• 24% minimum crude protein — the growth figure. The adult formula declares 16%, which is the single clearest reason not to feed the two interchangeably.
• Crude fibre capped at 13% rather than 16% — less gut fill per mouthful, so a juvenile taking small meals still gets the nutrition in.
• Organic soybean meal leads the declaration — ahead of alfalfa, which is the reverse of the adult formula and where the extra protein comes from.
• Phosphorus declared at 0.5% against 0.8–1.2% calcium — roughly 1.6:1 to 2.4:1, still calcium-forward, which is what growing bone needs.
• Almond hull meal included — present in the juvenile formula only, so read the allergen note below if that matters in your household.
• Five probiotic fermentation products and stabilised vitamin C at 60 mg/kg — the same gut and immune support package as the adult food.
• 56 g trial pack available — useful for testing acceptance before committing to the 567 g, since juveniles can be fussy.

A juvenile eats this for roughly the first year, then moves onto the adult formula. Buying more than you can use inside that window is false economy, because the stabilised vitamin C degrades in storage.

Transcribed in full from Zoo Med's declaration for Bearded Dragon Food — Juvenile Formula, checked 7 August 2026.

Organic Soybean Meal, Suncured Alfalfa Meal, Dried Lima Beans, Rice Bran, Organic Ground Whole Wheat, Almond Hull Meal, Calcium Carbonate, Endive, Escarole, Dicalcium Phosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Dried Dandelion Greens, Yeast Culture, Hydrolyzed Yeast, Brewer's Dried Yeast, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (stabilised source of Vitamin C), Yucca Schidigera Extract, Sodium Selenite, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium bifidum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Product, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Methionine Complex, Choline Chloride, Ferrous Sulphate, Manganous Oxide, Zinc Oxide, Niacin Supplement (source of Vitamin B3), D-Calcium Pantothenate (source of Vitamin B5), Copper Chloride, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (source of Vitamin B2), Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of Vitamin B6), Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K activity), Thiamine Mononitrate (source of Vitamin B1), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Garlic Extract, Horseradish, Anise Extract, Juniper Extract, Cassia Bark Extract, Ginger Extract, Rosemary (flavour), Citric Acid (preservative), Mixed Tocopherols (preservative).

Allergens and additives

Contains soy (organic soybean meal), wheat (organic ground whole wheat) and tree nut (almond hull meal). The almond hull meal is specific to the juvenile formula and does not appear in the adult one.

The only preservatives declared are citric acid and mixed tocopherols. Ethoxyquin, BHA, BHT and artificial colours do not appear on the declaration.

Calcium to phosphorus works out between roughly 1.6:1 and 2.4:1 here, against 2:1 to 3:1 in the adult food. Both stay calcium-forward, which is the direction that protects growing bone.

Zoo Med's guidance for juveniles is a high-protein, insect-heavy diet, with a fortified commercial food ensuring the nutrients the insects and greens miss. This pellet is that fortified component, not the whole diet.

Zoo Med does not publish a fixed gram-per-day rate for this formula, so we are not going to state one. Offer pellets in a shallow dish, dry or lightly misted to soften, and let the amount follow appetite — a growing dragon's intake changes week to week.

Dust live insects and sprinkle greens with a calcium and multivitamin supplement before feeding. When your dragon reaches roughly 12 months, move it onto the adult formula gradually across at least a fortnight rather than switching in one meal.

Suitable for:

• Hatchling and juvenile bearded dragons up to roughly 12 months
• Young dragons that need the pelleted part of the diet to carry real protein
• Keepers wanting a small trial pack before buying a full jar

Not suitable for:

• Adult dragons — 24% protein and only 13% fibre is the wrong profile once growth stops. Switch to the adult formula.
• Use as a sole diet, without insects and fresh greens alongside
• Households avoiding tree nuts, soy or wheat
• Other lizard species — the protein, fibre and calcium targets are set for growing Pogona

Seal the pack and keep it somewhere cool, dry and dark. Vitamin C and mixed tocopherols are the two components most sensitive to heat and light, and a cupboard above the fridge is warmer than it feels. If you bought the 567 g pack for one dragon, decanting a fortnight at a time into a smaller sealed container keeps the bulk of it undisturbed.

• Zoo Med Repti Calcium with D3 — for dusting the insects that make up the larger half of a juvenile's diet.
• Zoo Med Insect Bearded Dragon Food Juvenile — the insect-protein pellet, if you want more animal protein in the dry portion.
• Zoo Med Bearded Dragon Food Adult — what your dragon graduates onto at around 12 months.
• Zoo Med Bearded Dragon Food Adult Canned — a moist option for a dragon refusing dry food.

Foods do not carry an equipment-style manufacturer's warranty, and nothing here limits your rights under the Australian Consumer Law. If a pack turns up damaged, out of date or not as described, get in touch and we will fix it.

Shelf-stable dry food, shipped as standard freight anywhere in Australia. No cold chain, no dangerous goods handling.

How long do I feed the juvenile formula?

To roughly 12 months, or until growth visibly slows. Zoo Med Juvenile Bearded Dragon Food declares 24% minimum crude protein for that growth period; after it, the higher-fibre 16% protein adult formula is the correct food. Transition over at least two weeks.

Is the 56 g pack worth buying?

It is if your dragon has not eaten this before. Juveniles refuse new foods often enough that a 56 g trial costs less than a 567 g jar you end up not using. Once it is eating the pellets reliably, the larger pack is the better value.

Does the juvenile formula contain nuts?

Yes. Almond hull meal is the sixth ingredient on the declaration. It appears in the juvenile formula only — the adult formula does not contain it. If anyone in the household has a tree nut allergy, handle the food accordingly.

Can I feed juvenile food to an adult dragon to fatten it up?

It is not the right tool. The juvenile formula is higher in protein and lower in fibre, and an adult bearded dragon on a low-fibre diet long-term risks digestive problems. A dragon that is underweight as an adult needs a vet to look at why, not a change of pellet.

Why is soybean meal the first ingredient?

Because ingredients are listed by weight and soybean meal is where most of the 24% protein comes from. In the adult formula, suncured alfalfa meal leads instead, which is how Zoo Med lands the higher fibre and lower protein an adult needs.