Table Of Contents 1
Conversion Factors & Abbreviations 7
Foreword 8
Introduction 10
Description 10
Bearded Dragon Fact Sheet 11
Bearded Dragon Biology 12
Natural Food & Habitat 12
Something Interesting 12
Bearded Dragon Classification 12
Bearded Dragon Distribution 12
The Australian Deserts 12
Bearded Dragon Zoology 14
The Eight Bearded Dragon Species (Pogona genus) 15
Inland Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps) 15
Dwarf Bearded Dragons 16
Eastern Bearded Dragon 17
Nullabor Bearded Dragon 17
Lawson’s Bearded Dragons 18
Small-scaled Bearded Dragon 18
Mitchell's Northwest Bearded Dragon 18
Other Dragons & Agamids 18
Bearded Dragon Anatomy 21
Skin Shedding 22
Bearded Dragons As Pets 23
Introduction 23
Is A Bearded Dragon The Right Pet For You? 23
Buying A Bearded Dragon 24
Choosing A Bearded Dragon 24
Where To Buy Bearded Dragons 24
Price 26
Something Interesting 26
Captive Care Environment & Vivarium Setup 27
Introduction 27
Most Important Considerations Before The Final Construction Or 
Purchase Of An Enclosure 27
Vivarium Size 27
Additional Pointers With Regard To Enclosures 29
Cabinets Vs. Aquariums 30
Substrates 31
Newspaper & Brown Butcher Paper 31
Sand 31
Astroturf™ & Carpet 32
Gravel 32
Heating 33
Managing & Controlling Ambient Temperatures 34
Primary Heat Source / Basking Area 34
Thermometers & Thermostats 35
Infra Red Lights 36
Other Heating Equipment 36
Photoperiod 37
Basic Light Physics 38
Lighting 38
Recommended Ultra Violet Exposure For Captive Bearded Dragons 39
Ultra Violet Intensity 40
UVB & Calcium Metabolism 41
UVA & Light Perception 41
Reflectors 41
Vivarium Decoration / Environment Enrichment 42
Hiding 42
Outside Enclosures / Reptilliary 43
Adapting A Bearded Dragon To Its New Home 45
Adult Males 45
Size Does Matter 46
Colour & Pattern Morphs 47
Introduction 47
Breeding Programs 47
Some Descriptions 47
Red Bearded dragons 48
Food & Feeding Bearded Dragons 49
Crickets 50
Keeping Crickets 52
Cricket Bulk Food Mixture 53
Cricket Gut Loading Recipe 1 54
Cricket Gut Loading Recipe 2 54
Culturing / Breeding Crickets 55
Grasshoppers & Cockroaches 57
A Note On Mealworms 58
Other Foodstuffs 58
Nestling Mice 58
Fly Ants 59
Superworms 59
Waxworms 59
Butterworms 59
Silkworms 59
Phoenix worms 59
Greens 60
Fruit 60
Vegetables 60
Leaves / Herbs 61
Flowers 61
Water 63
Supplementation 63
Gut Loading 64
Dusting & Sprinkling 64
Calcium Supplementation 64
Bearded Dragon Handling & Transportation 65
Transportation 66
Bearded Dragon Status & Legislation 67
Protection / Endangered Status 67
South Africa 67
Australia 68
Behavioural Aspects 70
Introduction 70
Natural Behaviour 70
Thermoregulatory Behaviour 71
Threatening Behaviour 71
Appetite Related Aggression 72
Breeding Bahaviour 72
Winter / Slumber Behaviour 72
Digging / Burrowing Behaviour 72
Cannibalistic Behaviour 73
Understanding Basic Genetics 74
Introduction 74
Phenotypes, Genotypes & Traits 75
Single Gene or Qualitative Traits 76
Multiple Gene or Quantitative Traits 76
Breeding Programs 77
Generation Interval 78
Requirements For A Successful Breeding Program 78
Breeding Bearded Dragons In Captivity 80
Introduction 80
Breeding Facts 80
Sexing 80
Breeding Females 83
Breeding Males 83
Breeding Evolution 84
Egg Laying 84
Egg Lying Substrates 85
Substrate Preparation 85
Egg-laying- / Nest-box 85
Egg Management Before Incubation 85
Hatching Percentage 86
Fecundity 86
Mortality Until Juvenile / Selling 88
Baby & Juvenile Management 88
Bearded Dragon Incubator 90
Introduction 90
Overview Of The Parts Needed 90
Incubator Setup Requirements 92
Incubator Construction Steps 93
Incubator Test Run 96
Important Pointers Before Incubation 96
Important Pointers During Incubation 97
Incubator Placement 97
10 Things To Avoid With Bearded Dragons 98
Management & Routine Procedures 100
Introduction 100
Record Keeping 100
General Keeping Management 100
Breeding Management 101
Marketing Planning 101
Basic Marketing & Economics 103
Introduction 103
Demand 103
Value Adding 103
Advertising 104
Pet Shop & Advertising Display Vivariums 104
Additional Tips 104
Market Research 104
Economics 105
Bearded Dragon Health 107
Introduction 107
Stress 108
Disease 108
Supportive Treatment 109
Emergency Care / First Aid By Owners 111
Dystocia 112
Endoparasites 113
Pinworms 113
Coccidiosis 114
Coccidiosis In Large Collections 114
Flagellated Protozoans 115
General Endoparasitic Treatment 115
Impactions 117
Nutritional Disorders 118
Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) 118
Basic Calcium Physiology 121
Eye Problems 122
Skin Problems 122
Burn Wounds & Trauma 123
Respiratory Problems 123
Winter Slumber 124
Skin Shedding Problems / Anecdysis 124
Periodontal Disease 124
Reptile-Friendly Veterinarians 124
Routine Veterinary Visits / Preventative Medicine 124
Necropsy & Disposal Of Deceased Specimens 125
Zoonoses 126
Salmonellosis 127
Bearded Dragon Biosecurity 129
Introduction 129
Infectious Diseases 129
Quarantine 130
Levels Of Isolation 131
Important Factors 131
Quarantine Facilities 131
Bearded Dragon Sanitation & Hygiene 133
Introduction 133
Sanitization Of The Environment 133
Sanitization For The Owner 134
Hand Wash 134
Product Comparison Table 135
Congenital Defects 136
Introduction 136
Additional Activities 137
Nail Trimming 137
Body / Walking Harnesses 137
On A Last Note 138
Critics 138
Appendix A – Sizes Of Popular Commercial Vivariums 139
Commonly Used / Commercially Available Vivarium Types & Sizes
139
Appendix B – Resources 140
Commercial / Custom Herptile Vivarium Producers & Suppliers 140
Feeder Insect & Insects Related Products Suppliers 140
Herptile Friendly Veterinarians, Specialists & Rescue Centres 141
Bearded Dragon Related Resources 141
Other Related Resources 141
Glossary 142
Consulted Literature 148
Websites Consulted 149