Complete Beginner’s Guide: Bearded Dragon Care
Everything You Need to Know Before Bringing Your Bearded Dragon Home
Complete habitat setup instructions
Detailed feeding and nutrition guidelines
Essential heating and lighting requirements
Expert-verified care recommendations
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What’s Inside the Guide
A comprehensive resource covering everything you need to create the perfect home for your bearded dragon
Caging & Habitat Setup
Hatchlings and juveniles may be housed in 20-gallon aquariums or vivariums. Adult bearded dragons will require at least a 55-gallon aquarium or enclosure measuring 4′ by 2′ or larger. Bearded dragons may also be housed in outdoor enclosures, provided they are secure, protected from predators, and have areas to retreat from the weather.
Substrate Recommendations
The cage bottom or aquarium floor is best covered with newspaper or astro-turf.
Do NOT use:
- Sand
- Pea gravel
- Shredded corncob
- Wood shavings
- Kitty litter or sawdust
- Moss (retains moisture and causes bacterial infections)
Safe Cleaning
Reptiles are highly susceptible to poisoning from common cleaners like Lysol® and PineSol®.
Recommended disinfectant: Chlorine bleach diluted at 2 ounces per 1 gallon of water. Rinse all surfaces well with water and let dry before allowing contact with the bearded dragon.
Part of your setup should also include an area that provides visual security, like a hide box, which is a place where the caged reptile can retreat for some privacy.
Feeding & Nutrition
J Juveniles
Insects – 50%
Gut-loaded crickets, mealworms, beetle larvae, earthworms, waxworms.
Vegetables & Fruits – 50%
Chopped greens, melon, squash, carrots, berries.
A Adults
Insects – 30%
Reduced protein intake as metabolism slows.
Vegetables & Fruits – 70%
Primarily leafy greens and vegetables.
Important Note
Pelleted diets sold in stores may be convenient, but they may not be nutritionally balanced and are not recommended for more than occasional feeding.
Vitamin & Mineral Supplements
Calcium Supplement
Should be offered every second to third feeding. Essential for bone health and preventing metabolic bone disease.
Multivitamin Supplement
Should be provided once weekly to ensure complete nutrition.
Application Methods
- Powdered supplements can be lightly dusted on food items.
- Vitamins and minerals can be provided by gut-loading the insects fed to the bearded dragon.
Water & Humidity
Young hatchlings should be misted with water on a daily basis. Keep a fine mist directed on their heads as long as they keep lapping up the water.
The vegetation in their diet also plays a large role in how they get water. Remember bearded dragons are desert lizards, so they require a dry cage; therefore a water bowl is not needed. As long as you feed them moist vegetables and spray them, they will get enough water.
Heating Requirements
In order to properly thermo-regulate, bearded dragons need a temperature gradient that allows them to move from a cooler end of the tank to a warmer end.
Cool End
Comfortable resting area
Basking End
Essential for digestion
Recommended Heat Source
A heating lamp placed at one end of the cage can serve as the heat source.
Important Warning
The use of hot rocks and heating pads is not recommended, because they can cause severe burns.
Lighting Requirements
Essential UV Requirements
Bearded dragons require full spectrum ultra-violet lighting that emits both UV-A and UV-B rays.
The UV light needs to be changed every 6 months, since they begin to lose their effectiveness.
Natural Alternative
An alternative is to allow the dragon to have at least 2 hours daily of exposure to natural sunlight.
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