Bearded Dragon Care Guide

What Is A Bearded Dragon?

Bearded dragons are a species of lizard that are native to Australia. Aptly named for their ability to puff up the area below their jaw when threatened (creating the appearance of a beard), bearded dragons are naturally found in desert and bush landscapes – though their easy-going nature and sturdiness have contributed to them becoming popular pets.

How To Care For A Bearded Dragon

Bearded dragons have specific care requirements – read our care guide for a rundown on what day-to-day attention they will require, from feeding and handling to illnesses to watch out for.

This information is intended as an overview. It is recommended that prospective owners do thorough research before the purchase of any live animal. If you’re unsure, pop into your local Petstock to learn more.

How to Handle a Bearded Dragon

It’s important to hold your beaded dragon correctly to prevent discomfort and injury to your new pet. When handling your beaded dragon, ensure you are supporting their entire body from underneath – particularly where their forelimbs and hindlimbs are. Do not squeeze them or hold them too tightly as you can hurt them by doing this.

It’s also very important not to overhandle them – particularly in the beginning when you first bring them home. As exciting as it is to have a new pet home and everyone in the household will be keen to have a turn handling them, you must allow your new pet to get used to this process gradually and give them time to adjust to their new surroundings. This may take anywhere from 1 – 3 weeks.

What to Feed a Bearded Dragon

Bearded dragons are omnivores, which means they need to get their nutrients from both plants and animals. It’s important to remember that your bearded dragon will best benefit from a diet that’s comprised of a variety of different foods so they’re getting all the nutrients they need.

Appropriate Vegetables for a Bearded Dragon

It's a good idea to supplement your bearded dragon's diet with fresh vegetables. Some can be given daily, while other veggies should only be given as a treat once or twice weekly.

Daily

• Alfalfa sprouts
• Mustard or collard greens
• Kale
• Butternut Squash
• Bok Choy
• Dandelion greens

Weekly

• Snow peas
• Basil
• Parsley
• Coriander
• Watercress
• Bell peppers
• Zucchini

Ensure you cut food into small pieces – each piece should be no larger than the space between your bearded dragon’s eyes.

Appropriate Animal Proteins for Bearded Dragons

• Crickets
• Dubia Roaches (Woodies)
• Silkworms (treat only)
• Mealworms (treat only)

When feeding your bearded dragon live insects, they should be gut loaded 24 hours before being fed to your pet. This is a process wherein the insects are fed extra nutrients to ensure maximum benefit as a food source. All live food should also be dusted with calcium and multivitamin supplements before being offered to your reptile. If you’re unsure about what dose to offer, consult your vet, or read the recommendations offered on the product.

Appropriate Fruits for a Bearded Dragon

While fruits offer important vitamins and minerals, they’re best given in moderation as a treat food. How much you can give you pet also differs depending on the fruit. Consult your vet for advice on meal plans.

• Apple slices
• Berries (strawberries, blueberries)
• Grapes
• Melon (watermelon, cantaloupe)
• Mango

How Much Should I Feed My Bearded Dragon?

Juveniles

• Feed 10-20 insects daily
• Offer fresh greens and veggies 3 times a week

Adults

• Feed 10-15 insects three times a week
• Offer fresh greens and veggies every day
• Fruit can be offered as a treat weekly to monthly depending on the fruit

Bearded Dragon Water Needs

Water Bowl: Provide a shallow water bowl large enough for your bearded dragon to soak in, but not deep enough that it could drown in it. Replace the water daily to maintain cleanliness.
Mist and Baths: Mist your bearded dragon with water or provide occasional shallow baths to help with hydration and shedding. Ensure the bathwater is the correct temperature. It must be lukewarm, and never cold or too hot.

Bearded Dragon Enclosure Requirements

Setting up your Bearded Dragon’s terrarium is no small feat, as it’s important to ensure all their requirements are met. Factors to consider include heating, enrichment, enough space to roam and cleanliness.

