Collection: Bearded Dragon Feeders

Premium Feeder Insects for Bearded Dragons — The Complete Feeding Guide

Bearded dragons are one of the most popular pet reptiles in the United States, and for good reason — they are personable, hardy, and endlessly entertaining. But keeping a beardie healthy for its full 10-15 year lifespan starts with proper nutrition, and that means offering a diverse rotation of high-quality feeder insects alongside fresh vegetables. At All Angles Creatures, we provide everything your bearded dragon needs to thrive — from protein-packed discoid roaches to ultra-low-fat silkworms, calcium-rich BSFL, and hydrating hornworms.

What Do Bearded Dragons Eat?

Bearded dragons are omnivores with dietary needs that change dramatically as they grow. Juveniles require approximately 70-80% insects and 20-30% vegetables, fueling the rapid growth that takes a hatchling from 4 inches to 18+ inches in under a year. As they mature, the ratio gradually shifts — adults should eat approximately 40-50% insects and 50-60% vegetables and greens. The insect portion of the diet should be varied and nutrient-dense, not a monotonous rotation of a single feeder type.

One of the most common mistakes beardie keepers make is feeding the same feeder every day — typically crickets or mealworms — without variety. This leads to nutritional gaps, feeding boredom (beardies go off food), and health issues like metabolic bone disease (MBD) from poor calcium-to-phosphorus ratios. A diverse rotation of 3-4 feeder types is the foundation of excellent beardie nutrition.

Our Top Feeders for Bearded Dragons

Discoid Roaches — The Daily Protein Staple

Protein: ~20% | Fat: ~7% | Ca:P: 0.77:1

Discoid roaches are the foundation of the bearded dragon diet. They deliver the highest protein of any common feeder at a moderate fat level that is safe for daily feeding. They gut-load exceptionally well — absorbing vitamins and calcium from the produce we feed them, then passing those nutrients to your beardie. They are silent, odorless, escape-proof, and cannot bite your dragon. Available in small, medium, and large to match your beardie's growth stage.

Unlike dubia roaches, discoid roaches are legal in all 50 states including Florida — making them the universally safe choice for beardie keepers nationwide.

Silkworms — The Premium Low-Fat Supplement

Protein: ~9% | Fat: ~1% | Moisture: ~83% | Chitin: None

Silkworms are the leanest feeder insect available — at 1% fat, they are 7x leaner than discoid roaches and 13x leaner than mealworms. For adult beardies prone to obesity (one of the most common health problems in captive bearded dragons), silkworms provide nutrition without the caloric burden that causes weight gain. Their 83% moisture supports hydration, and the unique serrapeptase enzyme may support healthy digestion. Their completely soft, chitin-free body eliminates impaction risk — making them one of the safest feeders for baby beardies.

Silkworms are also the go-to feeder for picky beardies that refuse other food. Their unique pale appearance and slow wriggling movement seem to reset the feeding drive in dragons that have gone off food from brumation recovery, relocation stress, or simple boredom.

Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) — The Calcium Powerhouse

Calcium: ~9,340 mg/kg | Ca:P: 6.92:1 | No dusting required

BSFL contain more natural calcium than any other feeder insect — 47 times more than discoid roaches and 311 times more than mealworms. They are the only feeder that does not require calcium dusting, making them the simplest and most effective calcium supplement available. For baby beardies during rapid bone growth, juvenile beardies building skeletal mass, and adult females producing eggs, BSFL provide the calcium safety net that prevents metabolic bone disease.

Also known as Phoenix Worms, CalciWorms, ReptiWorms, and NutriGrubs — all the same insect, different brand names.

Hornworms — The Hydration and Excitement Treat

Moisture: ~85% | Ca:P: 3.07:1 | Fat: ~3%

Hornworms are the feeder that makes bearded dragons lose their minds. The bright blue-green color, large size, and active wriggling movement trigger an explosive feeding response that no other feeder can match. Beyond the entertainment value, hornworms deliver exceptional hydration at 85% moisture — critical for beardies that do not drink reliably from water dishes. Their 3:1 calcium ratio is among the best of any feeder. Use as a hydration and excitement treat 1-2 times per week.

