Bearded Dragon Food Database

Free Resource

Bearded Dragon Food Database

Search and filter 72 foods by category and safety rating. Every entry includes Ca:P ratio, feeding frequency, and keeper notes.

Showing 72 foods
Safety:
Food Category Safety Ca:P Ratio Notes
Dubia Roaches
InsectsDaily
High
Best staple feeder. Excellent protein-to-fat ratio, no smell, can’t climb.
Black Soldier Fly Larvae
BSFL, Phoenix Worms, Calci-Worms
InsectsDaily
Very High
Naturally high calcium — reduces dusting needs. Soft-bodied, great for babies.
Crickets
InsectsDaily
Medium
Widely available staple. Remove uneaten crickets immediately — they bite.
Discoid Roaches
InsectsDaily
High
Near-identical to dubias. Legal alternative in Florida and Hawaii.
Hornworms
Tobacco/Tomato Hornworm
InsectsOccasional
Low
Very high moisture — great for hydration. Low protein; use as treat or supplement.
Silkworms
InsectsOccasional
High
Highly nutritious, soft-bodied, high calcium. Expensive; require special food.
Mealworms
InsectsSparingly
Poor
Hard chitin = impaction risk for juveniles. High fat, poor Ca:P. Adults only, rarely.
Superworms
Morio Worms
InsectsSparingly
Poor
Very high fat. Adults only, 1–2 per week max. Never for hatchlings or juveniles.
Wax Worms
InsectsSparingly
Poor
Extremely fatty — like candy. Use only to entice picky eaters or hide medication.
Butterworms
Tebos
InsectsSparingly
Low
Fatty treat feeder. Better Ca:P than wax worms but still a treat only.
Earthworms
Red Wigglers
InsectsOccasional
Medium
Gut-loaded store-bought only. High moisture. Never wild-caught.
Wild-Caught Insects
Any insects from outside
AvoidToxic—
Never feed. Risk: pesticides, parasites, toxic species (fireflies are deadly).
Fireflies
Lightning Bugs
AvoidToxic—
DEADLY. Contain lucibufagins toxic to bearded dragons. A single firefly can kill.
Collard Greens
GreensDaily
14.5:1
Gold standard daily green. Very high calcium, great Ca:P ratio.
Turnip Greens
GreensDaily
4.5:1
High in calcium and vitamin A. Excellent daily staple.
Mustard Greens
GreensDaily
2.4:1
Peppery flavour that most beardies enjoy. Great Ca:P ratio.
Dandelion Greens
GreensDaily
2.8:1
Extremely nutritious. Beardies love them. Use pesticide-free.
Endive
Escarole, Belgian Endive
GreensDaily
1.9:1
Mild flavour, high water content. Excellent daily rotation.
Watercress
GreensDaily
2.0:1
Calcium-rich and nutritious. Slightly peppery.
Bok Choy
Pak Choi, Chinese Cabbage
GreensOccasional
2.8:1
Good Ca:P, but a brassica like kale: once or twice a week.
Arugula
Rocket
GreensDaily
3.1:1
Good Ca:P, distinct flavour. Part of a varied rotation.
Kale
Curly Kale, Lacinato
GreensOccasional
2.4:1
Good Ca:P but high in goitrogens — can affect thyroid if fed daily.
Beet Greens
GreensOccasional
2.7:1
Contains oxalates. Limit to once weekly.
Swiss Chard
Rainbow Chard
GreensOccasional
1.8:1
High oxalates bind calcium. Once weekly maximum.
Parsley
GreensOccasional
2.5:1
High in oxalates and goitrogens in large amounts. Small quantities fine.
Cilantro
Coriander Leaves
GreensOccasional
1.4:1
Good variety food. Moderate Ca:P — don’t use as a staple.
Spinach
Baby Spinach
GreensSparingly
1.0:1
Very high oxalates actively bind calcium. Occasional tiny amounts only.
Iceberg Lettuce
AvoidToxic
0.6:1
Almost zero nutrition. High water content causes diarrhea. Not worth feeding.
Romaine Lettuce
AvoidAvoid
0.6:1
Minimal nutritional value. Not toxic but nutritionally empty — skip it.
Butternut Squash
VegetablesDaily
1.5:1
Great daily vegetable. High vitamin A and beta-carotene.
Acorn Squash
VegetablesOccasional
0.9:1
Calcium and phosphorus about even. Most beardies enjoy it raw and shredded; rotate it in 2–3 times a week.
Yellow Squash
Summer Squash
VegetablesOccasional
0.7:1
Mild and hydrating, but phosphorus edges out calcium. A good 2–3 times a week rotation vegetable.
Zucchini
Courgette
VegetablesSparingly
0.4:1
Mostly water, with more than twice as much phosphorus as calcium. Once every week or two at most; yellow squash is the better swap.
Bell Peppers
Capsicum
VegetablesDaily
0.9:1
