The Bearding Dragon is a fantastic reptile for beginners thanks to how docile they are and their great affinity to adapt to enclosures. They actually make amazing pets! The bearded dragon care guide will help you to make sure your new lizard is happy and healthy.
Bearded dragons, sometimes called “beardies”, are native to Australia where they can be seen living in the trees. People tend to really like the appearance of the “wide smiles” the little dragons have when they are trying to cool down.
Bearded dragons are considered to be easy to care for and will be happy feasting on certain leaves, vegetables, and insects.
If you want to learn more about the bearded dragon, check out the important information we’ve pointed out below. Make sure you learn about the bearded dragon and how to take good care of them before you purchase one.
Table of Contents
What is a Bearded Dragon?
The bearded dragon of the genus Pogona is a native lizard to the country of Australia. This lizard enjoys spending most of its time in the trees, but will occasionally make its way to the ground as well. In this bearded dragon care guide we’ll go over what the best set up is for their tank and how to mimic their natural habitat.
How Big Are Bearded Dragons?
From the tip of their nose to their tail a bearded dragon can measure between 15-20 inches. This would put them under the medium-sized category of pet lizards once they are fully grown.
Why Are They Called Bearded Dragons?
This lizard gets its name from the noticeable flap of skin they have hanging under their chin. The flap which resembles a “beard” will open up when the bearded dragon feels threatened by predators.
How Many Species of Bearded Dragon Are There?
There are a total of 8 species of bearded dragons that fall under the genus Pogona. The Pogona vitticeps is the most popular species in North America. This is mainly due to how friendly they can be and how easy it is to take care of them.
The 8 Species of Bearded Dragons
- Pogona barbata
- Pogona henrylawsoni
- Pogona microlepidota
- Pogona minor minor
- Pogona minor minima
- Pogona minor mitchelli
- Pogona nullarbor
- Pogona vitticeps
Why Are Bearded Dragons Such Popular Pets?
Bearded dragons are popular among pet lovers due to various reasons. The first tends to be how docile and tolerant they are when being handled. The second is how easily they will adapt to their new environment, this is important because reptiles can become very stressed when put into new surroundings.
The third reason why they are such popular pets is that there are many reputable breeders in the United States. This ensures that babies are of good quality and that they are easy to find.
A fourth reason that I think is important is that bearded dragons are not nocturnal lizards. This is different from many other pet reptiles which sleep most of the day and are active at night.
Taking Care of Your Bearded Dragon
The bearded dragon care sheet is mostly focused on the most common species found, the Pogona vitticeps. The information definitely overlaps with the other species of a bearded dragon so no matter which type you have, the guide should be helpful.
We begin with a brief explanation of the natural habitat of the bearded dragon. The environment they occupy in Australia can be described as semi-desert. So it can be quite dry but with some eventual humidity. These reptiles are also semi-arboreal which means they spend plenty of their time on trees but will come down to a ground level as well.
They are generally a very easy reptile to care for. It requires fairly few items in order to thrive in an enclosure.
- UVB lamp
- Infrared Lamp
- The enclosure of approximately 36ft³
Tank and Enclosure For Bearded Dragon
The tank or enclosure for Bearded dragons should be 4 to 6 feet long, about 2 feet wide, and anywhere from 2 to three feet in height. The tank needs to be big enough for the bearded dragon to have enough space to grow and most importantly, a tank this big will assist with any overheating issues that might arise.
Remember that a good bearded dragon tank should be made of glass and have a screen top. This is probably the best enclosure set up for this small Australian lizard.
In addition to a medium to a large tank, we suggest getting rocks and branches that will replicate the “beardies” natural environment from the land down under. This is important for the bearded dragon to have places where they can bask as well as places where they can hide and cool down.
Lighting and Heating For Bearded Dragons
The bearded dragon is a lizard that is active in the daytime, this differentiates them from several other pet reptiles that will mostly be awake at night. It is important to provide an enclosure that will allow them to receive 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness.
Bearded dragons will need to have an ultraviolet light for health, this in addition to a good calcium supplement will assist in certain diseases they are prone to. Among these, the most common are nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism and the dreaded Metabolic Bone Disease.
Getting UVB bulbs is key for the bearded dragon’s health and you can monitor them with a UV radiometer. Infrared bulbs providing a heat source so the lizard can bask in are equally important for health. The infrared bulb for bearded dragons should be a 40 – 75 Watt bulb.
Try to split that tank into separate climates, this is where having a medium to large tank helps. The enclosure setup should have distinct climates. Each one to be monitored with a thermometer to make sure temperatures are appropriate. One side should be a basking side and the other a side that is much cooler.
