How to Start Growing Food for Your Reptile!

Do You Want To Grow Your Reptile's Food?

Are you one of the people that is realizing that the best way to provide fresh, nutritious food is to grow it yourself? This doesn't just apply to your own food, but your reptiles too! Whether you keep an herbivorous tortoise, a bearded dragon who loves fresh greens, or an insect-eating gecko, growing fresh produce and insects can save you money, improve your reptile’s diet, and make your care more sustainable. Here’s a beginner-friendly guide to help you get started growing food for your scaly friend!

1. Decide What You Want to Grow

First and foremost, we need to raise foods that are appropriate for the species of reptile that we keep. Common options include:

Greens (collard greens, dandelion, mustard greens)
Edible flowers (hibiscus, rose of sharon, dandelion).
Live feeder insects (dubia roaches, mealworms, crickets).

Make a list of staples your reptile enjoys and check if they can be grown or bred at home.

If growing produce, you will need to figure out whether your growing zone allows you to grow your food outdoors and the planting and care information for the produce you are trying to grow.

If you live in a colder zone, or you'd prefer to not be constrained to growing food during only the growing season, you may look into setting up an indoor greenhouse or indoor hydroponic growing system. Both of these can be good ways to have a constant supply of fresh food growing no matter the season!

2. Set Up a Growing Space

Now it is time to set up the area that you will grow your reptile's food. Depending on what you’re growing, your setup might look different:

🌿 For greens and veggies:

Raised beds or an outdoor garden, OR an indoor greenhouse / hydroponic system
Make sure you have an area with adequate amounts of sunlight for the plants you are trying to grow, or invest in strong grow lights indoors.
Use pesticide-free soil and all natural fertilizers/soil enhancements to avoid chemical residues.

🪲 For insects:

Designate well-ventilated bins for colonies.
Keep them in a warm, dry area (most feeders breed best around 80–90°F).
Learn each species’ requirements (e.g., dubia roaches need egg crates and a protein source).

Check our our article on Setting Up Insect Breeding Tubs for more information!

3. Choose the Right Seeds or Starter Cultures

Buy organic seeds or starter plants to avoid chemical treatments.
For greens, look for nutrient-rich varieties such as turnip greens or kale.
For edible flowers, ensure the entire plant is safe (some flowers have toxic parts) Rose of Sharon and Hibisbus are great options since both the flowers and leaves are edible!
For insects, purchase starter colonies from reputable suppliers to avoid pests or disease.

4. Use Safe Growing Practices

It’s critical that anything you grow is safe for reptiles:

✅ No pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers.

✅ If you grow outdoors, wash plants thoroughly to remove contamination.

✅ If you breed insects, keep their tubs clean and dry to prevent mold, fungus, and bacteria growth.

✅ Avoid any plants that are not ideal or toxic for reptiles (e.g., citrus fruits).

5. Harvest and Store Properly

Fresh greens: Harvest according to the species you are growing. Rinse thoroughly before feeding to wash off any dust or dirt.
Flowers: Harvest blooms just before offering them. Make sure not to pull every blossom off of the plant at once.
Insects: Sift them from their bedding, gut-load for 24–48 hours, and dust with calcium and/or multivitamins before feeding

6. Create a Plant Rotation

If you’re serious about growing food, consider staggering your planting so you always have fresh produce:

Start new seeds often to keep a constant supply.
Rotate different greens to provide variety and balanced nutrition.
Keep extra pots growing in case of pests or plant loss.

7. Try a Bioactive Feeder Garden

If you’re into naturalistic enclosures, you can even grow some plants right inside the habitat!

For example: Try growing a foraging mix in your tortoise's enclosure! They will appreciate being able to graze on fresh grass and sprouts.

Always double-check that any plant is non-toxic and appropriate for your species!

8. Start Small and Learn as You Go

You don’t need a huge greenhouse. Even a couple pots of fresh greens or a small dubia colony in a plastic shoebox can be a great start. Once you get comfortable, expand your setup gradually!