How many Dubia roaches should a bearded dragon eat?

Last updated October 12, 2026. Written by Dubia Growers.

Quick answer. Counting Dubia roaches as insects, the Long Island Avian and Exotic Vet Clinic gives a baby bearded dragon 2 to 3 small insects a meal and 2 to 3 meals a day (about 4 to 9 a day by our math), and ReptiFiles gives a juvenile 5 to 6 a day and an adult 3 to 4, twice a week. Sources differ, so start low and pick Dubia roaches no wider than the gap between your dragon's eyes.

Dubia Growers is a small farm in Amherst, VA. Gary Becker has raised Dubia roaches there for 12 years and keeps 45 colonies. Below are the numbers from named vet and care sources, then the math that turns a number into a pack.

How many Dubia roaches should a bearded dragon eat each day?

The Long Island clinic's guide suggests about 4 to 9 small insects a day for a baby (2 to 3 a meal, 2 to 3 meals). The ReptiFiles care guide, which is not a vet site, suggests 5 to 6 a day for a juvenile and 3 to 4, twice a week, for an adult. Both the clinic and VCA Animal Hospitals name Dubia roaches as an acceptable feeder.

ReptiFiles sets the ages and sizes in the first column. The clinic does not tie its stages to ages or sizes, so it uses one line for babies and juveniles. The clinic's page also says teens eat 3 to 4 insects at least 3 times a day. The clinic counts insects of any kind, so we use its count as a starting point for Dubia. ReptiFiles counts insects "or an equal portion" and says each bug should be no bigger than the space between the eyes.

Why do the guides give different numbers?

They count different things. The clinic and ReptiFiles count suitably sized insects. Critter Depot, a roach seller, counts small roaches for babies and juveniles, so its totals run far higher: about 6 to 38 times the clinic's, by our math.

• In a 2020 post, Critter Depot lists 30 to 50 quarter inch roaches, three times a day, for a dragon aged 1 to 3 months. It said to keep 1,050 on hand each week.
• For ages 3 to 9 months, Critter Depot lists 25 to 50 half inch roaches, twice a day.
• From 9 months on, Critter Depot lists 3 to 5 adult roaches, almost daily. It says a day or two off may be needed if the dragon eats these roaches every day.

A quarter inch roach is a very small meal, which may explain part of the gap. We sell Dubia too, so read any seller's chart, ours included, next to a vet's advice.

Plants share the plate, so an insect count is a share of the meal. The WSU vet hospital says an adult's plate is about 25 percent insects. VCA says young dragons usually eat once or twice a day and adults every 24 to 72 hours. Start at the low end of the ranges above and watch your dragon.

What size Dubia roach should a bearded dragon eat?

Pick a Dubia roach no wider than the space between your dragon's eyes. That is our grower's rule, and ReptiFiles gives the same one. Look at your dragon head on, find the gap between its eyes, and choose a roach no wider than that gap. Move up a size as it grows.

Measure this gap on yours

The Long Island clinic sets a tighter limit: no larger than half the width of the face. If you sit between two sizes, go smaller. Our size guide walks through the check.

Size matters most for babies. UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine says insects too big for a baby often cause serious health problems, including partial paralysis, seizures, a blocked gut and even death.

These sizes come from our size page. The eye gap decides. We keep extra large in short supply, so we send it alongside other sizes. Adults are our breeding stock, so we sell them in small numbers. See why adults are hard to get.

How many Dubia roaches should you order?

Take the roaches your dragon eats in a week, multiply by the weeks you want to cover, and round up to the next pack. We sell packs of 25, 50, 100, 500, 1,000 and 10,000, and 25 is the smallest.

These are days to use up the count. They do not say how long the roaches stay in good shape. We have not published a keeping time, so ask us when you order.

Here is one example. A juvenile on the ReptiFiles plan eats 5 to 6 a day, which is 35 to 42 a week. A pack of 100 covers about 2 to 3 weeks of those meals.

Add the counts if you keep more than one dragon. Babies change size fast, so start with a smaller first pack. A plan like Critter Depot's 1,050 a week would need more than a pack of 1,000 every week. We suggest starting with the clinic's much lower count.

How do you order Dubia roaches?

Send us a request. We confirm your order, your ship date and your price. We raise every bug here and check your order against our colonies.

We check that we can ship live insects to your state before we accept your order. Live arrival is guaranteed, or we make it right: we replace the order or refund it. Read who raises your Dubia roaches or see how to order Dubia roaches step by step.

Tell us your reptile, the size you want and how many. If you are not sure how much your dragon gets through, say so and we will work it out with you. Try a pack of 25 first. Request Dubia roaches or call the farm at (434) 316-4000. If we are in the grow house, we will call you back.

This guide is general information. Your reptile vet knows your dragon's weight and health and can set its plan.

The outside sources listed at the bottom of this page are cited for their care information. None of them has reviewed, endorsed or been paid by Dubia Growers.