There are numerous kinds of dragons with bearded faces. Bearded dragons that are regular in appearance are known as wild ones as they are most popular. They are quite accessible in pet stores as well as online.
Another major type of category is known as fancy. The term “fancy” is used to describe species or morphs which are distinct from the typical wild-type.
The fancy species are selectively breeding to bring out brighter colors distinctive scale patterns or larger sizes.
It’s a challenge buyers looking to purchase an expensive bearded dragon. A majority of fancy dragons don’t look alike There is an array of designs, colors and costs.
Are you thinking of getting an exotic bearded dragon? Before purchasing, be aware of what is a fancy bearded dragon. It is also important to know how to recognize one and the distinctions between wild-type species and bearded dragons.
What Is A Fancy Bearded Dragon?
A bearded dragon is considered fancy when its color or pattern or scales do not fall within typical wild type species. There is no formal definition of a fancy dragon. Any dragon with a unique color size, pattern or color is considered to be fancy.
It is not a type of morph, but rather a term used for all morphs and species that are uncommon or distinctive.
Regular bearded dragons ( Pogona vitticeps) are usually beige, tan or light brown, and have dark yellow markings. Their coloring and pattern is specially designed for camouflage in the deserts of Australia. Dragons with fancy beards are dazzling colours of orange and red with striking patterns of zigzags and less spikes.
These characteristics make them easy to recognize However, this can also mean it’s extremely difficult for them to survive on their own in the wilderness.
The fancy bears are able to stand out from predators. For instance, a red-hot form sitting on a tree in Australia is easily observed by a hawk, while wild bears is likely to blend in.
Due to this, the fancy bearded dragons are usually used as pet animals. But where did they come from?
Breeding
Bearded dragons are extremely easily able to mat in captivity.
Selective breeding is that involves two Bearded Dragons with the desired characteristic are mated in order to create offspring that have similar characteristics. The offspring then get bred with offspring with the same traits in order to boost the intensity.
The selective breeding method allows beautiful dragons to be passed on their own unique characteristics.
A lot of these traits start with natural changes in bearded dragons, which create a distinctive appearance. Common variations include brighter colors or less spikes.
In wild populations, these traits typically do not last due to the presence of predators or health problems.
For instance, a scaleless dragon with a fancy appearance results from a mutation in the gene for scales. This mutation lowers the amount of scales a bearded dragon can have. In the wild, this makes them more susceptible at risk of locked shed injuries, predators and injury. Due to this, an unscaled fancy has not been discovered in the wild.
Breeding bearded dragons to get fancy characteristics can have its disadvantages.
Certain species, like the Silkback typically have health issues as well as a shorter duration.
If you are looking to purchase an expensive bearded dragon it is essential to research how well the breeder’s reputation is known to. The healthy species are bright active, alert and alert with strong legs, and no retained shed.
Price
The fancy bearded dragons are much more attractive than regular dragons.
The attraction of exotic species is due to their intriguing distinctive colors and patterns.
Dragons with fancy bears are offered for $150-$300. Some very rare variations, such as the ‘zero’ are offered for more than $900. This is a lot higher than wild-type bearded Dragons which can be purchased for $30 to $50..
The price is higher because some keepers spend more to enjoy the perks of owning a “fancy” beardie.
Regular Bearded Dragon vs Fancy Bearded Dragon
There are eight bearded dragon species and four species are used as pet animals. Central bearded dragon (
Pogona vitticeps
) can be the largest and most well-known pet species. Each fancy bearded dragon comes of the Pogona vitticeps subspecies. However, they’ve been selectively crossed to produce unique patterns and colors.
Both the common and fancy bearded dragons are of the same subspecies however they are different in distinct markings, colors, and sizes:
| Fancy | Wild Type | |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Scales less or none at all, as well as strange patterns and markings like stripes, spots, and Zangzags | The spine is rough and spiny. It has a thin stripe that runs down the spine. It has irregular stripe spots on the sides |
| Color | Bright black, yellow as well as purple, red, and black. Also, melanistic and albino varieties. | Sandy brown, tan or light brown, with white and beige marks |
Appearance
The majority of fancy bearded dragons look similar in size to normal bearded dragons with one exception that is famous. Bearded dragons of the wild type the size of 15 to 20 inches in length. They can also reach up to 20 inches long. German Giant morph can grow to 30 inches!
