Are you a pet-owner searching to get your very first reptile or maybe you’re an expert in reptiles and are looking for a new reptile?
Whatever the case, the Bearded Dragon is an animal that is friendly and can welcome into any house and is ideal for novices due to their gentleness and their ability to adjust to the environment.
Also known as Beardies in the wild they’re usually found in trees and on floor within Australia and are well-known for their wide-mouthed “smiles” (which is actually an attempt to chill out)!
It is relatively easy to take care of They enjoy eating leafy greens and eating insects. When in captivity, you’ll be able to see them in their shade, or enjoying in the sunlight. They are very accommodating to handling and are among the most loved reptiles.
If this cute Dragon has caught your eye and you’re eager to know how to take care of the creatures and how to buy these, continue reading for more information about what to be expecting.
What is a bearded dragon?
A huge, semi-arboreal native lizard from Australia They reside in trees as well as in the earth. With their tails growing to 15-20 inches and are adorned with spines on both sides of their bodies, which extend through the middle the tail.
The name was derived because of the skin flap that is under their chins that can be opened to repel predators.
The popular name Bearded Dragon refers to all eight species of the Genus Pogona. They were once part of the Genus Amphibolurus group, but has since been put within Pogona.
The most well-known species among the six is Pogona vitticeps that has shown to be more welcoming and less maintenance-intensive when compared to with the five other species.
There are three primary reasons as to why they are so well-liked by owners of reptiles:
- They are widely bred throughout the US Therefore, there are many breeders with a good reputation and they are easy to find
- They are extremely tolerant of handling and quickly adapt to the environment in captivity.
- Like other lizards, they don’t have nocturnal habits, so they are active throughout the day.
The majority of Americans today living in United States are descended from the tiniest of Dragons who were brought over from Germany in the year 1980.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Common Names | Eastern Black-Soil Plains Lawson’s, Rankin’s, Kimberly Small-Scale Western, Dwarf, North-West, Nullarbor, Central and Inland Bearded Dragons (all depending on the species) |
| Scientific Name | Pogona barbata, P. henrylawsoni, P. microlepidota, P. minor, P. nullarbor, P. vitticeps |
| Adult Size | 15-20 inches from 230 to 525 grams |
| Lifespan | 7-12 years old |
| Diet | Vegetables with leaves and insects |
| Tank Size | 4ft x 2ft x 2ft at minimum |
| Temperature and Humidity | Infrared and UVB light sources UVB and infrared lights, 30%-40% humidity 85-95 basking area in the daytime. |
| Popular Alternatives | The Leopard Gecko, Crested Gecko and Blue-Tongued Skinks |
Bearded Dragon Care Sheet
The following guide to care for your pet is inspired by the Pogona. Vitticeps Bearded Dragon and the advice will differ slightly depending on which species you select. But, most of the suggestions below are suitable for all six species.
The natural habitat of the lizard is an open, semi-desert area in Australia. The reptiles are semi-arboreal, and love spending their time on branches or in the dirt.
They have relatively simple needs; they require:
- A UVB lamp as well as an infrared light for basking
- A varied diet of leafy vegetables and insects
- A glass cage that measures 36ft3
Tank and enclosure
The enclosure of the enclosure of a Bearded Dragon should be transparent with a screen at the top. Their tank should be between four and six feet in length, two feet in width, as well as 2 to three feet tall.
A tank this big is large enough to house this lizard , and can also prevent the tank to avoid overheating. It is generally the larger the tank, the more efficient.
To replicate their natural habitat In order to better mimic their natural environment, there should be branches and rocks within the tank, giving them a place to hide as well as shade to cool down after sunbathing.
Heating and Lighting
A diurnal Lizard They are active and alert throughout the day. They are expected to get 12 hours of sunlight and 12 hours of dark.
Bearded Dragons require ultraviolet light in order to be healthy (and when used in conjunction with calcium supplements can help stop Nutritional secondary Hyperparathyroidism or Metabolic Bone Disease). UVB bulbs are monitored by an UV radiometer, and must be replaced every 6 to 12 months. Alongside a UVB bulb and a UVB radiometer, they should be equipped with a 40-75W infrared lamp to enjoy the.
Some people enjoy the outdoors in daylight. If you choose to go outside, be sure that you keep an eye on your dragon always!
There must be distinct temperatures in the tank: one side for basking and another “cool” side. Two thermometers should be kept one in the basking zone and another in the cool area:
- They love basking in the heat and this area of your tank must be 95-105
- The tank should be around 80 in the daytime however this could decrease in the evening. Heating pads beneath the tank will stop any of the rocks inside from heating up too much.
If they are basking in heat their ribs expand to increase the heat they take in. This creates the appearance of being “flat” appearance
The sight of a Bearded Dragon opening its mouth and “smiling” excessively may indicate that the tank is getting too hot..
