What greens can bearded dragons eat?

If you’re wondering “What greens can bearded dragons eat?” our guide below provides full lists of vegetables that bearded dragons can eat daily, weekly, and monthly. As well, we break down what veggies bearded dragons should never eat. 

What greens can bearded dragons eat?

Daily: What veg can bearded dragons eat?

These vegetables are wonderful for bearded dragons, and can be fed to them daily or every two days. 

• Collard greens
• Bok Choy 
• Kale
• Cabbage 
• Green beans 
• Dandelion 
• Bell Peppers 
• Mustard greens
• Arugula

A few times a week: What veggies can bearded dragons eat?

These vegetables are nutritious for bearded dragons, but not ideal for daily feeding. 

• Acorn squash 
• Butternut squash 
• Spaghetti squash 
• Cucumber 
• Peas 
• Corn 
• Okra 

Two times a month or less: Vegetables for bearded dragons

The below list has vegetables with a relatively high amount of phosphorus, sugar, or fat. Because of that, they should be given to your beardie in small amounts only on occasion. 

• Zucchini
• Pumpkin 
• Sweet potatoes 
• Bean sprouts 
• Lettuce (low nutritional value) 
• Tomatoes (while they are technically a fruit, many people consider them a vegetable in the culinary sense, so they’re includes on the list here) 

It’s best to avoid feeding your bearded dragon these greens: 

While the vegetables on this list can be fed to bearded dragons, it’s best to avoid feeding it to them. They generally provide very little nutritional value for your beardie. 

• Olives 
• Spinach
• Broccoli 

Never feed these vegetables to your bearded dragon: 

The below vegetables are too risky to give to your dragon. It could cause a reaction and hurt them. 

• Mushrooms 
• Onions
• Garlic
• Avocados (although technically a fruit, many people consider them vegetables)  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): What veggies do bearded dragons eat?

Can bearded dragons eat collard greens everyday?

Yes, bearded dragons can eat collard greens everyday. They are highly nutritious for them and will keep your dragon in good health.

Can bearded dragons eat romaine lettuce?

Lettuce in general provides very little nutritional value to bearded dragons, so give it to them occasionally. However, of all the lettuce types, romaine is one of the more nutritious varieties so if you must feed them lettuce, romaine lettuce is a good option. 

Can bearded dragons eat arugula?

Yes, bearded dragons can eat arugula. It is safe and very healthy for bearded dragons to eat arugula, despite its sharp bitter taste. 

Can bearded dragons eat celery?

Bearded dragons can eat celery, every few days or so. While celery provides fiber and some calcium, it isn’t the most nutritious vegetable to feed to your bearded dragon daily. 

Can bearded dragons eat spinach?

While bearded dragons can eat spinach, it shouldn’t be a vegetable that’s a daily staple for them. There are much better vegetables for bearded dragons to eat regularly. 

What is a bearded dragon’s favorite food?

Bearded dragon’s favorite food would have to be live bugs, which is typically crickets or roaches. 

Foods bearded dragons can eat: 

If you’re wondering what you should feed a bearded dragon, read our guidelines below. Bearded dragons are insectivores, which just means they thrive on insects as well as plant materials.  

If you have a juvenile bearded dragon (between six and eighteen months old), give them about 80% vegetables and 20% live insects. 

As your bearded dragon transitions into adulthood, give them the inverse, so 20% plant materials and 80% insects. 

Getting your bearded dragon calcium: 

Calcium is especially vital to a bearded dragon, especially a young one that is still growing. There are several ways to introduce more calcium into your beardie’s diet: 

• Add in more high calcium vegetables like dandelions, bok choy, and collard greens. 
• Dust calcium powder over their insects and vegetables to increase calcium levels. 
• Make sure they’re getting their 12 hours of UVB exposure as they need this light to be able to properly absorb nutrients. 

Insects to feed your bearded dragon: 

• Crickets 
• Kingworms 
• Waxworms 
• See our full guides to insects you can feed your bearded dragon and worms to feed your bearded dragon 

Quick note: Live insects raised by you or bought from the pet store are best because they’re definitely pesticide free. 

How often should you feed a bearded dragon?

During the first 3-6 months of your beardie’s life, try to feed them four to five times a day by giving them as many insects as they’d like in 10 minutes. They’re growing and need lots of protein during this stage. 

Reduce the number of feedings to about two to three times a day when they’re growing into their juvenile years (between six and eighteen months). 

As they become an adult, you can feed them once daily. 

What should a bearded dragon not eat? 

Avoid feeding your bearded dragon: 

• Onions 
• Leeks 
• Chives 
• Mushrooms
• Garlic
• Acidic fruit like oranges, lemons
• Rhubarb (can be toxic to them) 
• Avocados (surprisingly, these make them ill) 
• Eggplant
• Insects caught in the wild (there may be pesticides covering them) 
• Venomous insects 
• Dairy of any kind
• Rice and grains of any kind
• Frogs or toads
• Ham or other processed meats 

Recap: What leafy greens can bearded dragons eat?

• Bearded dragons should eat greens everyday. Adults should eat 80% greens and growing bearded dragons should eat 20 to 30% of their diet in vegetables. The rest should be insects. 
• Make sure to feed them vegetables high in calcium and low in phosphorus. 

For our full list of food to feed a bearded dragon, see our guide here. 

Related articles: 

• What herbs can bearded dragons eat?
• What flowers can bearded dragons eat?
• Can bearded dragons eat berries?