Bearded Dragon

Enclosure type

Terrestrial glass tank with screen top or PVC enclosure; large footprint required

Substrate

Tile, reptile carpet, or paper towels. Avoid loose substrates like sand for juveniles due to impaction risk. Adult beardies on tile helps file nails naturally.

Hides

Warm hide and basking platform; open space for thermoregulation

Notes

Minimum 75-gallon (4x2x2 feet) for adults. Juveniles can start in 40-gallon. Provide basking platform, multiple hides, climbing branches, and open area. Glass tank with screen top or PVC enclosure.

Ambient / cool side

75-85°F (24-29°C)

Basking spot

100-110°F (38-43°C) adults; 95-105°F (35-41°C) hatchlings

Nighttime

65-75°F (18-24°C)

Heating method

Basking bulb and thermostat; ceramic heat emitter for overnight if needed

Humidity range

30-40%

Maintenance

From arid regions; ensure good ventilation. Do not mist enclosure.

UVB

Required: 10.0-12.0 T5 HO UVB tube covering 2/3 of enclosure; replace every 6-12 months

Photoperiod

12-14 hours on / 10-12 hours off; seasonal variation recommended

Lighting notes

REQUIRES UVB 10.0-12.0 tube bulb covering 2/3 of enclosure. Replace every 6-12 months. UVB is CRITICAL for calcium absorption and preventing MBD.

Staple food

Juveniles: crickets, dubia roaches, BSFL, hornworms (80% of diet). Adults: collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, endive (80% of diet).

Variety

Superworms, hornworms, silkworms for juveniles; squash, bell pepper, snap peas as vegetable variety

Frequency

Juveniles: insects 2-3x daily, vegetables daily. Adults: insects 2-3x per week, fresh salad daily.

Supplements

Dust insects with calcium (without D3) daily; calcium with D3 2x per week; multivitamin 1x per week. Proper UVB is essential for calcium metabolism.

Notes

Omnivore: Juveniles are 80% insects (crickets, dubia roaches, hornworms, BSFL), 20% vegetables. Adults are 80% vegetables/greens, 20% insects. Offer staple greens: collard, mustard, turnip greens, endive. No spinach, lettuce, or iceberg.

Water bowl

Water dish; many won't drink from it - offer water via syringe or light misting of vegetables

Notes

Provide water dish but many won't drink from it. Mist vegetables daily and offer water via syringe or dropper. Some enjoy baths for hydration.

Disposition

Very docile; enjoy human interaction; can recognize their owners; dog-like personalities

Recommendations

Very docile and enjoy interaction. Handle daily once settled. Support their entire body. Many enjoy being out of enclosure. Watch for stress signs: darkened beard, arm waving, head bobbing.

Metabolic bone disease (MBD) from insufficient UVB/calcium, impaction from loose substrate, respiratory infections, parasites, and yellow fungus disease.

Bearded dragons can live 10-15 years. They are social and recognize owners. Males should not be housed together. They go through brumation (hibernation-like state) in winter and may refuse food for months. Arm waving is submission, head bobbing is dominance. Dark beard indicates stress, black beard + puffing up is defensive display. Highly interactive and enjoy supervised time outside their enclosure.