Bearded Dragon Care Sheet

Bearded dragons are one of the most popular pet lizards because they are generally hardy, inquisitive, and beginner-friendly when provided with proper care.

Successful bearded dragon care includes providing the correct habitat, lighting, temperature, nutrition, and routine veterinary care to keep your reptile healthy throughout their life.

This care sheet covers everything you need to know about housing, feeding, health, and daily care.

Bearded Dragon Overview

Native to central Australia, bearded dragons are affectionately known as "beardies" by reptile enthusiasts.

Their name comes from one of their natural defense mechanisms. When they feel threatened, they can expand the skin beneath their chin, causing it to darken and resemble a beard.

Like all reptiles, bearded dragons can carry infectious organisms, including Salmonella bacteria, which can be transmitted to people. Always wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling your bearded dragon or anything inside its enclosure.

Bearded Dragon Characteristics 

Difficulty of Care	Beginner
Average Lifespan	Eight to 10 years with proper care
Average Adult Size	Up to 24 inches long, with half of this length being their tail
Diet	Omnivorous
Minimum Habitat Size	20 gallons for juveniles; 40+ gallons for adults

 

Bearded Dragon Supplies Checklist

Before bringing home a bearded dragon, make sure you have all of the essential habitat, lighting, feeding, and health supplies needed to properly care for them.

Habitat

• Appropriately sized habitat (20 gallons for juveniles; 40+ gallons for adults)
• Substrate
• Moss
• Hideaway
• Climbing décor
• Live or artificial plants

Heating and Lighting

• Heat lamp
• Heat fixture
• Under-tank heater
• UVB light and fixture
• Thermometers
• Humidity gauge (hygrometer)
• Mister

Food and Feeding Supplies

• Bearded dragon food
• Live feeder insects
• Treats
• Food dish
• Water dish
• Mealworm dish
• Cricket keeper
• Cricket food
• Cricket quencher

Supplements

• Multivitamin supplement
• Calcium supplement with vitamin D
• Calcium supplement without vitamin D

Having these supplies ready before bringing your bearded dragon home helps create a safe, healthy environment from day one.

Bearded Dragon Habitat Setup

A properly designed habitat is one of the most important parts of bearded dragon care. Providing the correct enclosure size, temperatures, lighting, humidity, substrate, and enrichment helps keep your bearded dragon healthy and active.

Bearded Dragon Tank Size

A juvenile bearded dragon should be housed in an enclosure that is at least 20 gallons, while a single adult should have a habitat of 40 gallons or larger. Whenever possible, provide the largest enclosure you can.

All habitats should have a secure screened lid to provide ventilation and prevent escapes.

Setting Up Your Habitat 

Only one adult male bearded dragon should be housed per enclosure, as males are highly territorial and may become aggressive toward one another.

While compatible females can sometimes live together, they should be monitored closely and provided with adequate space.

Avoid housing males and females together unless breeding is intended. Females should not be bred until they are at least 2 years old because younger dragons may experience egg-laying complications.

Never house different reptile species together.

Bearded Dragon Temperature 

Bearded dragons require a temperature gradient so they can move between warmer and cooler areas to regulate their body temperature.

 

Check habitat temperatures every day to ensure both zones remain within the recommended range.

For the most accurate monitoring, place one thermometer on the warm side of the enclosure and another on the cool side. A digital infrared (point-and-shoot) thermometer can also be used to quickly measure surface temperatures.

In addition to proper heat, bearded dragons require full-spectrum UVB lighting to help them absorb vitamin D and metabolize calcium.

Provide 10–12 hours of UVB lighting each day and follow the manufacturer's recommendations for bulb placement to ensure adequate UVB exposure.

Even if a UVB bulb still produces visible light, replace it approximately every six months, as UVB output decreases over time.

Bearded Dragon Lighting

Proper heat and UVB lighting are essential for a bearded dragon's digestion, calcium metabolism, and overall health.

Because bearded dragons are ectotherms, they rely on external heat sources to regulate their body temperature.

 

Position an incandescent heat bulb or ceramic heater over one end of the enclosure to create a basking area. The correct bulb wattage depends on the enclosure size, the distance from the basking area, and the ambient room temperature.

Adjust the bulb wattage as needed to maintain the recommended temperature gradient throughout the enclosure.