The humidity of the tank is supposed to be between 30 and 40 percent, and it is maintained through misting of the tank once every 24 hours. The temperature and humidity is dependent on the geographic location and the type of Bearded Dragon you have in the tank. It is generally the case that temperature is extremely high, and humidity generally low.
Substrate
There is a possibility to make use of sand or gravel to make an authentic substrate. But, sand could cause harm to your dragon’s digestive tract in the event that they accidentally eat it.
Paper towels and newspapers are more secure alternatives and are also easier to clean and dispose. This material should be cleaned frequently or should it show any indications of the growth of a bacterium.
| Tank Tips | |
|---|---|
| Tank Type | Screen top and glass tank |
| Lighting | UVB and infrared |
| The Best Substrate | Newspaper |
What can Bearded Dragons eat?
Wild, Beardies have omnivore instincts. consume insects, spiders small rodents, worms smaller lizards and greens fruit and flowers.
They are a predatory opportunistic who attack their prey in close proximity.
In the confinement facility the diet of captives is simple to keep.
When they are a hatchling (less than two month old), they will consume food 2-3 times per day.
The diet should comprise of 30% vegetables and 70 tiny crickets. The protein that a dragon eats in its diet could be made up of superworms, crickets and even pinky mice. In all stages of life, they should consume the following types of vegetables:
| Vegetables You can feed a bearded Dragon | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dandelions | Romaine lettuce | Beet is the best |
| Leafy greens | Carrots | Squash |
| Zucchini |
As a young person they should eat every day and consume an adequate diet of lush greens and bugs. While greens must be eaten daily, insects should be fed at least once a day.
When they reach adulthood the Bearded Dragon must be fed every day. It should be a mixture of crickets, as well as lots of vegetables that are green.
Calcium as well as Vitamin D3 supplements must be included in their diet to ensure their health. The ideal time to feed your dragon is in early in the morning since this will allow the animal to digest its food during the hottest part of the day.
For drinking water, they can be cautious when they need to take their water from a large bowl. So, it is recommended to provide them with drinking water from a shallow bowl that is clean throughout the day.
| Diet Summary | |
|---|---|
| Insects | Feeding of mealworms and crickets often throughout the week. |
| Fruits | 0% |
| Vegetables | Leafy greens, carrots, squash, zucchini |
| Supplements Are Required | Vitamin D3 and Vitamin D3 |
How To Maintain Their Health
One of the best methods to ensure that your Bearded Dragon in good health is to maintain a consistent and proper grooming!
Bathing your dragon every day isn’t the only requirement, but bathing them in warm water for a couple of times per week can help them eliminate. When they shed in pieces that last for some days. The frequency of sheds depends on the diet they eat and the time of season.
They’re likely to shed their skin during the spring and summer months when they eat regularly. Unusual shedding can occur around the digits and the part of the tail. If this occurs it is possible that they need to be cleaned to prevent any infections.
Cleaning Their Tanks
When you clean their tank, be sure to take out your substrate every week. Paper towels and newspaper are far more simple to replace than sand.
The tank must be cleaned every two weeks using dilute soap and water..
If there are old food or feces, or even spilled water on the floor Make sure to spot clean it every day. While clearing out the waste of your dragon and feces, be sure to look for any unusualities. The normal feces of Bearded Dragons is brown, and the pellets are shaped and it should be an urate that is semisolid as well.
If the waste appears to be unusual or you notice blood, it could indicate an endoparasitic disease and you need to take your pet’s veterinarian.
How Do Bearded Dragons Live For?
Bears can live between 7 to 12 years in the wild. They’re generally healthy and lizards are generally healthy. any health problems arise from unhygienic care.
A calcium deficiency, or an excess of phosphorus, in their diet, or lack of a UVB source, could lead to metabolic bone disease (also called nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism). A sign of this condition is that your dragon is pulling its tail, legs or body, instead of being able to stand up with force.
Trauma caused by cage aggression can also happen when dragons are kept in cages. Impaction in the intestines (common due to eating substrate) as well as heart and renal diseases are not as common in this species.
| Health Signs That They Are | Ailment Symptoms of Sickness |
|---|---|
| It’s great to relax and enjoy the sun. | Vocalizing distress |
| It will alternate between the area for basking and then the shade | Spending time only in the area where the sun sets |
| They will flee whenever you attempt to capture them. | Random weight loss |
| Muscles are well-rounded. Dragon is tall and strong on all four legs | Refusing to take food |
Bearded Dragon Behavior
When in the wild, in their natural habitat the species known as Lizard is known to be aggressive toward each other. If there are several living in the same place they’ll form an environment of social interaction that has one reptile as the dominant. They might be a bit aggressive, chase each other or even ride on top of each the other. The dominant lizard is the most social of the groups , and often confront other lizards.
