General Information

Family:  Agamidae

Locale:  Australian central deserts

Habitat:  Semi-arid to arid woodland and rocky desert

Average Size: 16 - 22 in. long

Average Life Span: 5-8 years

Activity:  Diurnal, semiarboreal

Care Summary

Captive care:  ≥ 20 gal aquarium (larger better), 40 gal breeder tank for pair; substrate: sand, (under tank heat pad), driftwood, shelter, basking light, screen cover (can be loose), shallow water dish big enough to soak in.  Avoid putting hatchling dragons on sand until they are about 4" SVL (snout-vent-length). Some breeders prefer bare bottom tank or paper towel as bedding. Mist hatchlings daily (a light misting, then wipe the cage clean and dry before first feeding).

Temperature: 76 (cool end) - 86˚F (24-30˚C) with basking 90-100˚F (32-37˚C); drop to 70˚F at night.  Hatchlings especially need high belly temperatures to assist digestion.

Lighting:  Full spectrum light (need UVB) & incandescent for heat

Foods:  crickets (calcium/vitamin dusted), mealworms, dubia roaches, pinky mice (occasionally), super worms, finely chopped greens or mixed veggies. Age specific instructions:

0-2mos.: feed 2-3x/day; 1/8 – 1/4" crickets (dusted 1x/day)

2-4mos.: feed 2x/day; 1/2" crickets (dusted 1x/day), salad every other day

4mos - mature: feed once/day; crickets, mealworms, roaches, super worms, salad every day

adult: feed every 1-2 days;  crickets (dust 2 feedings/week ), super worms, roaches, pinky mice (occasionally), dark leafy greens (e.g., Romaine lettuce, red-leaf lettuce) every day

Juveniles can be voracious eaters, feed small numbers of crickets at a time, but continue to add crickets until lizard stops eating - can eat 20-30 crickets at a feeding. Cricket length should be about the distance between the lizard’s eyes.

Temperament: Docile enough to hold and very interactive, great pets.

References

References:

Bartlett, P.P., Griswold, B., Bartlett, R.D. (2001).  Reptiles, Amphibians, and Invertebrates, an identification and care guide.  Barron’s Educational Series, Hauppauge, NY. 279pp.

Bearded dragon. (2003). Received from   http://www.lihs.org/files/caresheets/P_vitticeps.html

de Vosjoli, P., Mailloux, R. (1993).  General Care &  Maintenance of Bearded Dragons.  Advanced Vivarium Systems, Inc.  Lakeside, CA 92040.

de Vosjoli, P., Mailloux, R. (1996).  A simple system for raising juvenile bearded dragons (Pogona) indoors.  The Vivarium 7: 42-43.

de Vosjoli, P., Mailloux, R., Donoghue, S., Klingenberger, R., Cole, J. (2001).  The Bearded Dragon Manual.  Advanced Vivarium Systems, Inc. Irvine, CA.  174pp.

Kaplan, M. (2014). Received from http://www.anapsid.org/bearded.html

Sprackland, R. (1994).  Australia’s Bearded Dragons.  Reptiles 1(6):44-53.

Range Map: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/online-resources/fauna/afd/taxa/Pogona_vitticeps

Compiled by Eileen Underwood. Updated 8/2016.