Bearded Dragon Care by Age
A bearded dragon care guide by life stage: hatchling, juvenile, adult, and senior diet, feeding frequency, temperatures, calcium needs, and lifespan, all in one place.
A bearded dragon's needs evolve as it grows from a tiny hatchling into a full adult and eventually a senior. The enclosure, UVB, and temperature gradients stay broadly consistent, but diet, feeding frequency, and supplementation change a great deal. Knowing what each life stage requires helps you raise a strong, well-proportioned dragon and avoid common mistakes. This guide covers care from hatchling through the senior years.
Care Essentials by Age
Zoo Med Reptile Calcium with Vitamin D3
Frequent calcium dusting is critical for fast-growing babies and juveniles.
Dubia Roaches 100 Live Dubia Roaches
A protein-rich staple for the insect-heavy diet young dragons need.
Zoo Med T5 HO ReptiSun 10.0 UVB Lamp (2-Pack)
Strong UVB at every life stage so dragons absorb the calcium they eat.
Repashy Repashy Calcium Plus All-in-One
A balanced calcium and multivitamin dust useful across all ages.
Care by life stage at a glance
| Stage | Age | Diet | Feeding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hatchling | 0 to 3 months | ~80% insects | Several times daily |
| Juvenile | 3 to 12 months | ~70% insects | 1 to 2 times daily |
| Adult | 12 to 18+ months | ~80% greens | Insects a few times weekly |
| Senior | ~7+ years | ~80% greens, adjusted | Reduced, monitored |
Hatchlings and young juveniles
The first months are all about growth. Hatchlings and young juveniles eat mostly insects, around 80 percent protein, fed several times a day, with finely chopped greens offered daily so they develop the habit. Dust feeders with calcium at nearly every feeding and use a multivitamin on schedule, since babies are building their entire skeleton fast and are most at risk of metabolic bone disease. Keep feeders no wider than the space between the dragon's eyes to prevent impaction.
Juveniles
As the dragon grows, taper insect feedings to once or twice a day while gradually increasing the variety and amount of greens. Juveniles are still growing and need plenty of protein, but this is the stage where you begin steering them toward more plants. Continue regular calcium dusting and proper UVB. A juvenile in a roomy, well-furnished enclosure with correct temperatures will be active, alert, and eating well.
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Adults
Around 12 to 18 months, growth slows and the diet flips: adults eat roughly 80 percent greens and vegetables with insects only a few times a week. Overfeeding insects to an adult is a common mistake that leads to obesity and fatty liver disease, so make a varied salad the daily staple and treat insects as supplements. Calcium is still needed but less often than for babies. Maintain a basking spot of 95 to 110F, a cool side of 75 to 85F, and strong UVB.
Temperatures across ages
Temperatures stay nearly constant, with babies running slightly hotter. Juveniles do well with a basking surface up to around 110F, while adults sit at 95 to 110F. All ages need a cool side of 75 to 85F to thermoregulate and no night heat if the room stays above the mid 60s. Measure with a digital probe thermometer at the basking surface, and keep proper UVB at the correct distance regardless of age so the dragon can use its dietary calcium.
Senior dragons
Bearded dragons commonly live 8 to 12 years and sometimes longer with good care. Older dragons often slow down, bask more, and eat a little less, so monitor weight and appetite, keep the enclosure easy to navigate, and adjust the diet to a less active metabolism to prevent obesity. Maintain correct UVB and temperatures, and schedule regular vet checkups, since early detection of age-related issues matters more as a dragon ages. Gentle handling and a stable environment keep a senior content.
Final thoughts
Match your care to your dragon's life stage: feed babies an insect-heavy diet several times a day with frequent calcium, transition gradually to a greens-heavy adult diet, and monitor seniors closely. Keep UVB strong and temperatures correct throughout, and treat your dragon as the long-term companion it is. Getting age-appropriate care right is the surest way to give your bearded dragon a long, healthy, happy life.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does bearded dragon care change with age?
Care changes most in diet and feeding frequency. Hatchlings and juveniles eat mostly insects, around 80 percent protein, fed several times a day with frequent calcium to fuel rapid growth. Adults flip to about 80 percent greens with occasional insects, fed far less often. Babies bask a little hotter and need a well-cluttered enclosure for security, while seniors may slow down and need extra monitoring. Enclosure size, UVB, and temperature gradients stay broadly consistent across all ages.
What do I feed a baby bearded dragon?
Feed a baby bearded dragon mostly appropriately sized insects, such as small dubia roaches or crickets, several times a day, alongside finely chopped greens offered daily. Dust feeders with calcium at nearly every feeding and use a multivitamin on schedule. Never offer prey wider than the space between the dragon's eyes, since oversized insects cause impaction. Babies grow fast and need this protein-rich diet, so let them eat as many properly sized insects as they want in a 10 to 15 minute window.
When should I switch my bearded dragon to more greens?
Begin shifting the diet toward greens as growth slows, generally between about 12 and 18 months as the dragon approaches adulthood. The change is gradual, not overnight: slowly increase the variety and amount of leafy greens and dragon-safe vegetables while reducing insect frequency. By adulthood the diet should be roughly 80 percent plants and 20 percent insects. Overfeeding insects to an adult is a common mistake that causes obesity, so let growth and body condition guide the transition.
How long do bearded dragons live?
With proper care, bearded dragons commonly live around 8 to 12 years, and some reach into their teens. Good husbandry is the main factor: correct UVB, basking heat, a varied age-appropriate diet, a safe enclosure, and prompt vet care all extend lifespan. Many dragons that die young do so from preventable husbandry problems like metabolic bone disease or impaction. Treat your dragon as a long-term commitment, since a well-kept dragon will be part of your life for many years.
How do I care for a senior bearded dragon?
Older bearded dragons often slow down, bask more, move less, and may eat a little less, so monitor weight and appetite closely and keep the enclosure easy to navigate. Maintain correct UVB and temperatures, offer a varied diet adjusted to a less active metabolism to prevent obesity, and watch for age-related issues. Schedule regular vet checkups, since early detection matters more as a dragon ages. Gentle handling and a comfortable, stable environment help a senior dragon stay content.
Do baby and adult bearded dragons need different temperatures?
They are close, with babies running slightly hotter. Juveniles do well with a basking surface up to around 110F to support rapid growth and digestion, while adults sit comfortably at 95 to 110F. Both need a cool side of 75 to 85F to thermoregulate, and neither needs night heat if the room stays above the mid 60s. Measure the basking surface with a digital probe thermometer at the spot the dragon uses, and adjust to keep each life stage in range.
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