The Basking Area
Bearded dragons enjoy basking in the heat and will be drawn to the specialized bulbs. Make sure the basking side is between 95℉-105℉ at all times. As a rule of thumb, if your bearded dragon is opening its mouth and showing off its “smile” too often, it would indicate that the tank is most likely too hot.
The Shade Area
The cooler side of the tank should be exactly at 80℉ throughout the daytime. At night make sure to have heating pads for your bearded dragon. These can be placed underneath the tank, the pads will prevent the enclosure from getting too cold for the bearded dragon at night.
The Right Humidity For Bearded Dragon
The natural habitat of the bearded dragon is partly a desert, the correct humidity level for them is anywhere from 30% – 40%. In order to preserve the appropriate humidity levels in the enclosed, you will need to mist the tank roughly every 48 hours.
The correct levels of humidity can vary slightly depending on the species of bearded dragon you have, however, they all basically come from places with hot temperatures and low humidity.
Best Substrate For Bearded Dragons
If you are looking for a substrate that will be similar to what the bearded dragon’s natural habitat looks like, sand or gravel is the usual choice. Similar to other pet lizards though, sand can be a hazard if it gets into the gastrointestinal tract.
It is very easy for them to consume very fine sand as they catch crickets in the tank. Remember that since humidity levels have to be low, there won’t be a lot of water to keep the sand down.
Many owners like to use paper towels as a substrate since it can be much easier to clean and is a cheaper alternative. If you decide to go this route make sure to clean regularly or else your dragon might get sick from bacterial growth in the substrate.
What Does a Bearded Dragon Eat?
Bearded dragons can be classified as omnivores in the wild. They will hunt and catch insects, spiders, worms, and even small rodents and lizards. They also consume leafy greens as well as ripe fruit. Basically, they will eat almost anything they can find while hunting for their next meal.
This might seem a bit overwhelming but their wide variety of foods make them easy to care for in captivity.
Bearded Dragon Diet Breakdown
Bearded dragons should have a diet breakdown of mostly protein. There should be around 70% of small crickets you can buy at any pet store and the other 30% should be composed of vegetables. Once the dragon begins to grow, the protein sources can change to a wider variety such as bigger crickets, worms, and even pinky mice once the “beardies” are fully grown.
How To Keep Your Bearded Dragon Healthy
Keeping bearded dragons can be quite easy however they do have a few basic requirements that need to be kept healthy.
We recommend soaking your bearded dragon in warm water 2-3 times each week, this will help them to defecate on a regular basis.
It is also important to remember that when bearded dragons are shedding, they will do so throughout 48 hours. This will normally happen during the seasons of spring and summer when they eat most often. Shedding will generally be large patches at a time, so if you see shedding that happens just in the digits or at the tip of the tail the bearded dragon might require soaking to avoid infection.
Cleaning Bearded Dragon Tank
It is very important to regularly clean your bearded dragon’s enclosure. You should remove the substrate and replace it every week. This is where using paper towels comes in handy, the clean-up is much easier in comparison to sand and gravel.
The actual tank should be cleaned with diluted soapy water every 2 weeks or so. If you find spilled water, old food, and feces in the tank, make sure to clean that as soon as possible.
Remember that a bearded dragon’s feces will usually be in the form of small pellets, with a brown tint to them. Check for abnormalities while you perform the daily cleanings to the tank, this is a great way to make sure your Bearded Dragon is progressing well and healthy. If you notice any abnormalities such as blood, take your dragon to see your specialized veterinarian check for parasites.
Bearded Dragon Lifespan
The average bearded dragon can have a long life of 7 – 12 years in captivity. These lizards will generally be healthy, improper care is the usual cause for sick “beardies”.
One of the most likely causes for sick dragons can be a calcium deficiency from a bad diet, too much phosphorus, and not having a good source of UVB can all result in metabolic bone disease. Many owners and veterinarians state that a telltale sign of MBD is the dragon seemingly draping its appendages instead of standing in normal posture.
Other issues bearded dragons may present due to suboptimal care are intestinal impaction. This is a direct result of the dragon eating the substrate. If you keep multiple dragons in one enclosure they can develop cage aggression and ultimately cause trauma to each other.
Other diseases which include cardiac and renal issues are not usually common with bearded dragons.
Bearded Dragon Behavior
The bearded dragon is not considered to be an aggressive lizard in the wild, even among other bearded dragons, it is fundamentally non-aggressive. In fact, when there are several bearded dragons living in close proximity to each other they will develop a social hierarchy with one being the dominant dragon.
