Bearded Dragons
ABOUT
Bearded dragons are lizards indigenous to Australia, and are commonly kept as pets. These reptiles get their name because of a behavior where they can puff out and darken the skin under their throats, which looks like a beard. They are omnivorous, as they eat both greens and insects. Bearded dragons are one of the most popular of reptile pets.
Bearded Dragons make a wonderful pet for both beginners and advanced reptile keepers. Due to their docile nature and relative small size (usually 16-20 inches) they have become quite popular in recent years. These beautiful creatures are highly recommended for families with small children also due to their love for attention.
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Basic Care Plan for Bearded Dragons
You will need to make sure your bearded dragon's tank is large enough for him/her to easily move around and feel at home. Too small of a tank can cause anxiety issues and can also negatively affect their growth. We have highlighted some general tank-size guidelines below. Keep in mind that you can't have too large of a tank, so it's always best to go bigger. The only drawback of having a very large tank is it will give their food (crickets, worms, etc.) more space to hide and will be harder to keep warm.
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Bearded Dragon Size |
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Tank Size |
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Baby bearded dragons |
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Ideal is 20 gallon |
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10-16 inch dragons |
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40 gallons or larger |
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16-20 inch dragons |
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50 gallons minimum, 75 gallons is ideal |
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20+ inch dragons |
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75 gallons minimum, 120 gallon is ideal |
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Your bearded dragon will not get enough light from the room his/her tank is in (even if the tank is right next to the window). In order to give your bearded dragon the light he/she needs you will need to illuminate the tank with a UVA/UVB fluorescent light for 12-14 hours each day. Since bearded dragons are from the desert, they rely on the sunlight to stay healthy.
This means you will need to use a full spectrum UV light (it provides all types of UV rays just like the sun). Don't forget, your bearded dragon will also need a basking light for warmth, so make sure both lights will be able to fit into the tank.
The most recommended full spectrum light is the Reptisun Full Spectrum Light. It will provide all the UV rays that your bearded dragon needs to remain healthy. Many owners claim that these lights not only make their beardies more happy, but it also helps with their color as well.
Again, bearded dragons come from a desert environment which means they like HOT temperatures. Your bearded dragon will need his/her tank temperature to be no cooler than 85F and no warmer than 110F. Do not use electrically heated rocks as they can burn and injure bearded dragons.
If your tank is large enough you will want to have a hot side and a cold side of the tank. Your hot side will be where the basking light is and the cool side will be the side without the basking light. You should monitor both the temperature and humidity of your beardies tank to make sure it matches their habitat as closely as possible.
Bearded dragons are omnivores, which mean they will eat both insects and vegetables. Your bearded dragon's diet will depend on his/her age. Younger bearded dragons will eat 80% insects and 20% vegetables, while adult bearded dragons will eat 20% insects and 80% vegetables. When you feed your bearded dragon you will need to make sure that none of the food is wider than the gap between his/her eyes. If an insect or vegetable is wider than the gap between your beardies eyes, then there is a high risk of him/her choking and/or getting injured. So before feeding your bearded dragon you will need to verify the vegetables or fruit are cut into small enough pieces and none of the insects are too large.