In addition to heat, provide a full-spectrum UVB light to help your bearded dragon absorb vitamin D and metabolize calcium properly.

Because UVB bulbs vary in strength and design, always follow the manufacturer's recommendations for bulb placement.

Even if a UVB bulb continues to produce visible light, replace it approximately every six months, as its UVB output decreases over time.

Bearded Dragon Humidity 

Bearded dragons thrive in a habitat with a humidity level between 30% and 50%, which helps support healthy skin, shedding, and respiratory health.

To increase humidity:

• Mist your bearded dragon and enclosure décor as needed.
• Add non-toxic live plants to the habitat.

If humidity is too high, improve ventilation so excess moisture can escape.

Use a hygrometer to monitor humidity levels every day and make adjustments as needed to keep the enclosure within the recommended range.

Bearded Dragon Substrate 

Choose a substrate that supports your bearded dragon's health while minimizing the risk of accidental ingestion.

Avoid using the following as substrate because they are indigestible and may cause gastrointestinal obstruction if swallowed:

• Gravel
• Wood chips
• Crushed walnut shells

If you choose to use a loose substrate, such as sand, feed your bearded dragon in a separate dish or feeding container rather than directly on the enclosure floor. This helps reduce the risk of accidentally ingesting substrate while eating.

A well-furnished habitat encourages natural behaviors such as basking, climbing, hiding, and exploring while helping your bearded dragon feel secure.

Food Dishes

Offer food in a shallow dish or separate feeding container instead of placing it directly on the enclosure floor. This helps reduce the risk of your bearded dragon accidentally swallowing substrate while eating.

Worm dishes and cricket feeders are useful for keeping live feeder insects contained in one area.

Hiding Areas

Provide at least two hiding places—one on the warm side of the enclosure and one on the cool side.

Hideouts give bearded dragons a safe place to rest and escape the basking area when needed. However, monitor your dragon's behavior to ensure they are not spending all of their time hiding, as excessive hiding may reduce beneficial UVB exposure.

Climbing Branches and Basking Rocks

Include at least one sturdy basking rock or climbing branch so your bearded dragon can climb, exercise, and bask naturally.

Branches and rocks should be stable and large enough to safely support your dragon's body to prevent injuries caused by falling decor.

Moss

Moist sphagnum moss can be placed inside a hide on the warm side of the enclosure to create a humidity hide that supports healthy shedding.

Replace moss regularly to prevent mold growth and keep the enclosure clean.

Plants

Non-toxic live plants can help enrich your bearded dragon's habitat while also supporting healthy humidity levels.

Cleaning and Habitat Maintenance

Regular cleaning is essential for preventing disease and keeping your bearded dragon's habitat healthy.

Spot-clean the enclosure every day by removing waste, soiled substrate, and uneaten food. Food and water dishes should also be washed daily to help prevent bacterial growth.

A complete habitat cleaning and disinfection should be performed at least once a week, or more often if multiple bearded dragons share the enclosure.

Because reptiles can carry infectious organisms such as Salmonella, always wash your hands before and after handling your bearded dragon or anything inside its habitat.

To thoroughly clean a bearded dragon enclosure:

1. Move your bearded dragon to a secure temporary enclosure.
2. Remove all substrate, décor, food dishes, and accessories.
3. Scrub the empty enclosure and furnishings with a reptile-safe habitat cleaner or a 3% bleach solution.
4. If using bleach, allow the solution to remain on surfaces for at least 10 minutes to disinfect properly. If using a commercial cleaner, follow the manufacturer's instructions.
5. Rinse the enclosure and all accessories thoroughly to remove any remaining cleaner or bleach residue.
6. Allow everything to dry completely.
7. Add fresh substrate, clean accessories, and return your bearded dragon to the enclosure.

Bearded Dragon Diet

Bearded dragons are omnivores that require a balanced diet of insects, vegetables, and fruits, with the proportions changing as they mature.

 

Young bearded dragons require a protein-rich diet consisting primarily of gut-loaded insects, while adults should eat proportionally more plant matter.

Gut-loading means feeding insects a nutrient-rich diet before they are offered to your bearded dragon. These specialized insect diets are fortified with vitamins and minerals, allowing the insects to pass those nutrients on to your reptile during feeding.

