Bearded Dragon Supplementation Guide

How to Properly Supplement Your Bearded Dragon!

Proper supplementation is vital for keeping a bearded dragon alive and thriving. Even with perfect lighting, ideal temperatures, and a well-rounded diet, your dragon can still develop nutritional deficiencies without the right supplements. This guide breaks down what you need to know about Supplementation for Bearded Dragons

Why Supplements Matter for Bearded Dragons

In the wild, bearded dragons get nutrients from a huge variety of food and full-spectrum desert sunlight. In captivity, even the best setups can fall short in three key areas:

Limited dietary variety (no wild bugs = less vitamin & mineral diversity)
Calcium and Vitamin D3 regulation (essential for bone health)

Supplementation isn’t optional—it’s essential for survival.

The Core Supplements Your Bearded Dragon Needs

1. Calcium Powder (with and without D3)

What it does: Supports bone development, nerve function, and muscle health.
When to use it:
- With D3: Use every couple of meals
- Without D3: Use on most meals, with an off day occasionally.
Pro tip: D3 is fat-soluble and can build up in your reptile's body. Too much = risk of toxicity. Be careful not to overdo it! More is definitely not better in this case. This is why its best to use calcium with D3 sparingly.

2. Multivitamin Powder

What it does: Provides a blend of essential vitamins and trace minerals.
When to use it: About once a week.
Watch out for: Preformed vitamin A is required since most reptiles cannot convert their own vitamin A. However, in excess, it can cause toxicity. It's important to not use multivitamin powder too often so fat-soluble vitamins cannot build up in your reptile's system.

3. Gut-Loading Feeder Insects

What it does: Boosts the nutrient profile of feeder insects before your dragon eats them.
How to use it: Feed your insects a nutritious mix (e.g., dark leafy greens/commercial gut-load gel) 24–48 hours before offering them to your dragon.
Why it matters: Gut-loading is the best way to ensure the food you are offering your animal is as nutritious as possible.

How to Apply Supplements

Dust insects lightly just before feeding. You want a thin layer of supplements, not extremely caked.
For salads, sprinkle lightly on top or use a liquid calcium dripped/sprayed per manufacturer directions.
Alternate days: For example, calcium (w/o D3) Mon/Wed/Fri, multivitamin Sunday, off day on Tuesday, calcium (with D3) Thursday.

⚠️ Supplementation Mistakes to Avoid

Using human supplements—these are not reptile-safe; they are not formulated for reptiles.
Over-supplementing—especially with fat-soluble vitamins like A and D3.
Relying on ONLY supplements Bearded dragons require proper heating and UVB lighting to properly process their food and vitamins. Make sure to mount UVB at proper distance, check, and change UVB lights every 6-12 months per manufacturer recommendation.