Bearded Dragon Care Guide

Never lose your whimsy.

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Quick Facts

     Difficulty: Beginner-Intermediate

     Lifespan: 8-15 years

     Adult Size: 16-24 inches

     Behavior: Docile, curious, basking reptile

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Enclosure Setup

     Size:​

          Hatchlings (0-3 months): 20-40 gallon (temporary)

          Juveniles (3-10 months): 40-75 gallon

          Adults (10+ months): minimum: 120 gallon (4'x2'x2')

               - Larger is always better

     Whimsical Truth: Bigger = healthier, more active dragons.

     

     Temperature & Lighting (CRITICAL)

     This is the #1 factor in long-term health

          Basking Spot:

               Juveniles: 100-110°F

               Adults: 95-105°F

          Warm Side: 85-95°F

          Cool Side: 75-85°F

          Night Temps: 65-75°F  (no lights needed)

               - If heat is needed at night, use a Ceramic Heat Emitter (CHE).

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     UVB Lighting

          Use a T5 HO linear UVB lamp

          This should be a Ferguson Zone 3 UVB lamp

               Arcadia 12% or ReptiSun 10.0, or equivalent

               Do NOT try to use a cheaper off-brand (the UVB outputs may not be adequate.

          This lamp should be mounted inside the enclosure, not lain on the mesh top

          Length of the lamp should span about 50% of the enclosure

          Light from lamp should overlap the basking area

          Recommended distance: 12-18 inches

          Replace the bulb every 6-12 months

     NOTE: Without proper UVB, your reptile risks metabolic bone disease, lethargy, and death.

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     Basking Lamp

.         Recommended: Intense Basking Spot Bulb (incandescent)

               Alternate option: Halogen Spot Bulb

          Bulbs come in multiple wattages. 100W is a good starting point

          This can be placed inside the enclosure or on top, thru the mesh using low profile socket fixture or deep dome fixture.

          Obtain a plug-in lamp dimmer for this for easy adjusting

          Use a digital infrared or laser thermometer gun to check basking surface temperatures

               Adjust lighting as needed

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     Ceramic Heat Emitter (CHE)

          This is rarely needed, but if you cannot get the ambient temperatures and basking surface to align, add this option

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     Full Spectrum Grow Light

          This lamp helps to trigger your beardie's natural instincts to bask by mimicking natural lighting

          A small LED strip grow light can easily be attached inside the enclosure next to the UVB lamp

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     Layout

          Recommended options:
          

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          Notice that all lighting should be on the warm side of the enclosure.​

          The basking area is located where your dragon can get both the basking light and UVB.

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     Substrate

     Quick and Easy Options:

          Tile

               Recommended: Slate tiles

               Easy to clean up, slate are easy for beardie to grip

                    Tip: get extra tiles to rotate out the dirty ones for cleaning

          Non-adhesive shelf liner

          Paper towels (super cheap)

          Soil/Sand mixtures

               USE WITH CAUTION!

               Mixture of play sand and organic topsoil can be used if husbandry is correct

               Ask questions, don't assume it's ok just because you can buy it!

          Bioactive substrate

               Recommended only for advanced keepers

               Is paired with live plants and clean-up-crew insects to create a ecosystem within the enclosure

               Talk to an experienced keeper for details

     AVOID!!!

          Calcium sand

          Reptile carpet

          Walnut shells​

          Wood chips

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     Must Have Items

          Basking platform

               Recommended: slate rock

               Rock, log, any surface that beardie can lay its entire body across for basking

          Hides

               Two - one for the warm side and another for the cool side

               The dragon should be able to fit inside easily

          Food dish for salad

          Water dish (not strictly necessary, but helpful)

          Climbing decor

          Thermometers

               One for each side

          Remember: Beardies are desert animals. They do not need a busy home, but they do need enrichment to keep active.

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Feeding & Nutrition

​     Feeding Schedule by Age:

          0-2 months (hatchlings)

               Insects: 5-6 appropriately sized bugs two times per day - focus on easy-to-digest insects (BSFL, micro dubia, etc.)