Safe feeder insects include:

• Crickets
• Mealworms
• Hornworms
• Waxworms
• Calciworms
• Roaches
• Superworms

Only offer as many insects as your bearded dragon can eat during one feeding session. Remove any uneaten insects afterward, as they may bite or injure your lizard.

Feeder insects should never be larger than the space between your bearded dragon's eyes.

Vegetables and fruits may include:

Fruits

• Kiwi
• Mango
• Banana
• Papaya
• Cantaloupe
• Watermelon
• Apple

Vegetables

• Dark leafy greens
• Parsley
• Cabbage
• Bell peppers
• Broccoli
• Squash
• Carrots
• Green beans
• Bok choy
• Escarole
• Cilantro
• Endive
• Prickly pear

Cut all fruits and vegetables into bite-sized pieces before feeding.

Remove uneaten produce after approximately 10 hours to prevent spoilage and bacterial growth.

Because fruit is naturally high in carbohydrates and sugar, it should be offered in moderation to help prevent unhealthy weight gain.

Water

Fresh, clean water should always be available and replaced daily. Because bearded dragons can absorb water through their skin, the water dish should be shallow but large enough for your dragon to soak if needed.

Foods To Avoid

Never feed your bearded dragon:

• Fireflies
• Onions
• Mushrooms

These foods are toxic and may cause serious illness or death.

High-oxalate foods should also be avoided because they interfere with calcium absorption, including:

• Avocados
• Beet greens
• Spinach
• Rhubarb

Bearded Dragon Vitamin Supplements

Bearded dragons require regular calcium and vitamin supplementation to support healthy bone development and overall health.

Three supplements should be included in their routine:

• Calcium supplement with vitamin D
• Calcium supplement without vitamin D
• Reptile multivitamin powder

Alternate the two calcium supplements daily by using a calcium supplement with vitamin D one day and a calcium supplement without vitamin D the next. Dust feeder insects with a reptile multivitamin once each week.

A simple way to coat feeder insects is to place them in a bag or disposable container with the powdered supplement and gently shake until they are evenly coated.

Routine Bearded Dragon Care

Routine care, including proper shedding support and nail maintenance, helps keep your bearded dragon healthy and comfortable.

Shedding

Bearded dragons shed their skin regularly, and maintaining proper habitat humidity is one of the best ways to support healthy shedding.

Keep the enclosure's humidity between 30% and 50% to encourage normal shed cycles.

If your bearded dragon is having difficulty shedding, you can soak them in a large, shallow container of warm water. The container should be wide enough for your dragon to submerge its body while keeping its head safely above the water.

Nail Care

Most bearded dragons naturally wear down their nails and do not require regular trimming.

However, dragons that are handled frequently or have limited opportunities to wear down their nails may occasionally need a trim.

If your bearded dragon's nails become overly long, damaged, or broken, consult your veterinarian for guidance on proper nail care.

Bearded Dragon Health Care

Routine veterinary care and regular health monitoring are essential for helping your bearded dragon live a long, healthy life.

Annual Care

Bearded dragons should have a veterinary wellness examination once every year.

For veterinary visits:

• Transport your bearded dragon in a secure travel cage or cat carrier.
• Bring photos of the enclosure, lighting, heating equipment, and diet if your veterinarian has husbandry questions.
• Bring a fresh fecal sample unless your veterinarian prefers to collect one during the appointment.

Signs of a Healthy Bearded Dragon

Healthy bearded dragons typically have:

• Clean, clear eyes
• Healthy skin without ulcers or retained shed
• A good appetite
• A bright, alert attitude
• A clean vent
• No lumps or swellings
• Normal posture and mobility
• Regular basking behavior
• A healthy body condition and weight

Signs of an Unhealthy Bearded Dragon

Contact your veterinarian if your bearded dragon develops:

• Swollen, sunken, closed, or draining eyes
• Skin ulcers or lesions
• Refusal to eat (outside of normal seasonal appetite changes)
• Failure to bask
• Lethargy
• Discharge around the vent
• Lumps or swellings
• Difficulty walking or maintaining normal posture
• A sunken abdomen
• Retained shed, especially around swollen toes

Common Bearded Dragon Illnesses

Some of the most common medical conditions seen in bearded dragons include:

• Intestinal parasites
• Gastrointestinal (GI) impaction
• Metabolic bone disease
• Dystocia (egg binding)
• Eye infections and corneal ulcers
• Respiratory disease
• Skin infections
• Traumatic injuries