Spikes
A few exotic bearded dragons are different from normal bears. Most famous are silkback and leatherback transformations.
The leatherback dragons have a few spines on their beards, sides and backs. They also have small scalesand more smooth texture. Silkback morphs do not have scales or spines, and they have smooth wrinkles.
Color
The fancy bearded dragons have been created to be bright and bright. Common dragons are tan white, and brown with sandy hues and a slight yellow undertone. The most popular fancy bears are orange and red with black, white, and even the purple markings.
Pattern
The other distinction between fancy and common bearded dragons is their design. The wild-type dragons feature a lighter stripe that runs along their spine. They also have dark, uneven blotches the opposite side. Most popular patterns include stripes of tiger, zigzags, and camouflage prints.
Diet
It is believed that the diet of the beautiful bearded dragon is similar to that of the wild type. Both are omnivores, and consume a variety of vegetables, fruits and insects. As they get older bearded dragons shift their food preferences from mainly insects to a majority of vegetables.
Behavior
Dragons with fancy bears are not different from other species when it comes to their behaviour. They are friendly and easy to control. Both species are known for their head bob or dig, gape the hiss, and wave.
Care
The fancy bearded dragons appear different from wild-type bears, however, they all require the same level of care. The majority of them have the same temperatures, humidity, and lighting requirements. However, leatherback and silkback models are more sensitive to sharp and bright objects and therefore require special attention.
How To Identify A Fancy Bearded Dragon
A lot of pet stores promote their exotic and rare pets as exotic hoping to boost the attraction and attract attention from potential buyers.
If your bearded dragon is described as fancy doesn’t necessarily mean it’s. However, the reverse is also true. A beardie could be labelled as common even though it’s fancy!
The term “fancy” is not an official definition.
How do you tell whether a dragon with a bearded face is a common sight or a fancy one?
The easiest method to recognize an interest is to check the color or pattern. These are the main factors that determine.
Dragons with fancy bears usually have bright orange, bright red as well as yellow stripes on their backs. Whites, browns, and blacks are also popular in exotic species. All of these colors could be shown in spots, stripes or even figure-eight designs. It’s based on the morph, as well as their genetic backgrounds.
Wild bearded dragons typically don’t have vibrant patterns or colors, and tend to have more natural and have sandy colors.
Silkbacks and Leatherbacks dragons can be among the most straightforward fancy dragons to spot. They have little spines or scales which give them a wrinkled appearance as well as a smooth skin.
Green, yellow, red and ruby red bearded dragons can be as well easy to spot due to their vibrant colors.
Common Bearded Dragon
If your dragon’s bearded has strikingly vivid reds, fiery oranges or noticeable blacks and browns it is likely that it’s a fancy pet! If you’ve read our information and you think that you might have purchased a typical bearded dragon, our guide below may aid. Here are four methods to recognize the wild or common kind:
Color
Common bearded dragons have color-matched to their natural habitat. They’re brown or tan, with light and dark patches on their sides as well as stripes running horizontally across their tails. They usually have an dark stripe that goes across their eyes and down to their ears.
Body
Regular bearded dragons possess one line of spines along the sides of their bodies. The longest spine is closest to their front arms. The spines highlight their flat pancake-shaped bodies, particularly when they are basking.
Head
Wild species have broad triangular heads bordered by two rows of spines. Their heads are massive relative to their body dimensions.
Beard
The famous beard is the thing that is what gives dragons with bearded faces the name. The pouch is covered with spines under their chins which can be darkened and inflated. During breeding season males can blow up their beards and then bob their heads to show off their supremacy.
Summary
Fancy is a class of bearded dragons which includes every species and morph that is uncommon or unique.
They are like bearded dragons. They’ve been specifically bred to have particular traits, such as bright and vibrant colors or distinctive patterns. This results in them being more bright and vibrant than the common breeds.
The fancy bearded dragons typically feature striking patterns with bold, striking colors which resemble stripes of zebra or Polka dots.
The distinctive markings are available in vibrant reds as well as oranges, yellows blacks and even violets. These colors aren’t found in wild species.
Their colors and prices makes fancy bearded dragons look different in the crowd. However their diet, care and manner of living are similar to normal bearded dragons.
Are you ready to add a unique dragon into your reptile library? Tell us about it by leaving a comment.
