Common Names: Inland Bearded Dragon
Scientific Name: Pogona vitticepts formerly Amphibolurus vitticeps
Distribution: Australia
Size: Large male Bearded Dragons can grow up to 2 feet long. Female Bearded Dragons are somewhat smaller.
Temperament: Bearded Dragons are one of the tamest lizards available. Maturing male Bearded Dragons can be very territorial.
Hardiness: Bearded Dragons are very hardy when properly set up and maintained.
Sexing: Larger male Bearded Dragons have enlarged preanal and femoral pores.
Food: Bearded Dragons eat nutrient fed and vitamin / calcium coated crickets, jumbo mealworms, butterworms, baby mice, and various vitamin / calcium coated fruits and vegetables. Baby and juvenile Bearded Dragons have very high calcium requirements.
Housing: Initially baby and smaller juvenile Bearded Dragons can be reared in a 10 or 20 gallon terrarium with a deep sand substrate. Landscape and create shelters and basking areas with select driftwood, cholla wood, hollow logs, cork bark slabs, siliconed rock formations and live or artificial desert type plants. Sub-adult and adult Bearded Dragons require a large custom built enclosure set up in a similar manner.
Water: Provide a large shallow pan of fresh water for drinking and soaking purposes. Clean frequently as needed.
Temperature/Humidity: Bearded Dragons like day temperatures between 80 degrees F to 105 degrees F, gradient. They like night temperatures between 65 degrees F and 75 degrees F. Provide some humidity by occasional misting of your Bearded Dragon's enclosure.
Lighting: Unfiltered natural sunlight or full spectrum lighting / U.V. radiation is needed for long term maintenance of Bearded Dragons, and is especially critical for baby and juvenile Bearded Dragons.
Heating: Under tank reptile heating pads and hot rocks will provide 24 hour bottom surface heat. Incandescent light bulbs with reflectors situated over select basking areas will provide the proper daytime heat gradient. Bearded Dragons must be given a hot terrarium, but MUST have a cool retreat from daytime heat.