per day and only give them as much as they can eat within 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure they bask afterward and keep an eye on them.

Do Baby Bearded Dragons Need Heat And Light?

Yes, baby Bearded Dragons need heat and light in their terrarium. This isn’t because they need to be warm. While that’s part of it, the basking light and heat help with their digestion.

For instance, the basking heat lamp is more important to your baby lizard’s health during this stage more so than when they become an adult.

The basking spot helps your Beardie digest their food. So after eating for 10 to 15 minutes, you might find your Bearded Dragon heading over to their basking spot, where they’ll stay for a little while.

The warmth helps them digest their food, thus helping them grow and develop correctly.

If your baby Bearded Dragon doesn’t get to bask after every meal or has the proper lighting and heat to help them bask, they won’t digest their food.

Then they won’t get the nutrients they need. As a result, they’ll stop growing and could become sick. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What food can a baby Bearded Dragons eat? What fruits and vegetables can baby Bearded Dragons eat?

Below are the answers to our most common questions about bearded dragon baby food.

Do Baby Bearded Dragons Need Dietary Supplements?

Yes, baby Bearded Dragons do need dietary supplements. You should give supplements to your Beardie at every age. It’s easy for Beardies to lack the calcium they need, so they should receive calcium supplements. In addition, you can give them supplements for vitamin D.

What Fruits Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat?

Fruits should only make up a small portion of your Beardie’s diet, but you can feed your baby Bearded Dragon a little bit of fruit. They’ll enjoy the extra flavor.

So, what fruit can baby Bearded Dragons eat?

  • Apples
  • Blackberries
  • Cherries
  • Cranberries
  • Figs
  • Grapes
  • Melons
  • Peaches
  • Pears
  • Pineapple
  • Plums
  • Strawberries

What Vegetables Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat?

Your Beardie will enjoy some plant food. But what vegetables can a baby Bearded Dragon eat?

You can safely feed your baby Beardie the following vegetables:

  • Artichoke Heart
  • Bell Pepper
  • Bok Choy
  • Butternut Squash
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Green Beans
  • Orca
  • Peas
  • Yellow Squash

Of course, there are plenty of dark leafy greens that your baby Bearded Dragon will happily enjoy.

For example, you can feed your baby Beardie the following greens:

  • Clover
  • Collards
  • Coriander
  • Dandelion Greens
  • Kale
  • Mustard Greens
  • Parsley
  • Rocket
  • Turnip Greens

What Insects Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat?

How Many Mealworms To Feed A Bearded Dragon

Some insects you can provide your baby Beardie are as follows:

  • Butterworms
  • Fruit Flies
  • Locusts
  • Pinhead Crickets
  • Redworms
  • Spiders
  • Wax Worms

Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Baby Spinach?

Unfortunately, no. Baby Beardies cannot eat baby spinach. Baby spinach is full of oxalates. Too much of this and it could make your Beardie seriously sick and possibly kill them. However, there are some benefits to feeding a tiny bit every once in a while.

Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Mealworms?

No, baby Bearded Dragons cannot eat mealworms. Adults can and love mealworms. However, mealworms are nutritious, but they have a hard outer shell that’s difficult for baby Beardies to consume and digest. Thus, it could cause a blockage or be a choking hazard.

Read more about Bearded Dragons and mealworms here.

Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Wax Worms?

Yes, baby Bearded Dragons can eat wax worms, but it should only be a snack once in a while. Wax worms contain calcium, protein and have plenty of moisture content. That’s good, but these insects also are high in fat.

Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Superworms?

Baby Bearded Dragons should not eat superworms. While they’re a great insect for adult Beardies, they can pose some risks for babies. For example, superworms can cause gut impaction, in which not all of the superworm has broken down and sits in their stomach for a while. 

Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Baby Food?

Technically, yes. Baby Beardies can eat human baby food. However, it’s not recommended to give to them as part of their diet. Instead, you can give them a small taste to entice them to eat their food. Otherwise, baby food has too many additives and preservatives that are unsafe for Bearded Dragons to consume.

Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Apples?

Yes, baby Beardies can eat apples. However, it should only be a little bit now and again. This is because apples are high in sugar. Also, be sure to pick out any seeds and peel the apple before sharing it with your baby lizard.

Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Baby Kale?

Yes, baby kale is a good staple to have as part of your baby Beardie’s diet. It’s rich in calcium, which is exactly what they need. However, kale has a bitter taste, so it’ll depend on whether your lizard enjoys it or not.

Read more about Bearded Dragons and kales here.

Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Spinach?

Similar to baby spinach, your baby Beardie can eat spinach. However, it can only be fed in moderation. For example, spinach is high in oxalates, which isn’t good for your Beardie. But, on the other hand, it’s low in sugar and has high calcium to phosphorous ratio.

Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Strawberries?

Yes, baby Bearded Dragons can eat strawberries. However, like apples, this fruit should only be fed in moderation. This is because strawberries are high in sugar and contain more phosphorus than calcium which is the opposite of what your lizard needs.

Read more about Bearded Dragons and strawberries here.

Can Baby Bearded Dragons Eat Watermelon?

Baby Bearded Dragons can only eat watermelon as a rare treat and only a little bit at a time. This is because watermelon doesn’t have any nutritional value for Beardies and is mainly made up of water, which can cause overhydration and dehydration. Also, avoid giving them the seeds.

How Many Crickets Do Baby Bearded Dragons Eat In A Day?

You can expect your baby Beardie to eat about 20 to 40 crickets every day. You can give them a couple of crickets during each feeding throughout the day, so they don’t eat all the crickets at once. 

Conclusion

For the first year, your baby Bearded Dragon will grow and develop at a rapid rate. Of course, a proper diet is key in helping that along.

If you’re unsure what to feed your baby Beardie, talk to your vet about some dieting options. Otherwise, feed your baby lizard bits of insects, fruits, and veggies at a time to see what they like.

Aside from fruits, your beloved baby pet can also munch on insects. Read about all the best insects for your baby bearded dragons here.

Read about the best fruits for bearded dragons here or exactly what not to feed bearded dragons here. Also learn more about Bearded Dragons here. You can find our full guide to how to raise bearded dragons here.

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