Gut-Loading: The Secret to Healthy Beardies

The nutritional value of a feeder insect is only as good as what is inside it. At All Angles Creatures, we gut-load every insect we ship with organic produce and calcium-rich greens — collard greens, butternut squash, carrots, sweet potato, and dandelion greens. This ensures that when your bearded dragon eats a roach, silkworm, or hornworm, it is getting a complete nutritional package — not an empty shell.

We recommend continuing the gut-loading at home if you hold feeders for more than a day before feeding. Offer the same calcium-rich produce we use: dark leafy greens, orange vegetables, and a small amount of fruit. The nutrients inside the roach transfer directly to your beardie at feeding time.

Calcium Supplementation: The #1 MBD Prevention Tool

Metabolic bone disease is the most common nutritional disorder in captive bearded dragons — and it is almost entirely preventable. The supplementation strategy for beardies includes:

• Calcium + D3 dusting on staple feeders (roaches, silkworms) at every feeding for juveniles, every other feeding for adults
• BSFL feedings 1-3 times per week — these provide calcium without any dusting needed
• Proper UVB lighting — enables natural D3 production for calcium absorption. Replace bulbs every 6-12 months.
• Calcium-rich vegetables — collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, dandelion greens
• Multivitamin dusting once per week for broad-spectrum vitamin coverage

The Ideal Weekly Feeding Schedule (Adult Beardie)

• Monday: 10-15 discoid roaches (calcium-dusted) + fresh vegetable salad
• Tuesday: Vegetables only (salad day — collard greens, squash, bell pepper)
• Wednesday: 2-3 hornworms + 5 roaches + vegetables
• Thursday: Vegetables only
• Friday: 5-8 silkworms (calcium-dusted) + vegetables
• Saturday: 10-15 discoid roaches + 10-15 BSFL (no dusting on BSFL) + vegetables
• Sunday: Vegetables only or light insect feeding

This rotation provides protein (roaches), low-fat premium nutrition (silkworms), calcium (BSFL), hydration (hornworms), and vegetable nutrition across the week — hitting every nutritional base without overfeeding on any single day.

Common Beardie Feeding Mistakes to Avoid

• Mealworm-only diets: Mealworms have 13% fat, tough chitin (impaction risk for juveniles), and the worst Ca:P ratio (0.04:1) of any common feeder. They are fine as an occasional adult treat but terrible as a staple.
• Cricket-only diets: Crickets smell, die fast, escape, chirp, bite sleeping beardies, and have a poor Ca:P ratio (0.13:1). Discoid roaches are superior in every measurable category.
• Overfeeding adults: Adult beardies should eat insects every other day, not daily. Overfeeding causes obesity — the most common health problem in captive beardies after MBD.
• Ignoring vegetables: Adult beardies need 50-60% of their diet from vegetables. Offer fresh greens daily even if they seem uninterested at first.
• Waxworm addiction: Waxworms (25% fat) are so palatable that some beardies become "addicted" and refuse all other food. Avoid waxworms entirely or use extremely rarely.

Shipped Fresh from Florida with Live Arrival Guarantee

Every feeder insect order from All Angles Creatures ships from our climate-controlled Florida facility in insulated packaging with seasonal temperature protection. We monitor weather forecasts along shipping routes and adjust packaging accordingly — heat packs in winter, cold packs in summer, and optimal shipping day selection year-round.

Every order of every feeder type — roaches, silkworms, BSFL, and hornworms — is covered by our no-questions live arrival guarantee. If any feeders arrive dead, we replace or refund immediately. No photos required, no hassle, no questions asked. We have shipped thousands of orders nationwide and stand behind every single one.

Learn More

• Best Feeder Insects for Bearded Dragons (Ranked)
• How to Gut Load Discoid Roaches for Maximum Nutrition
• Discoid Roach Nutrition Facts: Protein, Fat & Calcium
• Do You Need to Dust BSFL?
• High Calcium Feeder Insects

— Matt, Founder, All Angles Creatures