What do frilled dragons eat?
The short answer
Frilled dragons are largely insectivorous arboreal agamids with healthy appetites. Insects dominate the diet at all ages, with a small amount of plant matter accepted by some adults. They are active, visual hunters, and feeding at height rather than on the floor suits how they live.
Feeding schedule by age
| Life stage | Diet balance | How often | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juvenile | Insects | Daily, often twice | Fast growth, big appetite |
| Adult | Insects with some greens | Daily to every other day | Plant matter stays minor |
| All ages | Calcium | Most feedings | Insect-heavy diets need it |
What to feed
| Food | Role | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Locusts | Staple | Well suited to an active arboreal hunter |
| Collard and dandelion greens | Minor component | Some adults accept them |
| Dubia roaches | Staple | Good protein and ratio, low chitin |
| Crickets | Staple | Cheap and active; gut-load first |
| Black soldier fly larvae | Staple | Naturally calcium-rich |
| Hornworms, silkworms | Rotation | Hydrating and low fat |
| Waxworms, superworms | Treat only | High fat |
| Gut-loaded insects | Requirement | Feed the insects 24-48h before offering |
| Calcium dusting | Requirement | Insects are calcium-poor and phosphorus-rich |
What never to feed
Items in this table are either outright toxic or cause predictable long-term harm. This is the part of the page worth reading twice.
| Do not feed | Why |
|---|---|
| A plant-led diet | Frilled dragons are insect-led, unlike bearded dragons as adults. |
| Fruit and vegetables as a food group | Not usable by an insectivore. |
| Wild-caught insects | Pesticide, parasite and toxicity risk. |
| Fireflies / lightning bugs | Toxic to reptiles. |
| Prey larger than the space between the eyes | Standard feeder-size rule; impaction risk. |
| Relying on one feeder species | Variety covers what a single insect cannot. |
Where good sources disagree
Care sheets do not all say the same thing, and pretending otherwise helps nobody. These are the real points of difference between the sources cited at the foot of this page, and what we think the safe reading is.
How much plant matter adults take.
Reports vary from almost none to a modest regular share. Individual preference appears to account for much of it. Nobody describes frilled dragons as making the strong adult shift to plants that bearded dragons do.
What most frilled dragon feeding advice gets wrong
They are not bearded dragons with frills.
Because both are agamids commonly kept in similar enclosures, keepers apply bearded dragon feeding to frilled dragons and shift adults onto a plant-led diet. Frilled dragons stay insect-led. The greens are a garnish here, not the base.
Feed at height.
Frilled dragons are arboreal and hunt from vertical perches. Offering food on the floor works against their behaviour and can make a nervous animal reluctant to come down. Tong feeding at perch height, or elevated bowls, suits them better.
Common questions
What do frilled dragons eat?
Primarily insects: crickets, dubia roaches, locusts and black soldier fly larvae, gut-loaded and dusted with calcium. Some adults accept a small amount of leafy greens, but unlike bearded dragons they remain insect-led throughout life.
Do frilled dragons eat vegetables?
Only a little, and many individuals show limited interest. They do not make the strong shift to a plant-based diet that adult bearded dragons do, so greens should be treated as a minor addition rather than the basis of the diet.
How often should I feed a frilled dragon?
Juveniles daily and sometimes twice daily while growing, adults daily to every other day. They are active hunters with substantial appetites, so body condition rather than enthusiasm should guide portion size.