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Bearded Dragon Care Guide

Read below to learn more about how to care for a Bearded Dragon.

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  Bearded Dragon Care Guide

 
One of the most popular lizard pets, bearded dragons make great family pets due to their placid disposition and ease of maintenance. The most common pet dragon is the inland bearded dragon, Pogona vitticeps.

Vital Statistics

Length: 18-22 inches
Age of sexual maturity: 1-2 years
Average weight: 283-510 g
Life span: 10 years

Habitat
Bearded Dragons are native to inland Australia and adapted to warm, dry climates. Their enclosure needs to be easy to clean and large enough for climbing, exploring, and basking – at least 4 x 2 ft for an adult. Use an acceptable substrate for the floor of the enclosure. Ensure a gradient of temperatures in their enclosure, from 95F to a basking spot of around 105F. Expose to unfiltered sunlight or commercial full-spectrum fluorescent bulbs. Don’t forget to add rocks or sturdy branches for climbing and places for your bearded dragon to hide.
Water
Bearded dragons thrive in low humidity. Weekly misting showers should provide drinking water. A shallow dish with fresh water in its enclosure will provide opportunities for bathing.
Diet

Offer both live prey and vegetation to provide a balanced diet. Since dragons are active during the day, they should be fed in the morning.

Live prey:

  • crickets
  • superworms
  • mealworms
  • wax worms
  • locusts

Vegetation:

  • dandelions
  • turnip greens
  • mustard greens
  • beet green
  • kale
  • collards
  • bok choy
  • Swiss chard
  • escarole
  • cilantro

Prey should be “dusted” with a vitamin-mineral supplement and calcium before feeding.

Feeding Schedule
Baby bearded dragons should be fed twice daily and eat small, moving prey such as 2-week-old crickets. Salads should be introduced to encourage eating greens and vegetables as they mature.

Juvenile bearded dragons grow rapidly and need plenty of food offered daily. Hungry juveniles housed together will nip at the tails and toes of their cagemates.

Adult bearded dragons should be fed daily or every other day. They prefer a diet of 55% salads, 20% vegetables, and 25% prey.

When to contact us

Regular veterinary care and proper home care are essential for bearded dragons to live a long and healthy life. If you are bringing home a new bearded dragon, it should be examined by a veterinarian before being introduced to people or other pets in the household. Signs your bearded dragon may be sick or injured include:

  • Reduced growth
  • Poor appetite
  • Depression
  • Swelling in the face or legs
  • Loss of weight
  • Regurgitation
  • Fractures
  • Spasms
  • Convulsions
  • Difficulty walking, climbing, or chewing food