Bearded Dragon Care Guide

About: Bearded dragons are a diurnal (awake during the day) lizard, native to the deserts and dry forests of Australia. Bearded dragons have an average life span of 10-15 years, and can reach about 18-24 inches. They are one of the most docile lizards, and make a great beginner reptile!

Lighting: A lot of reptiles can develop calcium deficiencies, which is why having a UVB light for your beardie is so important. UVB bulbs allow bearded dragons to produce Vitamin D3, which helps absorb calcium from their diet and can prevent diseases, while supporting their overall health.

Place a heat lamp on one far side of the tank to create a heat gradient for the bearded dragon. The warm side should reach 85–90°F, and the cool side should fall between 75–80°F. The basking spot, which is an area higher up on the tank where your lizard can go for concentrated heat, should be around 95–105°F.

Tank: A minimum tank size for an adult bearded dragon is a 40 gallon breeder tank, but anything that is 75 gallon+ will be healthier for a beardie. A baby bearded dragon can live in a minimum of a 20 gallon long, but they grow quickly so it will only be suitable for a short amount of time.

For substrate (anything used as bedding) the best option is normally a mix of any reptile-safe sand and soil. This can help keep the humidity from getting too high, as bearded dragons prefer a humidity of around 30-40%.

Feeding and Watering: Bearded dragons are omnivores, so they should have a mix of veggies and protein.

As babies, their diet should be more protein heavy, with salad 2-3 days a week, and protein the rest. Adults will need the opposite, with protein 2-3 days, and salad the rest.

Good options for protein are any gut loaded insect, like crickets, dubias, or mealworms. Whatever insect is fed, they should be dusted in calcium powder, as bearded dragons tend to be prone to bone diseases.

For the veggies, some of the healthiest options are a mix of carrots, collard greens, bell peppers and broccoli. They can also have fruit as a treat, but it can be fattening.