Welcome reptile lover! If you’ve been considering getting a pet bearded dragon and are wondering how much work goes into properly caring for one of these exotic pets, you’ve come to the right place.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Bearded dragons require a moderate level of care and maintenance compared to other exotic pets like snakes or turtles. Their daily and weekly husbandry needs mean they aren’t the easiest pets, but they are very manageable for the average pet owner with some reptile experience.
In this approximately 3000 word guide, we will do a deep dive into all the important factors that determine how high maintenance bearded dragons are. We’ll look at their enclosure, lighting, heating, substrate, diet, and other care requirements.
We’ll also compare their maintenance needs to other common reptile pets. Let’s determine once and for all whether bearded dragons are high-effort pets!
Enclosure Size and Setup
Minimum Recommended Enclosure Dimensions
When it comes to bearded dragon enclosure size, bigger is always better! The absolute minimum dimensions for an adult bearded dragon are 4 ft long x 2 ft wide x 2 ft tall. However, most bearded dragon owners and experts recommend going even larger.
An enclosure of 6 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft will provide ample space for your bearded dragon to thrive.
Enclosure Decor – Hiding Spots, Climbing Features
Making sure your bearded dragon’s enclosure is properly decorated is key! Bearded dragons are semi-arboreal, meaning they enjoy climbing and basking up high. Provide plenty of branches, hammocks, and platforms at varying heights for enrichment.
You’ll also need to incorporate a few cozy hiding spots so your buddy can retreat when they feel stressed. Hollow logs, cardboard boxes, and reptile hides are great options!
Proper Substrate Selection
Choosing an inappropriate loose substrate can be extremely dangerous for beardies if accidentally ingested while feeding. This can lead to deadly impaction. Instead, use a solid, easy-to-clean substrate like tile, repticarpet, or plain paper towels.
If you wish to provide some diggable substrate, do so only in a small, designated area – and supervise your dragon closely to prevent snacking on substrate particles. Safe loose options are children’s play sand and coconut fiber substrates formulated specifically for bearded dragons.
As you can see, properly housing your bearded dragon does involve some work – but it’s totally worth it! By setting up an extra large, enriching habitat and keeping safety in mind with substrate selection, your dragon will thrive for years to come. Looking for more tips?
Check out this authoritative website for bearded dragon care guidelines.
Heating and Lighting Necessities
Basking Spot Temperatures
Proper heating is crucial for bearded dragons to thrive. Bearded dragons are cold-blooded, meaning they rely on external heat sources to regulate their body temperature. The basking spot in their enclosure should be kept between 95-110°F during the day to allow them to warm up their bodies and properly digest food.
The ambient air temperature on the cool side of the tank should stay around 80-85°F. Temperatures below 75°F can lead to health issues in bearded dragons. Having the correct basking spot temperature enables bearded dragons to achieve their preferred body temperature of 98-100°F after basking.
This allows their digestive system to function optimally and metabolize nutrients from their insect-based diet. Monitoring basking spot temperatures with a quality thermometer is important to maintain ideal conditions.
UVB Lighting Requirements
In addition to heat, UVB lighting is essential for bearded dragons. UVB rays are necessary for reptiles to produce vitamin D3, which aids in calcium absorption and metabolism. Without proper UVB exposure, bearded dragons can suffer from metabolic bone disease and other health problems.
There are two main options for UVB lighting for bearded dragon enclosures – linear fluorescent bulbs and mercury vapor bulbs. The linear fluorescent tubes should be rated for at least 10% UVB output and replaced every 6 months.
These are best paired with a separate basking bulb to provide focused heating. Mercury vapor bulbs combine UVB rays and heat in one lamp and need to be positioned 10-12 inches from a bearded dragon’s basking area.
Providing adequate UVB exposure by using the proper lighting is crucial for maintaining healthy calcium levels and bone growth in captive bearded dragons.
Nighttime Heat Sources
While bearded dragons require intense heating and lighting during the day, they still need a heat source at night. Nighttime temperatures should not fall below 65-75°F inside their enclosure. Low overnight temperatures can stress their immune system and cause health issues.
There are a few safe options for bearded dragon night heating. Ceramic heat emitters produce heat but no light, allowing a natural day/night cycle. Red or blue reptile bulbs also provide heat while minimizing light disturbance.
Under tank heaters or heat mats under one side of the tank are another option, and low wattage incandescent bulbs work as well. Thermostats or rheostats should be used to control nighttime heat sources and prevent overheating.
By providing adequate heat around the clock, bearded dragon owners can help ensure their pet stays healthy and thrives.
Feeding and Hydration Needs
Staple Vegetables and Greens
Bearded dragons should be fed a variety of leafy greens and vegetables as their staple diet. Good options include collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, dandelion greens, kale, parsley, arugula, endive, and escarole. These veggies provide essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients.
