Bearded Dragon — Fact Sheet
Pogona vitticeps · Bearded Dragon · Bearded dragon · Central bearded dragon
📋 At a glance
| Adult size | 45-60 cm |
| Lifespan | 10-15 years |
| Subspecies | No captive-care subspecies split |
| Origin | The species originates from eastern and central Australia. |
| Activity | Diurnal |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Legal | CITES: not listed; EU: not listed; local rules still apply |
🏠 Enclosure
- Indoor vivarium with secure ventilation; outdoor sun only in safe supervised weather
- Adult enclosure must provide usable floor space, climbing or digging structure as appropriate
- Substrate should match the species: dry soil/sand/clay for arid animals, planted/drainage layers for humid arboreal animals
- Avoid loose unsafe particles for juveniles, slippery floors, and cramped glass boxes
🪨 Enclosure furniture
- Warm basking zone, cooler retreat, humid hide or humid zone where appropriate
- Stable rocks, branches, cork, hides, and visual barriers
- Water dish or misting/drinking system matched to the species
💡 Lighting
- UVB required or strongly recommended for most diurnal lizards
- Best: T5 HO UVB tube plus bright visible lighting and separate heat lamp
- Replace UVB lamps on schedule and measure UVI when possible
- Photoperiod: 10-12 h; no visible light at night
🌡️ Temperature
Basking spot: 38-45 °C
Warm zone: 28-32 °C
Cool zone: 22-26 °C
Night: 18-22 °C
Clear gradient required; the animal must be able to move between warm, cool, and hidden zones
Measure basking surfaces with an infrared thermometer and ambient zones with digital probes
Avoid heat rocks and unguarded heat sources
💧 Humidity & water
- Provide a moisture gradient rather than one uniform humidity value
- Fresh water always available or reliable drinking droplets for arboreal species
- Use humid hides for shedding support where appropriate
- Avoid stagnant wet substrate and poor ventilation
🪳 Diet
Feed regularly:
- Appropriately sized crickets, roaches, locusts, and other feeder insects
In moderation:
- Waxworms, mealworms, superworms, and fatty larvae
Avoid:
- Wild-caught insects, oversized prey, spoiled feeders
Supplements:
- Calcium as needed; vitamins in a controlled schedule; UVB does not get replaced by powders
🩺 Health — warning signs
- Soft jaw or limb weakness → UVB/calcium problem
- Retained shed on toes/tail → humidity or surface problem
- Refusal to eat → temperature, stress, parasites, or illness
- Wheezing or bubbles → respiratory disease
- Weight loss despite feeding → parasites or chronic disease
Consult a reptile- or exotic-animal veterinarian for severe weakness, injury, breathing signs, swelling, or prolonged refusal to eat.