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Can bearded dragons eat kale? Strawberries? Mealworms? Type a food into the search box or filter by group to see whether it’s a staple, an occasional food, a rare treat — or something to never feed.

Everyday staples

Build the daily salad from high-calcium, low-oxalate greens: collard, mustard and turnip greens, dandelion greens, endive, escarole and prickly pear cactus pad. Add grated butternut or acorn squash and rotate occasional vegetables for variety.

Never feed

  • Fireflies / lightning bugs — contain toxins that can kill a bearded dragon.
  • Avocado and rhubarb — toxic.
  • Onion, garlic, leeks and chives — toxic.
  • Wild-caught insects — may carry pesticides or parasites.

Why some foods are “rarely”

Spinach, beet greens and Swiss chard aren’t poisonous, but they’re high in oxalates, which bind calcium and can contribute to metabolic bone disease if fed often. Fruit is safe in small amounts but high in sugar. Banana has a poor calcium-to-phosphorus ratio.

FAQ

How much fruit can a bearded dragon have?

Keep fruit under about 10% of the plant portion — a few small pieces once or twice a week.

Can bearded dragons eat lettuce?

Romaine is safe but low in nutrition, so use it only as a filler. Iceberg lettuce is mostly water and best avoided.

Are mealworms bad for bearded dragons?

Not toxic, but their hard shell is harder to digest and they’re fatty. Keep them as occasional food for adults, not babies.

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