Bearded dragons, often called “beardies,” are popular pet lizards native to central Australia, known for their docile nature and unique “beard” defense mechanism. When threatened, they flare out their chin skin, which darkens to resemble a beard. Understanding proper Bearded Dragon Care is crucial for ensuring a healthy and happy life for these fascinating reptiles.
It’s important to remember that all reptiles can carry diseases, including Salmonella. Always wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling your bearded dragon or anything in its enclosure as part of responsible bearded dragon care.
Understanding Your Bearded Dragon: Key Characteristics
| Aspect of Care | Detail |
|---|---|
| Care Difficulty | Beginner-friendly |
| Lifespan | 8–10 years with optimal bearded dragon care |
| Adult Size | Up to 24 inches (half tail) |
| Diet | Omnivorous (insects, vegetables, fruits) |
| Minimum Habitat Size | 20 gallons (juveniles), 40+ gallons (adults) for proper bearded dragon care |
Essential Supplies for Bearded Dragon Care
Providing the right environment is fundamental to bearded dragon care. Here’s a list of essential supplies to get you started:
- Habitat:
- Appropriately sized tank (20 gallons+ for juveniles, 40 gallons+ for adults). Larger is always better for bearded dragon care.
- Secure screened lid for ventilation and preventing escapes.
- Diet & Feeding:
- Bearded dragon food: High-quality commercial pellets as a supplement.
- Live reptile food: Crickets, mealworms, roaches, etc.
- Treats: Occasional fruits and vegetables.
- Food and water dishes (shallow and sturdy).
- Mealworm dish (smooth-sided to contain worms).
- Cricket keeper and supplies (food, quencher).
- Habitat Furnishings:
- Substrate (reptile carpet, paper towels, or safe loose substrates with careful feeding practices).
- Moss (sphagnum moss for humidity hide).
- Hideaway places (at least two: warm and cool side).
- Climbing decor (branches, rocks).
- Plants (non-toxic live or artificial).
- Heating & Lighting:
- Heat light and fixture (basking lamp).
- Under-tank heater (optional, for supplemental heat).
- UVB lighting and fixture (essential for vitamin D3 synthesis and calcium absorption – vital for bearded dragon care).
- Supplements:
- Multivitamin supplement (reptile-specific).
- Calcium supplements (with and without vitamin D3).
- Monitoring & Maintenance:
- Thermometers (digital recommended, at least two: warm and cool side).
- Humidity gauge (hygrometer).
- Mister (for increasing humidity).
Creating the Perfect Bearded Dragon Habitat: Tank Setup
Tank Size: Space to Thrive
For juvenile bearded dragons, start with a 20-gallon tank, but remember they grow quickly. As part of responsible bearded dragon care, upgrade to a minimum of a 40-gallon tank for an adult. Larger tanks, like 75 or 120 gallons, are even better, providing ample space for exercise and enrichment, which is key to optimal bearded dragon care. Ensure the enclosure has a secure screened lid for ventilation and to prevent escapes.
Setting Up the Ideal Environment
Bearded dragons are solitary animals, and housing males together is highly discouraged due to aggression. While females might coexist, it’s generally best to house them individually unless you are experienced and can provide very large enclosures and careful monitoring. Overcrowding and competition for resources can lead to stress and health issues, undermining good bearded dragon care. Never house different reptile species together.
If housing multiple females, ensure ample space exceeding the 40-gallon minimum per dragon, and closely observe their interactions for signs of stress or bullying. If you keep a male and female together, be prepared for breeding, and understand the significant responsibility of caring for hatchlings. It’s recommended to wait until females are at least two years old before cohabitating with males to avoid breeding complications.
Temperature Gradient: Warmth and Cool Zones
Bearded dragons are ectothermic and rely on external heat to regulate their body temperature. A crucial aspect of bearded dragon care is providing a thermal gradient within their enclosure. This means creating a warm basking spot and a cooler zone, allowing them to move between temperatures as needed.