Bearded Dragons compete with each other to eat. They perform it through moving their head and rotating their legs in circles. This is known as circumduction. They also look at each other with intense eyes.
If they feel under threat, either by a dominant dragon or an animal predator or predator, their “beard” will extend to make them appear more threatening and even larger.
In captivity Beardies could exhibit similar behavior when housed alongside other dragons. Even though they’re very friendly with human beings, it is best to avoid putting them close because they could create a social hierarchy and may be aggressive.
Alley, Bearded Dragons are happy and friendly Lizards. They may hide from time to time but they prefer to regularly switch between their shade and basking spot.
The possibility exists to allow Bearded Dragons to go through Brumation, a period during which they consume less food and are able to sleep for two to four months. Breeders often put the dragons to brumation prior to having sex. This is achieved through keeping your tank in the range of 60-75 over 4-6 weeks, then gradual increase the temperatures as the passing of time.
Handling
Do not grab them from the tail as the tail may be slid off, but not regenerate.
Always cleanse your hands before as well after you handle your dragon. This will help prevent the spread of many bacteria like Salmonella. Bears are extremely gentle towards humans.
Though they could escape when you attempt to grab them at first they can handle handling well and might even prefer hanging around your shoulders.
If you keep them on their backs (instead of hugging them) they’ll feel more secure. If you acquire a brand new dragon, allow your dragon time of three-to four days to get used to it before you try to handle for short durations of time.
Appearance
Bears have round pupils, soft tongues, and spines on the lateral side that run down their sides and up to the base of their tails.
Their heads are big and broad, and they are of an angular form. They also sport “beards” that distend and act as a protection system when they are feeling threatened.
Males have more coloring and distinct marks than females. They also have a an extended tail base.
Size
A Bearded Dragon can be anywhere from 15 and 20 inches in length. It may sound huge for a novice herpetologist, however without their tails, their snout venting size is just about 10 inches! A mature adult should weigh between 230 and 520 grams and is expected to reach this weight in the 18-24 months following.
Colors
They range between brown and orange based upon the type of animal and the morph. Sandfire morphs are more of the red color, whereas pastel lizards are more diluted in coloration. Some also have yellow.
There are several specific bloodlines that can be created in captivity in order to have an appearance that is specific to them:
- It is the Leatherback is bred to produce smaller size
- Silkback Silkback is breed to be free of scales
Bearded Dragon Babies
When a male wishes to attract a female and wants to impress her, he’ll make his throat darker and move around her. If she is willing to accept the offer, she will lower her body in order to permit the copulation. When copulation occurs, the male will attack on the female’s neck. The mating process occurs between the spring and in the early summer, when the levels of progesterone in females are at their highest. It happens after brumation which is why it is recommended for reptiles to be brumated prior to breeding them.
A nest box should be made available for Bearded Dragons, as they lay their eggs in a nest box. A space with a depth of 10 inches of soil or sand is sufficient. In contrast to the majority of reptiles emales are able to lay three clutches that can contain approximately 35 eggs per clutch.
Once the female has laid eggs, they must be taken out of the nest and placed in an incubator with vermiculite soil replacement and water at around 82-86. They should develop in three to four weeks.
The newborns are born with an egg tooth, which can be used to make their way out of their eggshells. When they are born dragons must be separated from one another as soon as possible because they could create a social structure the way they do in adulthood.
An amateur herpetologist seeking to buy Beardies (instead breeders) you should buy their reptile between three to six months old. At this point they’re growing and eating frequently.
What is the cost of a bearded Dragon Cost?
Baby Bearded Dragons are priced between $30 and $60 however, juveniles at six months could cost up to $100 USD.
Care Guide Summary
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Docile behavior | Additional heating and lighting are required. |
| Friendly and welcoming personality | It is not possible to house them together. |
| Captive-friendly and adaptable |
A friendly Bearded Dragon is a great reptile to those who are novices. They are relatively simple to handle and their gentle dispositions make them an easy reptile to manage. They are also adored because of the “smiling” faces and unique personalities.
There aren’t many reptiles who could be capable of battling to be a part of the heart of owners of reptiles, as well as this dragon. This Leopard Gecko is an excellent reptile to start with.
Certain lizards that can be more difficult to deal with includes that of the crested Gecko and the Blue Tongued Skink. These lizards aren’t as friendly as the Bearded Dragon However, they don’t require the same amount of illumination or heat as dragons do.
Overall, Beardies are an easy-going reptile that consumes a healthy diet. Beardies have lighting and heating requirements, but they can be easily achieved when you have the right arrangement.
Select one you would like to take home and add it to your family!
