BEARDED DRAGON (Pogona vitticeps)

FAMILY      Agamidae

DISTRIBUTION      The Bearded Dragon is usually found in the central deserts of Australia.

SIZE      An adult Bearded Dragon can get to a size between 16-22ins in length.

LIFESPAN       The average lifespan of a Bearded Dragon in captivity is usually between 7-10 years.

INTRODUCTION      The Bearded Dragon has got to be one of the most popular species of lizard kept by  the reptile hobbyist. They are easy to keep and tame down easily and to top it all they have the most wonderful characters that people just love.

HOUSING      A single adult Bearded Dragon needs to have a vivarium measuring at least 36ins long x 24ins deep x 18ins high, there should also be plenty of hiding places which can be made by placing logs and cork bark in different positions. There should be a medium sized water bowl and some vegetation as well.

SUBSTRATE        One of the most popular substrates for Bearded Dragons is sand due to it being dust free and easy to clean, however there have been reports of impaction caused by using sand as a substrate. The other substrates you could look at using are paper towels and coconut bark.

HEAT & LIGHT     A heat mat can be used to provide the background heat for the vivarium and this should be connected to a thermostat to prevent burns from over heating, the mat should also only cover one third of the vivarium base. The background temperature should be between 20-29°c (68-84°f), the lower end of the temperature range should be the night time droop temperature. There should be a basking spot with temperatures reaching around 34°c(93°f), during the day the cooler end of the vivarium should reach temperatures of around 28°c(82°f).

Bearded Dragons require a full spectrum uvb light with a minimum uvb output of 8.0% which they should have exposure to for at least 12-14 hours.

FEEDING        Bearded Dragons are omnivorous and as such will eat insects such as crickets, locusts, waxworms and mealworms but they will also eat some fruit and vegetables such as apple, peppers, broccoli, carrots, pear, grapes, and watercress. All food should be dusted with a calcium supplement at least twice a week with adults being fed 4-5 times a week whilst juveniles and hatchlings should be fed daily. If however you have more than one hatchling in a vivarium they should be fed at least 2-3 times a day to ensure that all of them get enough food.

POTENTIAL PROBLEMS      The most common problem with Bearded Dragons is metabolic bone disease it is therefore vital that their food is supplemented with a calcium supplement and that they have access to uvb lighting.