The basking spot should reach around 100°F (38°C), while the cool end of the tank should be around 75°F (24°C). Use thermometers on both the warm and cool ends to monitor temperatures accurately. A digital point-and-shoot thermometer is useful for quick temperature checks throughout the enclosure, ensuring consistent bearded dragon care.
Lighting: Heat and UVB are Key
Provide a basking lamp (incandescent bulb or ceramic heat emitter) at one end of the tank to create the basking area. The wattage will depend on your tank size and room temperature; adjust it to achieve the correct basking temperature. Proper heating is fundamental to bearded dragon care.
In addition to heat, UVB lighting is absolutely essential for bearded dragon care. UVB light allows bearded dragons to synthesize vitamin D3, which is crucial for calcium absorption and preventing Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). Use a full-spectrum UVB bulb spanning at least half the length of the enclosure. Bearded dragons need 10-12 hours of UVB light daily.
UVB bulbs lose their effectiveness over time, even if they still produce visible light. Replace UVB bulbs every 6 months to ensure your bearded dragon receives adequate UVB for optimal bearded dragon care. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for bulb placement distance from your beardie.
Humidity: Maintaining the Right Balance
While native to Australia, bearded dragons still require a moderate humidity level for healthy shedding and respiratory function. The ideal humidity range for bearded dragon care is 30% to 50%. Too low humidity can lead to shedding problems.
Increase humidity by misting the enclosure and decor regularly, or by adding live, non-toxic plants. A humidity hide box filled with moist sphagnum moss on the warm side can also be beneficial, especially during shedding. If humidity is too high, improve ventilation by ensuring the screened lid is unobstructed. Use a hygrometer to monitor humidity daily as part of responsible bearded dragon care.
Substrate: Choosing Safe Bedding
Select a safe substrate for the bottom of the enclosure. Reptile carpet or paper towels are easy-to-clean and safe options. Avoid loose substrates like gravel, wood chips, and walnut shells, as these can be ingested and cause impaction.
If you choose to use loose substrates like sand or coconut fiber for a more naturalistic look, always feed your bearded dragon in a dish or separate feeding container to minimize the risk of substrate ingestion. Impaction is a serious health concern, so substrate safety is a critical aspect of bearded dragon care.
Decor: Enrichment and Comfort
Food Dishes: Hygiene and Safety
Always offer food in shallow dishes or feeding tanks to prevent substrate ingestion. Worm dishes with smooth sides are ideal for containing live feeders like mealworms. Cricket feeders can also help keep crickets contained. Maintaining clean food dishes daily is part of good bearded dragon care.
Hiding Areas: Security and Stress Reduction
Provide at least two hide boxes: one on the warm side and one on the cool side. Hides offer security and reduce stress, essential for bearded dragon care. They also allow your bearded dragon to escape direct light and heat when needed. Monitor your bearded dragon to ensure they aren’t spending all their time hiding, as they need UVB exposure.
Climbing Branches and Basking Rocks: Exercise and Basking
Include sturdy branches and basking rocks for climbing and basking. Ensure branches are thick and stable enough to support your bearded dragon’s weight to prevent accidents and injuries, which are important considerations in bearded dragon care. Place basking rocks directly under the heat lamp to create optimal basking spots.
Moss: Humidity Hide Enhancement
Moist sphagnum moss inside a hide box on the warm side creates a humidity hide, aiding in healthy shedding. Replace moss regularly to prevent mold growth, ensuring a healthy environment for bearded dragon care.
Plants: Naturalistic Enrichment
Non-toxic live plants or artificial plants enhance the enclosure’s aesthetics and can slightly increase humidity. Choose sturdy plants that can withstand a bearded dragon’s activity. Ensure any live plants are non-toxic if ingested, further enhancing bearded dragon care.
Cleaning and Maintenance: A Hygienic Habitat
Daily spot cleaning is essential for bearded dragon care. Remove feces, uneaten food, and shed skin daily. Wash food and water bowls daily to prevent bacterial buildup.