Red and yellow best — highest vitamin C and appeal. Green slightly bitter.
Green Beans
French Beans
VegetablesOccasional
1.0:1
Decent nutrition, good variety. Chop finely for small beardies.
Snap Peas
Sugar Snap Peas
VegetablesOccasional
0.7:1
Good vitamin C. Remove strings; chop into small pieces.
Okra
Ladies’ Fingers
VegetablesOccasional
1.5:1
Decent Ca:P, high fibre. Slice thinly to serve.
Asparagus
VegetablesOccasional
0.7:1
Good vitamins. Remove tough ends; chop small.
Cactus Pads
Nopales
VegetablesDaily
Very High
Excellent calcium source. Remove spines before serving. Often hard to find.
Carrots
VegetablesOccasional
0.5:1
High in beta-carotene but also sugars. Grate finely. Don’t overfeed.
Sweet Potato
Yam
VegetablesOccasional
0.8:1
High sugar and oxalates. Useful as variety. Raw only, not cooked.
Cucumber
VegetablesOccasional
0.5:1
Mostly water. Hydrating but low nutrition. Use sparingly.
Broccoli
VegetablesSparingly
1.5:1
High goitrogens can affect thyroid function if fed frequently. Small amounts only.
Avocado
AvoidToxic—
TOXIC. Contains persin — toxic to most animals including bearded dragons.
Onions
Garlic, Chives, Leeks
AvoidToxic—
TOXIC. All allium family members cause hemolytic anemia.
Rhubarb
AvoidToxic—
TOXIC. Extremely high oxalic acid. Fatal in small amounts.
Mushrooms
AvoidToxic—
Avoid all. Too many toxic varieties to risk. No nutritional benefit worth the risk.
Beets
Beetroot
VegetablesSparingly
0.9:1
High in oxalates and sugar. Very occasional only.
Corn
Sweetcorn
VegetablesSparingly
0.4:1
High sugar and phosphorus. Poor Ca:P. Occasional variety use only.
Blueberries
FruitsOccasional
1.3:1
One of the best fruit choices. Antioxidants and decent Ca:P. 3–4 berries max.
Raspberries
FruitsOccasional
1.2:1
Good Ca:P for a fruit. High in fibre. Feed a few at a time.
Blackberries
FruitsOccasional
1.4:1
Good Ca:P ratio. Antioxidant-rich. Feed in moderation.
Strawberries
FruitsOccasional
0.6:1
Most beardies love them. High sugar — chop small, feed occasionally.
Mango
FruitsOccasional
0.6:1
High vitamin A and C. Remove skin and pit; chop finely.
Papaya
Pawpaw
FruitsOccasional
0.7:1
Good digestive enzymes. Remove seeds and skin. Good variety treat.
Watermelon
FruitsOccasional
0.5:1
Mostly water — great for hydration in summer. Remove seeds.
Cantaloupe
Rockmelon
FruitsOccasional
0.8:1
High vitamin A. Remove seeds and rind.
Apple
FruitsOccasional
0.5:1
Remove skin and ALL seeds (contain cyanide). Small pieces only.
Pear
FruitsOccasional
0.7:1
Peel before serving. High sugar — feed in small amounts.
Figs
Fresh Figs
FruitsOccasional
2.5:1
One of the best fruit options for calcium. Excellent Ca:P. Expensive but worth it.
Banana
FruitsSparingly
0.3:1
Very high phosphorus throws off Ca:P balance. Occasional small amount only.
Grapes
FruitsSparingly
0.5:1
High oxalates and sugar. Many keepers avoid entirely. Halved only.
Kiwi
Kiwifruit
FruitsSparingly
0.8:1
High oxalates. Peel completely; small amounts occasionally.
Peach
Nectarine
FruitsSparingly
0.5:1
High sugar. Remove pit — it contains cyanide compounds.
Citrus Fruits
Oranges, Lemons, Limes, Grapefruit
AvoidToxic—
Too acidic — causes digestive upset and mouth irritation.
Pineapple
AvoidToxic—
Too acidic. The enzymes can cause mouth irritation.
Dandelion Flowers
GreensDaily
High
Beardies love the bright yellow flowers. Ensure pesticide-free.
Hibiscus Flowers
GreensDaily
Medium
Edible flower beardies enjoy. Safe and nutritious. Use pesticide-free.
Rose Petals
GreensOccasional
Medium
Pesticide-free only. A favourite treat for many beardies.
Eggplant
Aubergine
AvoidToxic—
High in oxalic acid and solanine. Avoid entirely.
Dairy Products
Cheese, Milk, Yogurt
AvoidToxic—
Reptiles cannot digest lactose. Never feed any dairy.
Meat (Cooked)
Chicken, Beef, Fish
AvoidToxic—
Too high in fat and protein for reptile kidneys. Not a natural food.
Key: Daily Feed freely Occasional 2–3× /week Sparingly 1× /week max Avoid Not recommended Toxic Never feed
Want feeding schedules too? Our complete diet guide covers exactly what to feed at every age — and our care guide has the full new-owner overview.