               Greens: offered once daily

               Remove all uneaten insects immediately

          3-6 months (young juveniles)

               Insects: 5-6 appropriately sized insects once per day

               Greens: available at all times (refresh daily)

          7-12 months (juveniles / sub-adults)

               Insects: 5-6 appropriately sized insects every other day

               Greens: available at all times (refresh daily)

          12+ months (adults)

               Insects: 5-6 appropriately sized insects twice per week

               Greens: available at all times (refresh daily)

     Portion Guidelines

          Insects should be no larger than the space between the dragon's eyes

          Avoid "all-you-can-eat" feeding (even for babies)

          Adjust quantities based on: Growth Rate, Body Condition, and Activity Level

          Recommended Daily Feeders:

               Dubia roaches

               Discoid roaches

               BSFL (black soldier fly larvae)

               Mealworms

               Crickets

          "Treat" Insects (offer sparingly, 1-2x per week max)

                Hornworms (good for hydration)

                Superworms (high in fat)

                Waxworms (also high in fat)

          Salad Staples (variety is highly recommended)

               Collard greens

               Mustard greens

               Turnip greens

               Squash (acorn, spaghetti, summer, hubbard, scallop, butternut)

               Cactus pad

               Endive / Escarole

               Kate (in moderation, volume should not exceed 15% of salad)

          Occasional Salad Additions

               Dandelion leaves

               Clover

               Carrot

               Cilantro

               Bell pepper

               Green beans

               Alfalfa sprouts

               Radicchio

               Asparagus

               Parsnips

     If your beardie won't eat salad... try these, but only to get them going, do NOT make these regular occurrences

          Add bee pollen or grains

          Add Zoo Med fresh flower topper

          Add live bugs to the salad bowl (movement)

          Add different colored veggies for variety

          Make sure to add salad before offering insects

          Offer less bugs (your beardie will not starve itself and will eat the salad if there is no other option)

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     SUPPLEMENTS (critical)

          Calcium without D3

               Dust lightly on salad and insects 4 days per week

               Recommended brands: Zoo Med Calcium without D3, Arcadia Earthpro A, Jurassic Natural Calcium without D3

          Calcium with D3

               Dust lightly on salad and insects 2 days per week

               Recommended brands: Zoo Med Calcium with D3, Repashy SuperCal LoD, Jurassic Natural Calcium with D3

          Multivitamin

               Dust lightly on salad and insects 1 day per week

               Recommended brands: Zoo Med Reptivite, Repashy Calcium Plus, Miner-all Indoor, Repashy Supervite

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Behavior & Enrichment

Normal Behaviors

     Basking for hours

     Arm waving, head bobbing and such movements (especially if they see another dragon)

     Occasional window surfing

     If substrate is available, expect them to dig

Enrichment Ideas

     Climbing structures - avoid nets of any kind as these could get your beardie caught and injured

     Dig boxes

     Supervised outdoor sun time

     Free range movement at home (if no other pets present that might hurt them)

          Some owners tie a small helium balloon to their beardie to they don't lose it

Brumation

     Many bearded dragons will enter a seasonal slowdown, hibernation-type period

     This is mostly influenced by temperatures and light time cycles and is completely natural

          Beardies will not enter a full, deep brumation unless night time temperatures reach into the 60's

          Some mild brumation can occur for any beardie and should not worry you

     The dragon will have reduced activity and appetite, sleeping most of the time

     Some breeders and advanced keepers control this as part of the animal's care

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Health

Cleaning

     Spot clean daily

     Deep clean every 2-4 weeks

          This can be less if using a bioactive enclosure

          Do NOT use any chemical cleaners that can leave a harmful residue

     Replace loose (non-bioactive) substrate regularly

Healthy Signs

     Bright, alert eyes

     Strong appetite

     Solid stool

     Active basking

Warning Signs

     Lethargy

     Weight loss

     Runny stool

     Refusal to eat

     Consult a retile vet if issues arise!

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Pro Tips

     UVB quality determines long-term success.

     Nutrition drives color, growth, and breeding results.

     Track weight, feeding, and behavior.

     Bigger enclosures create better dragons!

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This information is a general guide. Monitor your bearded dragon's body condition and adjust as needed. Remember that overfeeding can result in difficulties as much as improper nutrition or not feeding enough.

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We at Whimsical Workz are here to help you succeed. Whether you are raising your first dragon or building a breeding program, great care creates extraordinary dragons.

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Never lose your whimsy!