A thorough cleaning and disinfection of the entire habitat should be done at least weekly (more often if housing multiple dragons).
Steps for Cleaning:
- Move your bearded dragon to a secure temporary enclosure. Remove all substrate, decor, and accessories.
- Scrub the tank and all furnishings with a reptile-safe habitat cleaner or a 3% bleach solution (1 part bleach to 32 parts water). Leave bleach solution on for at least 10 minutes for disinfection.
- Rinse everything thoroughly with water until all traces of cleaner or bleach are gone and there are no residual odors.
- Allow the tank and all items to dry completely before reassembling the habitat with fresh substrate and clean decor.
- Return your bearded dragon to its clean habitat.
Always wash your hands before and after handling your bearded dragon or its enclosure contents to prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases. Hygiene is paramount in responsible bearded dragon care.
Nutritional Needs: What to Feed Your Bearded Dragon
Bearded dragons are omnivores, requiring a varied diet of insects, vegetables, and fruits. Diet changes with age; juveniles need more protein for growth, while adults need more vegetables. Proper nutrition is a cornerstone of bearded dragon care.
Juvenile Diet (Primarily Insects):
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Insects should make up about 70% of their diet. Offer gut-loaded insects (insects fed nutritious food before being offered to your dragon) such as:
- Crickets
- Mealworms
- Hornworms
- Waxworms (treat, high in fat)
- Calciworms
- Roaches (dubia roaches are a good option)
- Superworms (treat, high in fat)
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Offer insects no larger than the space between your bearded dragon’s eyes. Feed insects in multiple small meals daily. Remove uneaten insects to prevent them from bothering or biting your dragon.
Vegetables, Fruits, and Treats (30% of Juvenile Diet, 70-80% of Adult Diet):
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Offer a variety of safe vegetables and fruits daily.
- Beardie-safe fruits (in moderation): Kiwi, mango, banana, papaya, cantaloupe, watermelon, apples, berries.
- Nutritious vegetables (offer daily): Dark leafy greens (collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, dandelion greens), parsley, cabbage, bell peppers, broccoli, squash, carrots, green beans, bok choy, escarole, cilantro, endive, prickly pear pads (spines removed).
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Slice fruits and vegetables into bite-sized pieces. Discard uneaten fresh food after 10 hours to prevent spoilage. Limit fruits due to their high sugar content, especially for adult dragons, as excessive fruit can lead to weight gain, impacting bearded dragon care.
Vitamin Supplements: Ensuring Balanced Nutrition
Bearded dragons require calcium, vitamin D3, and a multivitamin supplement to prevent deficiencies, which are critical aspects of bearded dragon care.
- Calcium with Vitamin D3: Essential for calcium absorption. Dust insects with this supplement one day, then use calcium without D3 the next day, alternating daily.
- Calcium without Vitamin D3: Important for overall calcium intake. Use on alternate days from calcium with D3.
- Reptile Multivitamin Powder: Use once a week to provide a range of essential vitamins and minerals.
Dust insects by placing them in a bag or container with the supplement powder and gently shaking until coated.
Fresh, clean water should always be available in a shallow dish, replaced daily. Water dishes should be large enough for soaking if desired, aiding in hydration and shedding – important elements of bearded dragon care.
Adult Diet (Primarily Vegetables):
- Adult bearded dragons (over 1 year old) need a diet that is 70-80% vegetables and fruits, and 20-30% insects. Reduce insect feedings to a few times per week.
- Commercial pelleted bearded dragon food like Mazuri Bearded Dragon Food can supplement their diet but shouldn’t be the primary food source.
Foods to Avoid:
- Toxic foods: Fireflies, onions, mushrooms, avocado, rhubarb, spinach, beet greens. These can cause serious illness or death and are absolutely contraindicated in bearded dragon care.
Feeding Guidelines: Best Practices
Gut-load insects with nutritious insect gut-loading diets before feeding them to your bearded dragon to maximize nutritional value. Gut-loading diets are fortified with vitamins and minerals, enhancing the nutritional benefit for your pet, supporting optimal bearded dragon care.
