Bearded Dragon Care Sheet
Lizard
20 - 24 inches long
8 - 15 years
Omnivore
Diet & Nutrition
Bearded Dragons are omnivores. Baby and juvenile diets should consist of 70% insect protein and 30% vegetation. Babies should be started on small crickets.
Larger animals can be fed dubia roaches, superworms, hornworms, and crickets.
All feeder insects should be gut-loaded. Vegetation includes turnip greens, collard greens, mustard greens, and some fruit in small amounts.
Feeding Schedule
Feed babies twice daily. At 2 months of age you can reduce to once daily.
Adults should also eat daily. Dust food with calcium powder daily & a multivitamin once a week. Feed them the amount they will eat in 10 minutes.
Housing & Habitat
Bearded Dragons are from the deserts and shrublands of Australia.
An arid habitat with plenty of basking surfaces and hiding places should be provided. Bearded dragons are semi arboreal and do appreciate some climbing surfaces. Bearded Dragons may be kept alone or in pairs. If housed together
Bearded Dragons should be of similar size to avoid injury. Never house two males together in the same tank. Two females generally get along well. A male and female will likely breed if housed together. It is not advised to house adult dragons together when not breeding.
Enclosure Size
An adult must have a minimum cage size of 36" Long x 18" Deep x 16" High.
Starting in this size enclosure is required to prevent stunted growth.
Substrate
Acceptable substrates are ground walnut shell, sand, or cage carpet.
The main concern with walnut shell and sand is the possibility of impaction. If the dragon consumes large amounts of the substrate, it could cause intestinal blockage. Cage carpet is the safest option, however, it is difficult to clean easily.
Ground walnut is the preferred substrate of The Tye-Dyed Iguana.
Temperature & Lighting
Temperature
A Bearded Dragon's basking spot should be 95°F. The cool end of the tank can be as cool as 70°F.
Lighting
Since this is a diurnal species, it requires two light bulbs. One is the heat lamp which also emits UVA. The second is a UVB lamp. The UVB lamp will specifically say UVB on the box. If the box doesn't say UVB, it's not UVB.
Plant and Fish bulbs are not UVB bulbs.
Humidity & Watering
Humidity
Some keepers mist their dragons once to twice a week with a spray bottle or allow to soak in a shallow bath. Humidity levels should be between 35% - 40%.
Watering
Always provide a bowl of fresh drinking water. Size the bowl appropriately to the animal. Bearded Dragons benefit from weekly soaking in lukewarm dechlorinated water for approximately 20 minutes. Supplemental spraying is generally not necessary unless conditions are very dry. Humidity levels should be between 30% - 50%.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What do Bearded Dragons eat?
Bearded Dragons are omnivores. Baby and juvenile diets should consist of 70% insect protein and 30% vegetation. Babies should be started on small crickets. Larger animals can be fed dubia roaches, superworms, hornworms, and crickets. All feeder insects should be gut-loaded. Vegetation includes turnip greens, collard greens, mustard greens, and some fruit in small amounts. Never Feed Lettuce! It contains no nutrition, only water and cellulose.
What size enclosure does a Bearded Dragon need?
Bearded Dragons are from the deserts and shrublands of Australia. An arid habitat with plenty of basking surfaces and hiding places should be provided. Bearded dragons are semi arboreal and do appreciate some climbing surfaces. Bearded Dragons may be kept alone or in pairs. If housed together Bearded Dragons should be of similar size to avoid injury. Never house two males together in the same tank. Two females generally get along well. A male and female will likely breed if housed together. I...
What temperature and lighting does a Bearded Dragon need?
A Bearded Dragon's basking spot should be 95°F. The cool end of the tank can be as cool as 70°F. Since this is a diurnal species, it requires two light bulbs. One is the heat lamp which also emits UVA. The second is a UVB lamp. The UVB lamp will specifically say UVB on the box. If the box doesn't say UVB, it's not UVB. Plant and Fish bulbs are not UVB bulbs. Humidity: Some keepers mist their dragons once to twice a week with a spray bottle or allow to soak in a shallow bath. Humidity levels s...