What size feeder insects should I feed my lizard?

Feeder insects should be NO LONGER than the space between your lizard's eyes. Feeding insects that are too large can cause impaction, paralysis, or death — especially in juvenile lizards. Size examples: pinhead crickets for hatchlings, 1/4 inch for juveniles, 1/2 inch for subadults, and adult for full-size lizards.

Do I need to dust with calcium and vitamins?

Yes! Most captive lizards need calcium with D3 dusted on insects at most feedings, plus a multivitamin 1-2 times a week. Without proper calcium, lizards develop metabolic bone disease (MBD) — a painful, crippling, often irreversible condition. UVB lighting is also essential for most species so they can absorb the calcium.

Can I feed my bearded dragon just insects?

No! Adult bearded dragons need 80% vegetables and only 20% insects. Feeding adult beardies too many insects causes obesity and organ damage. Babies are the opposite (80% insect / 20% veg) because they need protein to grow. This calculator adjusts ratios automatically by age.

What foods are toxic to lizards?

Never feed: fireflies/lightning bugs (EXTREMELY toxic — even one kills), avocado, rhubarb, citrus fruits, iceberg lettuce (no nutrition, causes diarrhea), wild-caught insects (parasites/pesticides), mealworms for juveniles (hard chitin causes impaction), or any bugs glowing in the dark.

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The Easiest Way to Feed Your Lizard Correctly

Calculate the exact number of feeder insects, salad/protein ratio, calcium dusting schedule, and feeding frequency for your pet lizard in seconds. Works for bearded dragons, leopard geckos, crested geckos, blue tongue skinks, and all common pet species. No signup, no ads in results, 100% free, forever.

✓ Species-specific diet ratios

✓ Age-based feeding schedules

🩺 Based on veterinary research & guidelines

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Based on veterinary research & ARAV guidelines

Standards match captive reptile care best practices

Calculate My Lizard's Food 🦗

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Happy, healthy lizards start with correct feeding! 🥬

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🦎 Tell Us About Your Lizard

Lizard Species

Lizard Age

Weight (grams)

💡 Tip: Weigh your lizard on a kitchen scale for accuracy!

Body Condition

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Perfect Feeding Plan For Your Lizard!

Feeding Frequency

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Diet Ratio

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Feeder Insect Size

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🦗 Insects per Meal

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🥗 Salad/Greens per Meal

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🦴 Calcium & Supplement Schedule

📝 Important Feeding Guidelines:

☠️ TOXIC FOODS - NEVER FEED THESE:

Fireflies/lightning bugs (EVEN ONE KILLS within hours), avocado, rhubarb leaves, citrus, onion, garlic, iceberg lettuce (no nutrition), wild-caught insects (parasites/pesticides), mealworms for baby lizards (hard chitin causes impaction), and any glowing-insects.

💡 UVB Lighting Reminder:

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🩺 When To See A Reptile Vet:

• Not eating for 2+ weeks (adults) or 3+ days (babies)
• Limping, swollen legs, soft jaw, or tremors (signs of metabolic bone disease)
• Diarrhea lasting more than 48 hours
• Sunken eyes, wrinkled skin (dehydration)
• Mouth rot, wheezing, or mucus around nostrils

💡 Reptile vets have specialized training - find an ARAV member near you.

🛒 Recommended Supplies for Your Lizard

💡 We only recommend products reptile keepers actually use, sized appropriately for your lizard. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

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Precision Gram Scale →

Weigh your lizard and food accurately

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Feeder Insects

Healthy, gut-loaded feeders

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Calcium + Multivitamin

Essential to prevent MBD

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UVB Lighting Kit

Required for calcium absorption

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Thermometer/Hygrometer

Monitor basking temps & humidity

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Long Feeding Tongs

Safe feeding distance, prevents bites

🦎 Common Pet Lizard Species

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Bearded Dragon

Docile, great beginner lizard, omnivorous

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Leopard Gecko

Small, easy care, insectivorous, nocturnal

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Crested Gecko

Arboreal, fruit+insect diet, no UVB needed

All species shown are non-venomous captive-bred pet lizards suitable for beginner keepers.

💬 Real Reptile Keeper Stories

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Amanda R.

Bearded Dragon keeper, 4 years

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"I had no idea adult beardies need 80% veggies! I was feeding my boy mostly crickets and he was getting fat and lethargic. This calculator opened my eyes. He's now on the right salad mix and so much more active."

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Jason M.

Leopard Gecko breeder, 8 years

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"Perfect for new keepers who ask me how many mealworms to feed. The insect size rule (no bigger than space between eyes) is the #1 thing new owners get wrong and this makes it super clear."

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Priya K.

Crested Gecko keeper, 2 years

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"As a first-time reptile owner I was overwhelmed by conflicting feeding advice online. This gave me a clear plan I could follow. My crestie is thriving and gaining weight steadily!"

Lizard Keeping Buying Guides

Unbiased recommendations for supplies that make lizard keeping easier, tested and used by real reptile keepers.

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Best Feeder Insects for Lizards (2026)

Not all feeders are equal — nutrition varies widely. Learn which insects are best staples vs. occasional treats.