General Bearded Dragon Care: Beyond the Basics
Shedding: Assisting the Natural Process
Bearded dragons shed their skin regularly as they grow. Maintaining proper humidity (30-50%) is crucial for healthy shedding. You can assist shedding by offering shallow warm water soaks. The water should be deep enough to submerge their body but shallow enough for their head to remain above water. Soaking helps loosen old skin, facilitating easier shedding and contributing to good bearded dragon care.
Nail Care: Trimming When Necessary
Most bearded dragons don’t require nail trimming if they have rocks and branches to climb on, which naturally wear down their nails. However, if nails become overgrown, they may need trimming. If you’re unsure, consult a veterinarian experienced with reptiles. Seek veterinary advice for broken or damaged nails as well, ensuring comprehensive bearded dragon care.
Bearded Dragon Health Care: Recognizing and Addressing Issues
Annual Veterinary Checkups: Proactive Health Management
Annual veterinary checkups with a reptile-experienced veterinarian are essential for preventative bearded dragon care. Transport your bearded dragon in a secure carrier (cat carrier or travel cage). Bring photos of your enclosure setup, diet information, heating and lighting details, and a fresh fecal sample for parasite testing, unless your vet prefers to collect it.
Signs of a Healthy Bearded Dragon: What to Look For
- Clear, bright eyes
- Healthy skin, free from lesions, ulcerations, or retained shed
- Good appetite and regular eating
- Alert and active behavior
- Clean vent (cloaca)
- No lumps or bumps
- Able to stand upright easily
- Regular basking behavior
- Healthy weight and body condition
Signs of an Unhealthy Bearded Dragon: Red Flags
- Swollen, sunken, or discharge-filled eyes, eyes stuck shut
- Skin lesions, pink ulcerations, or unusual spots
- Loss of appetite or refusing food (consider seasonal appetite variations but monitor closely)
- Lethargy, reduced activity, lack of basking
- Discharge around the vent
- Lumps, bumps, or swellings
- Difficulty walking or standing upright
- Sunken belly
- Retained shed, especially around toes (can lead to constriction and swelling)
Common Bearded Dragon Illnesses: Awareness and Prevention
- Intestinal parasites: Common; diagnosed via fecal exam.
- Gastrointestinal (GI) impaction: Often caused by ingesting substrate or indigestible items. Prevent by proper substrate management and appropriate feeding practices, key elements of bearded dragon care.
- Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD): Caused by calcium and/or vitamin D3 deficiency, often due to inadequate UVB lighting and/or poor diet. Prevent with proper UVB lighting, calcium supplementation, and a balanced diet – cornerstones of bearded dragon care.
- Dystocia (egg-binding): Can occur in female bearded dragons.
- Eye infections and ulcerations: Often due to poor hygiene or injury.
- Respiratory infections: Can be caused by improper temperature or humidity.
- Skin infections: Can be bacterial or fungal, often due to poor hygiene or injury.
- Trauma: Injuries from falls or improper handling.
Bearded Dragon FAQs: Common Questions Answered
Are bearded dragons good pets?
Yes! Bearded dragons are excellent pets, especially for beginners. They are known for their docile and curious personalities, require relatively low daily maintenance, and enjoy interacting with their owners. They are generally good with children and rarely bite or scratch, making them wonderful family pets. Their manageable care needs make bearded dragon care accessible to many.
How long do bearded dragons live?
With proper bearded dragon care, they can live for 8-10 years, or even longer. Providing optimal habitat conditions, a nutritious diet, and regular veterinary care are key to maximizing their lifespan.
How big do bearded dragons get?
Adult bearded dragons can reach up to 2 feet in length, including their tail. Ensure their enclosure is appropriately sized to accommodate their adult size for proper bearded dragon care.
WRITTEN BY
Maria Zayas, DVMVeterinarian
Dr. Zayas has practiced small animal and exotic medicine all over the United States and currently lives in Colorado with her 3 dogs, 1 cat,…
