Once you know what your pet can eat, the next logical question is: "How often should I feed my bearded dragon?"

It is a common source of anxiety for new owners. Feed them too little, and their growth might be stunted. Feed them too much, and you risk obesity and organ failure. To make matters more complicated, the "perfect schedule" changes drastically as your dragon grows from a hatchling into a lazy adult.

As we explain in our Ultimate Bearded Dragon Care Guide, replicating their natural availability of food is key to a long life. In the wild, babies have to hunt constantly to grow, while adults spend more time grazing.

This guide breaks down the exact feeding schedule you need to follow for every stage of your dragon's life.

The Baby Feeding Schedule (0 – 6 Months)

The "Power Growth" Phase

Baby bearded dragons have incredibly high metabolisms. They are growing rapidly and need a massive amount of protein to support bone and muscle development. During this stage, your primary focus is live insects.

• Insect Frequency: 3 to 5 times per day.
• Vegetable Frequency: Available daily (even if they ignore it).
• Ratio: 80% Insects / 20% Vegetables.

How to feed babies: Use the "10-Minute Rule." At each feeding session (morning, noon, and late afternoon), offer as many appropriately sized insects as your dragon can eat in a 10–15 minute window. Once the time is up, remove the leftovers to keep the tank clean.

Note: A healthy baby can easily put away 30–60 small crickets or roaches per day. This is normal!

The Juvenile Feeding Schedule (6 – 12 Months)

The Transition Phase

As your dragon approaches the one-year mark, their growth slows down. They are essentially "teenagers." If you keep feeding them like babies, they will get overweight quickly. You need to start tapering off the bug protein and encouraging them to eat their greens.

• Insect Frequency: 2 times per day (gradually dropping to 1).
• Vegetable Frequency: Daily (Essential).
• Ratio: 50% Insects / 50% Vegetables.

This is often the hardest phase for owners because dragons can be stubborn. If they refuse their salad, try offering the greens first in the morning when they are hungriest, and save the bugs for the afternoon.

The Adult Feeding Schedule (12+ Months)

The Maintenance Phase

Congratulations, your dragon is fully grown! Now, the goal shifts from "growth" to "maintenance." Adult bearded dragons are prone to obesity in captivity because they don't get as much exercise as wild dragons.

You must flip the script: Their diet should now be mostly plants.

• Vegetable Frequency: Daily fresh salad.
• Insect Frequency: 2 to 3 times per week (NOT daily).
• Ratio: 80% Vegetables / 20% Insects.

On "bug days," you can offer roughly 10–20 insects depending on the size of the feeder. On the days in between, they should stick to the safe greens listed in our Ultimate Food List.

Two Critical Rules for Safety

Regardless of age, there are two safety rules you must always follow to prevent illness or impaction (blockage in the digestive tract).

1. The "Space Between the Eyes" Rule

Never feed your dragon anything bigger than the space between their eyes. This applies to both insects and chunks of fruit or veg. If a cricket is wider than that space, it can press against the dragon's spine during swallowing and cause paralysis or choking.

2. The "Lights Out" Rule

Bearded dragons need heat to digest their food.

• Never feed your dragon right before bed.
• Make sure their basking light stays on for at least 2 hours after their last meal. If they eat and immediately go to sleep in the cold, the food can rot in their stomach.

Don't Forget Supplements!

A schedule isn't just about food; it's about vitamins too. Without Calcium and Vitamin D3, dragons can develop Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD), which is painful and irreversible.

• Calcium (No D3): Dust insects at almost every feeding for babies; 3-4 times a week for adults.
• Multivitamín (with D3): Dust once a week.

Summary

Sticking to a schedule is the best way to monitor your dragon's health. If an avid eater suddenly skips meals for several days, you'll know something is wrong immediately.

Remember:

• Babies: Bugs all day, every day.
• Adults: Salad every day, bugs only a few times a week.

Not sure what specific bugs or greens to buy for this schedule? Check out our Ultimate Bearded Dragon Food List for a complete breakdown of safe ingredients.