Overview

Pogona vitticeps

Perhaps the most popular pet lizard, bearded dragons are originally from the deserts of central Australia. “Bearded” refers to the extendable flap of skin under their chin that turns black when they are stressed, displaying dominance or being territorial. They are usually even-tempered, docile, easy to tame, bond closely with their caretakers and are generally hardy when cared for properly.

Typical bearded dragon appearance & behavior

• Tolerates handling and interaction with humans
• In nature, their skin is tan-colored, but they have been bred for a variety of different colors and patterns
• Communicate with each other through gestures such as “arm waving,” in which they lift a front leg and wave it back and forth in submission to another lizard. They also bob their head as part of their mating ritual or to display dominance
• Will spend their day in a hiding spot, basking and climbing

Habitat

Habitat size

Bearded dragons need an appropriately sized and shaped habitat to accommodate their normal behaviors and exercise. It should have a screened top to help prevent escape while allowing proper ventilation. A 20- gallon tank is a good beginner size for a baby bearded dragon. Bearded dragons will reach adult size in one year under ideal conditions; upgrade habitat size as your reptile grows. If more than one bearded dragon is housed in a habitat, more space will be necessary.

Building your habitat

• Décor – Provide a hiding area and branches for climbing and basking. A hide box should contain moist substrate such as damp sphagnum moss to aid in shedding. Moss must be replaced frequently to prevent mold from developing
• Substrate – Provide commercially available substrate or reptile carpet. Gravel, wood chips and walnut shells are not recommended. If using a particulate matter bedding such as sand, feed your reptile in a dish or feeding tank to reduce the ingestion of substrate, which can cause potentially life-threatening gastrointestinal tract obstructions
• Temperature – A temperature gradient (100°F for the warm end and 75°F for the cool end) should be provided. Temperatures should not fall lower than 70°F at night. Use an incandescent light or ceramic heater as the primary heat source at one end of the tank to establish a basking zone during the day. Thermometers should be used to monitor tank temperatures. A red heat bulb or ceramic heat emitter may be necessary at night to provide adequate heat without light
• Lighting - To produce vitamin D in their skin to enable them to absorb dietary calcium and build strong bones, bearded dragons require a full-spectrum ultraviolet (UV) bulb with UVB rays for 10 to 12 hours a day. The light should be approximately 1-2 feet away from the lizard and should be replaced every six months, as its potency wanes
• Humidity – Maintain at 30 to 50% humidity and monitor with a humidity gauge. Mist lizards and décor as needed to maintain humidity in this range. When humidity falls too low, lizards will retain shed skin. To decrease humidity in a tank, improve ventilation. To increase ventilation, increase the frequency of misting and add live plants to the habitat.

Care

Bearded dragons regularly shed their skin; ensure humidity of habitat is at appropriate level to allow proper shedding. To facilitate shedding, soak lizard in warm water in a large container that allows the bearded dragon to immerse their entire body while keeping their head out of water, or provide a shed box, a hide box with moist sphagnum moss. Be sure to replace the water in the soaking dish often to keep it clean and change the moss frequently to prevent mold from developing.