Staples (feed regularly):

✅ Dubia roaches (best nutrition, low chitin)
✅ Black soldier fly larvae (high calcium)
✅ Crickets (affordable, gut-load well)
⚠️ Mealworms (treat only, high chitin)
❌ Superworms for juveniles (impaction risk)

💡 Always gut-load feeders 24 hours before offering.

See Recommended Feeders →

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Best UVB Lighting for Lizards (2026)

Correct UVB lighting is NOT optional — without it, your lizard cannot absorb calcium and will develop MBD.

What to look for:

✅ T5 HO fixtures (stronger, more reliable)
✅ Replace bulb every 6-12 months even if lit
✅ Correct distance per manufacturer
✅ No glass/plastic between bulb and lizard
✅ Crested geckos can use lower output UVB

💡 A $40 UVB bulb saves you thousands in vet bills.

See Recommended UVB →

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Best Lizard Enclosures (2026)

Proper enclosure size reduces stress, improves feeding response, and supports natural behaviors.

Sizing guide:

✅ Baby beardie: 40 gallon breeder
✅ Adult beardie: 4x2x2 ft minimum
✅ Leopard gecko: 20 gallon long
✅ PVC holds heat best for desert species
✅ Glass works for tropical species

💡 Front-opening enclosures cause less stress than top-opening.

See Recommended Enclosures →

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We only recommend products we would use for our own lizards.

🥬 Best Salad Mix for Bearded Dragons

Adult beardies need 80% vegetables. Here's a vet-recommended daily staple mix:

✅ Daily Staples

• Collard greens
• Mustard greens
• Dandelion greens
• Turnip greens
• Endive / escarole
• Butternut squash (grated)

⚠️ Occasional (1-2x/week)

• Bell peppers (all colors)
• Blueberries, raspberries
• Mango, papaya
• Green beans
• Carrots (grated)
• Cactus pads

❌ NEVER Feed

• Iceberg lettuce (no nutrition)
• Spinach (binds calcium)
• Avocado (toxic)
• Citrus fruits
• Rhubarb (toxic)
• Fireflies (deadly)

💡 Chop greens to size of lizard's head for babies, bite-sized for adults. Lightly dust with calcium before serving.

📚 In-Depth Bearded Dragon Care Guides

Detailed, vet-reviewed guides to answer the questions every new keeper has.

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Bearded Dragon Food List

The complete safe/unsafe guide: staples greens, vegetables, fruits, insects and the toxic foods to never feed.

Read guide →

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Tank Setup & Lighting

Enclosure size by age, T5 HO UVB lighting, basking temperature, substrate, hides and a shopping checklist.

Read guide →

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Metabolic Bone Disease

Early signs, advanced symptoms, treatment and the exact UVB + calcium setup that prevents MBD for life.

Read guide →

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Best Feeder Insects

Dubia roaches vs crickets vs BSFL vs mealworms — protein, fat and Ca:P ratio compared, plus gut-loading.

Read guide →

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Brumation Guide

Signs, timing, care for brumating dragon.

Read guide →

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Common Illnesses

Impaction, parasites, RI, yellow fungus, eye problems.

Read guide →

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Lighting Guide

T5 vs T8 UVB, basking bulbs, photoperiod.

Read guide →

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Calcium Guide

D3 vs no-D3, dusting schedule, multivitamins.

Read guide →

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Feeder Insect Care

Gut-loading, dubia & cricket care.

Read guide →

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Taming & Handling

Building trust, handling tips, bonding.

Read guide →

❓ Lizard Feeding FAQ

How often should I feed my lizard?

Baby lizards (0-3 months) eat 1-2 times daily because they are growing fast. Juveniles (3-12 months) eat daily. Subadults (12-18 months) eat every other day. Adult lizards eat every 2-3 days depending on species. Our calculator adjusts frequency automatically for your species and age.

What size feeder insects should I offer?

The golden rule: feeders should be NO LONGER than the space between your lizard's eyes. Feeding insects that are too large can cause impaction (a life-threatening blockage). For example, hatchling beardies need pinhead crickets, while adults can handle full adult dubia roaches.

How important is calcium dusting?

EXTREMELY important. Without calcium + D3, lizards develop metabolic bone disease (MBD) — a painful, often permanent condition causing soft bones, deformities, tremors, and eventually death. Dust insects with calcium+D3 at most feedings, plus multivitamin 1-2 times weekly. UVB lighting is also required for your lizard to absorb the calcium.

Can I feed my bearded dragon only insects?

Only as babies! Baby beardies need 80% insects / 20% greens for growth. But adults need the opposite: 80% vegetables / 20% insects. Feeding adults too much protein causes obesity, fatty liver disease, and shortened lifespan. This is the most common feeding mistake new owners make.

Do I need to gut-load feeder insects?

Yes! Feeders are only as nutritious as what they've eaten. Feed your crickets/roaches nutritious food (leafy greens, squash, commercial gut-load formula) for 24 hours before offering them to your lizard. Also provide fresh water gel/cubes to keep feeders hydrated.