Bearded Dragon Care

Bearded dragons are quite different than your typical pet. They require very specific environments and not providing the correct environment or diet accounts for most of their illnesses in captivity.  

Bearded dragons can live alone, in breeding pairs, or in groups of one male and multiple females. They are native to Australia and have a lifespan of 10-15 years. Adults reach up to 22 inches in length (from nose to tail tip) and weigh around one pound. Their natural environment is typically desert or dry forests and they are semi-arboreal, meaning they spend a significant amount of their time in trees. They are typically docile and social in captivity, making them an appealing pet for many people.

Juvenile dragons need at least a 20-gallon tank with newspaper or paper pulp as the bedding. Adults should have enclosures approximately 3-4 feet in length, 16-18 inches wide and at least 16 inches tall with the same bedding as juveniles. Do not use cat litter as they can ingest the material and become impacted. They should have plenty of branches or driftwood to allow them to climb. Their enclosure should have an ambient temperature of 75-80°F during the day and 60-70°F at night. They should also have a basking area that reaches 85-95°F. They should have approximately 12-14 hours of full spectrum light in the summer and 10 hours in the winter. This light should include ultraviolet B as it is important for allowing the absorption of calcium from their digestive tract. The UVB bulb should be changed every 6 months as the production of UVB will diminish over time, even if the bulb is still producing light.

Adult bearded dragons are primarily herbivores and should be fed mostly dark leafy vegetables (i.e. romaine lettuce, collard greens, kale, spinach, parsley, and broccoli). The vegetables should be chopped/shredded, placed in a bowl or on a plate, sprayed with water, and dusted with a calcium supplement. Adults should also be fed gut-loaded crickets, dusted with calcium/vitamin D₃ twice weekly to allow for proper amounts of minerals. Gut-loading insects can be performed by feeding the insects rodent chows, dry dog food, or bird pellets. Commercial diets for bearded dragons can be offered but should not comprise more than half of their diet. If a commercial diet is fed, other vitamin/mineral supplements should be reduced.

While adults eat mostly plants, juvenile dragons are omnivores, eating about 50% animals and 50% plants. Gut loaded crickets dusted with calcium/Vitamin D₃ supplement should be fed 5 times weekly along with a multivitamin dusted on the crickets once weekly.

Water should be provided in dishes that the dragons can easily climb into. The environment can be misted to encourage them to drink water droplets, but do not mist the dragons themselves.

Common medical problems include gastrointestinal parasites, constipation, and metabolic bone disease. Fecal testing should be performed on all dragons to assess if anti-parasitic treatments should be implemented. Constipation can occur due to their relatively low-humidity environments. Metabolic bone disease is a condition that causes softened bones, fractures, constipation and anorexia secondary to nutritional deficiencies (mainly calcium). This condition often is slow to develop so by the time it is recognized, and it can be difficult to reverse.

Owning a bearded dragon can be very entertaining and rewarding. Due to their specific husbandry needs, be sure to consult your veterinarian with any questions or concerns regarding their health.