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"Pet Bearded Dragon Care & Information (Pogona vitticeps)"

 

Pet Bearded Dragon Facts

 

Bearded Dragon Common Name(s):

Bearded dragon, Central Bearded dragon, Common Bearded dragon, Inland Bearded dragon or Yellow-headed Bearded dragon. The terms Beardie, Bearded, “Tata dragon” & “Lizard of Oz” are also used by hobbyist.

Bearded Dragon Scientific Name: Pogona vitticeps
Bearded Dragon Description:

Spiny, robust, heavy-bodied, horizontally flattened lizards. The natural ground colour varies from tan to grey to brick red. The head is wedge shaped and is well distinguished from the body. A row of soft small conical spines line the back of the head and the sides of the body (also called the lateral fringe). Both male and female Bearded dragons have highly distendable throats, also called the gular pouch. This so-called beard consists can enlarge significantly while turning into a typical gun metal black. The tail is approximately as long as the body.

Bearded Dragon
Birth Size:
8 – 10 cm / 3 – 4 " (incl. tail)
Bearded Dragon Mature Size: 30 – 60 cm / 12 – 24 " (incl. tail)
Pet Bearded Dragon Colour Morphs:

Black tiger, Blood, Cawley orange, Cawley red, Crimson red, Coral, Desert red, Fire-tiger, Flaming red, Ghost, Gold, Golden headed, Hypo translucent, Hypo melanistic, Hypo pastel, Lavender, Lemon fire, Lime, Orange fire, Orange phase, Pastel, Red desert, Red flame, Red headed, Red hypo, Salmon hypo, Sandfire orange, Sandfire orange-gold, Sandfire red, Sandfire red-gold, Sandfire yellow, Sunburst, Sunburst red, Snow, Snow pastel, Yellow phase and probably many more.

Pet Bearded Dragon Pattern Morphs:

Tiger morphs & Patternless morphs. Colour and pattern morph mixtures include the Orange and Red tiger.

Bearded Dragon Temperature: 24 – 34 ºC / 75 – 93 ºF temperature gradient & a 35 – 40 ºC / 95 – 104 ºF hot spot. Night temperatures can drop to as low as 17 ºC / 63 ºF.
Brumation (hibernation): None, but some become more inactive during colder months (winter slumber). A period of at least two months, where the temperatures are adequately dropped, are recommended for adequate rest before a new breeding season.
Danger To Man:

These animals have extremely strong jaws and males & females might show biting behavior when hungry. Males might be aggressive (but will usually not bite) during the breeding season.

Bearded Dragon
Life Span:
Up to twelve years (avg. 5 – 8).
Bearded Dragon Housing:

A floor space of at least (90 x 35) cm / (35 x 14) " for a single Bearded dragon, and at least (130 x 42) cm / (50 x 17) " for an adult pair. A 40 gal / 150 ℓ / (91 x 46 x 43) cm / (36 x 18 x 17) " tank / aquarium, should be large enough for a single adult Bearded dragon & a 55 gal / 200 ℓ / (122 x 33 x 53) cm / (48 x 13 x 21) " tank should be adequate for an adult pair. The floor space should increase by at least 25% for every Bearded dragon added after that. Other commonly used Bearded dragon housing enclosures include large cabinets and large plastic cages.

Bearded Dragon Captive Care Food:

Vertebrates & invertebrates: Bulk foods include crickets, cockroaches, silkworms, Phoenix worms & fly ants.
Less desirable foods include mealworms, waxworms, superworms, Trevo worms, grasshoppers & nestling mice.
Vegetables: baby marrows, beetroot, bell pepper, bok choy, carrots, corn / maize, cucumber, green beans, kale, patty pans peas, pumpkin, squash, sweet potato, yams, zucchini.
Fruit: apple, apricots, bananas, blueberries, dates, figs, grapes, kiwis, mango, melon, orange-fleshed squash, papayas, peaches, pear, plums, raspberries, strawberries.
Leaves / herbs: alfalfa / lucerne, basil, carrots, celery, collard greens, dandelion, escarole, mustard greens, nasturtium, oregano, parsley, radish leaves, rocket, romaine lettuce, rosemary, swiss chard.
Flowers: nasturtium, lucerne / alfalfa, hibiscus, dandelion, pansies, carnations & rose pedals.
A mixture of these groups must be supplied.

Bearded Dragon
UV Requirements
:

A combination of full-spectrum UV (UVA & UVB) required (5% or stronger) with additional non-filtered sunlight.

Bearded Dragon Photoperiod

All lights (including heat lights) should be on for about 14 hours per day. Commercially available electric timers can be used to automate the light cycle.

Bearded Dragon Supplementation: Calcium & a suitable reptile mineral / vitamin combination.
Bearded Dragon Behavior:

Usually docile, males might become extremely aggressive towards females & even the keeper during breeding season. Although it occurs from time to time, aggressive behavior is scarce. Males & females might bite when hungry.

Bearded Dragon Species:

Other species commonly found in captivity includes the Eastern or Coastal Bearded dragon (P. barbata - sometimes referred to as the Common Bearded dragon or “Jew Lizard”) & the two "beardless" bearded dragons, the Dwarf Bearded dragon (P. minor minor) & the Rankin’s Bearded dragon (P. henrylawsoni). The rest of the species are the Western Bearded dragon (P. minor minima), Mitchell’s Northwest Bearded dragon (P. minor mitchelli), Nullabor Bearded dragon (P. nullarbor) & the Small-scaled Bearded dragon (P. microlepitoda).

 

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