Housing

Enclosure:

• Western Bearded Dragons require a minimum of 90x45x60cm enclosure.
• Central Bearded Dragons require a minimum of 120x45x60cm enclosure.

Ensure that the enclosure is well ventilated.

Tank mates:
Bearded dragons are solitary creatures and should not be housed with other bearded dragons or animals.

Substrate:
There are a variety of materials you can use for substrate – including whitewashed play sand, reptile-safe sand, critters crumble, or newspaper.

Temperature:
Reptiles are cold-blooded, and thus need an external heat source. You will need to provide a heating source, which is regulated by a good quality thermostat. It is also recommended to monitor temperatures daily using a handheld temperature gun as thermostat readings are not always reliable.

Basking spot: 38-42 degrees Celsius Cool gradient: 24-26 degrees Celsius Preferred body temperature: 18-25 degrees Celsius Humidity percentage: 30%-40%

Heating:
Recommended sources of heat include incandescent, halogen and mercury vapour globes. Beaded Dragons require access to an elevated piece of timber or rock to allow them to bask within 30cm of the heat source.

UV Lighting:
You will need a full spectrum UVB light. Ensure the bulbs are replaced every 6-12 months.

Lighting Cycle:
Lights should be run on a timer for 10-12 hours each day. Beaded Dragons also require access to natural unfiltered sunlight at least twice a week.

Furnishings:
Thick branches, hides, rocks, hollows, basking sites and climbing facilities are essential to minimise stress and provide different areas for temperature regulation and environmental enrichment.

Maintaining Your Bearded Dragon’s Enclosure

It is important to maintain high standards of cleanliness and hygiene within your Bearded Dragon’s enclosure. Daily spot cleans should be carried out, which involves sifting substrate to remove any faeces, shed skin or uneaten food.

A full substrate change should be carried out every 2-3 months (depending on what substrate is used) and the enclosure should be thoroughly cleaned with a reptile-safe disinfectant.

Bearded Dragon Essential Checklist

• Suitable enclosure
• Water bowl
• Food bowl
• UV globe and fitting
• Heat globe and fitting
• Thermostat
• Timer (if not included in thermostat)
• Substrate
• Hiding spots (such as caves)
• Decor (branches, basking logs)
• Supplements (calcium, multivitamins, gut load)
• Live insects
• Fresh fruit and vegetables
• Reptile-safe disinfectant

Common Health Issues In Bearded Dragons

Intestinal Parasites (worms)

Bearded Dragons are susceptible to worms, including the potentially fatal coccidiosis organism. Faecal checks and worming can be carried out by an experienced reptile veterinarian.

Dysecdysis (Abnormal Shedding):

Low humidity levels can sometimes result in a dragon having an ‘incomplete’ shed. Treatment involves various manual interventions to remove retained skin.

Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD):

This is caused by a calcium or vitamin D3 deficiency, which is usually the result of incorrect diet, incorrect UV lighting or a combination of both factors. Ensure your Bearded Dragon’s diet is balanced and nutrient rich and that their terrarium is set up correctly to avoid this.

Signs You Need To Take Your Bearded Dragon To The Vet

If your Bearded Dragonis showing any of the below signs, please consult your local reptile vet.

• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhoea
• Lethargy
• Retained skin around toes or tail tip
• Abnormal movements
• Disorientation
• Twitching/tremors

FAQs For Bearded Dragon Care

Do you need a license to get a bearded dragon in Australia?

In Australia, a wildlife license may be required for native reptiles. Look at the requirements for your state on your local government website to determine what you need to do to obtain a permit or speak with your local Petstock store for more information.

How long do bearded dragons live for?

Bearded dragons raised in captivity have an average lifespan of 10 – 15 years.

How big do bearded dragons grow?

Bearded dragons are a subspecies of lizard, with several different species among them. As such, they will grow to different sizes depending on what type of bearded dragon they are. The Western Bearded Dragon will grow to 20-45cm for example, while Central Bearded Dragons will grow up to 60cm.

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