Bearded dragons will however challenge each other when it comes to food. If you ever see bearded dragons trying to establish dominance you will typically notice them bobbing their heads while they turn in circles. This pattern signals a challenge to another dragon and it is called circumduction. At the same time, dragons can have deep starting contests to also signal a challenge to each other.
Finally, if the lizard feels threatened by predators or another dragon, they will finally show their “beard” to make themselves seem much bigger than they really are.
Bearded Dragon Behavior in Captivity
The behavior displayed by bearded dragons in captivity is similar to their counterparts in their natural habitat. They may show signs of aggression with other bearded dragons if they are put in the same enclosure, this will not really affect their mostly friendly behavior towards humans though. If you want to avoid behavioral and aggression issues it is best to keep “beardies” in separate tanks.
These small lizards will live and thrive very well living alone in their enclosure. All they really need to be happy is a basking light, a place to hide and cool off, and steady meals.
Bearded dragons will sometimes go through a period where they begin to eat less than they would normally, this is called brumation. Brumation will also affect sleep patterns and they might fall into a deep sleep that lasts from a couple of weeks to up to 4 months.
It is possible to purposely put your dragon in a brumation stage, in fact, breeders will do this before sexing these lizards. This is achieved by placing the temperature of the tank at 60℉-75℉ for 4-6 weeks. In order to end the brumation period, breeders will begin to rain the temperature gradually over time.
Handling a Bearded Dragon
Whenever you plan on handling your bearded dragon make sure you have your hands clean by washing them first. This will assist in preventing you from spreading bacteria that can hurt your little dragon. Remember that bearded dragons are usually quite docile and will easily run to your hand even if it hasn’t been washed.
Bearded dragons will feel much safer if you hold flat on your hand instead of cradling so consider that if you are getting a new dragon. Remember it can take time for the new member to feel comfortable enough for you to pick it up.
Bearded Dragon Appearance
Bearded dragons have a very particular look that people tend to love. A bearded dragon care guide would not be complete without us going over the special look these little guys have.
Bearded dragons have large, triangular-shaped heads. They also sport the nice “beards” they are known for, these flare out when they feel threatened. They have very pronounced, fleshy tongues and round pupils. One particular trait enthusiasts seem to really like is the lateral spines that run down the sides of the bearded dragon.
In terms of color, as with many reptiles, the males seem to have stronger shades of color as well as more distinguishable markings than the females of the species. The male will also have a wider base of the tail.
Bearded Dragon Size
Bearded dragons are considered to be small to medium-sized lizards at 15 – 20 inches in length. The average weight of a grown bearded dragon is between 230 grams – 520 grams. It will take a while for them to reach this size, anywhere from 15-24 months.
Bearded Dragon Colors
If you want to know about bearded dragon care, than we have to go over the varios colors. Colors and shades for the bearded dragon can vary depending on the particular type of species. You can find brown, orange, red, yellow, and even pastel-colored bearded dragons.
There are certain types of bearded dragons that are purposely bred to have certain colors and physical characteristics such as the leatherback which showcases reduced scale size. There is even a type of bearded dragon called “Silk back” which has been selectively bred to have no scales at all.
Breeding Bearded Dragons
The male bearded dragon will begin to turn a darker shade around the throat area when looking to court a female dragon. If the female is receptive to the male, her body will begin to flatten in preparation to copulate.
During the actual mating, the male will go ahead and bite the female on the back of the neck. This will typically take place during the spring and into the early part of the summer. Typically breeders will first have their dragons go through brumation first, this ensures the progesterone levels in the female are high. No bearded dragon care guide would be complete without how they nest.
Nesting For Bearded Dragons
The Bearded dragon care guide would not be complete without a section on nesting. Beardies will naturally bury their eggs so a nesting box will be necessary. You should have an area in the tank that is full of soil that is around 10 inches deep. “Beardies” will lay several eggs, in fact, they can lay 3 separate clutches that contain 35 eggs each. That is different from a few other pet lizards and it is why breeders like bearded dragons so much.
Once the female has laid her eggs, go ahead and remove them from the enclosure. They should be put into an incubator with a temperature of 82℉-86℉. The baby dragons hatch very quickly, in about 3-4 weeks.
How Old Should a Baby Dragon be When I Get?
IF you are getting your first bearded dragon, we suggest you wait until it is 6 months old. By this time the baby dragon will already be eating regularly.
How Much Does A Bearded Dragon Cost?
Bearded dragons can cost up to $100 once they are juveniles, they can have a price of $50 if you buy them as babies.
Conclusion
The bearded dragon is a great pet lizard for beginners. They are docile lizards with great temperaments that don’t mind being handled by their owners. If you are looking for a new friend, take a look at the friendly and cool-looking bearded dragon!