Leafy greens should make up around 75% of their total diet.
Recommended Fruits and Proteins
In addition to greens, bearded dragons can eat small amounts of squash, bell peppers, sweet potatoes, carrots, apples and berries a few times per week. Lean insects like crickets, mealworms, waxworms and roaches should also be offered 2-3 times per week.
These food items add beneficial nutrients and variety.
Supplements and Calcium Powder
It’s important to lightly dust insects with calcium powder 3 times weekly and multivitamin powder 1-2 times weekly before feeding to your bearded dragon. This ensures they adequately obtain nutrients like calcium and vitamin D3 which are crucial for healthy bone development and growth.
Popular supplements are Rep-Cal calcium and Herptivite multivitamins.
Hydration and Drinking Water
Provide fresh, clean water for drinking at all times in a shallow bowl within the enclosure. Bearded dragons get a fair amount of hydration from eating vegetables, but should still have constant access to water.
Ensure adequate humidity and mist the bearded dragon’s body once or twice daily to promote fluid intake. Water helps regulates body temperature and keeps cells functioning properly. An occasional soak in shallow warm water can also encourage hydration.
Handling, Exercise and Enrichment
Taming and Handling Routines
Taming a bearded dragon takes time and patience. Start by hand feeding veggies and insects to build trust. Then rest your hand in the enclosure so they get used to your presence. Once comfortable, you can begin taking them out for 5-10 minutes at a time, slowly building up duration.
Always support their body fully when handling.
Create a safe, controlled space for handling sessions. Bearded dragons may run quickly if frightened, so prevent falls. Taming is easiest when started young, but adults can be tamed too. With routine gentle handling, most bearded dragons will eventually enjoy human interaction.
Enclosure Enrichment Ideas
An enriched habitat is vital for a bearded dragon’s health and happiness. Add horizontal and vertical climbing branches, logs or rocks. Create cozy hides and basking spots with stacked slate. Provide a dig box filled with reptile-safe sand. Place food in different areas to encourage foraging.
Rotate new objects and rearrange their habitat weekly to prevent boredom. Safe, supervised exploration outside their enclosure also provides enrichment. Never use loose substrate if under 6 months old due to impaction risk.
Playtime and Exercise Outside the Tank
In addition to a stimulating enclosure, bearded dragons need exercise outside their habitat. Signs they want out include scratching at walls, pacing or staring at you. Aim for at least 30-60 minutes of supervised playtime 4-5 days per week.
Protect against household dangers like sharp edges or chemicals.
Let them roam on reptile-safe lawn grass to graze and dig. Low smooth tables also work well. Never leave unsupervised as they can fall or escape quickly! Provide climbing and hiding opportunities with cardboard boxes, tunnels or branches.
You can also take them outside in a secure portable pen to bask natural sunlight and explore nature.
Grooming and Hygiene Tasks
Nail Trimming Frequency
Keeping your bearded dragon’s nails neatly trimmed is an essential grooming task. Overgrown nails can snag on fabrics and cage decor, leading to painful breaks or tears. Most experts recommend trimming a bearded dragon’s nails every 2-4 weeks to keep them a reasonable length.
More frequent trims may be needed for particularly fast growing nails. Always use specially designed reptile nail clippers and take care not to trim too short, which risks hitting the quick and causing bleeding.
Bathing Best Practices
Giving bearded dragons occasional baths supports their hygiene and shedding process. Experts typically recommend bathing adult dragons 1-2 times per week, while babies and juveniles can be bathed almost every day to aid hydration.
Use a small plastic tub and fill it with a couple inches of lukewarm water. Never leave your bearded dragon unattended in the bath! They may drink excessive water or even drown if left unsupervised. Baths lasting 10-15 minutes allow adequate cleaning and hydration without overstressing your pet.
Shedding Help
Most bearded dragons shed every 4-6 weeks as they grow. An improper shed can leave patches of dead skin clinging to your dragon’s body. To aid the shedding process, provide a “shed box” filled with damp moss or paper towels, which creates the humid environment dragons need to loosen their skin.
Soak your dragon more frequently in lukewarm baths leading up to a shed. Use a soft brush or wet cloth to gently rub loose skin until it comes free. Avoid pulling firmly as this may tear skin that’s not ready to come off.
With attentive humidity and bathing assistance, your bearded dragon will complete clean, full-body sheds.
By staying on top of basic grooming and hygiene habits like nail and skin care, baths for hydration, and attention during shedding periods, caring dragon owners can keep their pets clean, healthy and comfortable.
Vet Visits and Common Health Issues
New Reptile Exams and Fecal Tests
Taking your new bearded dragon for an initial vet exam is highly advisable to establish a baseline of their health. Reputable exotic pet vets will check your dragon’s weight, body condition, hydration levels, skin and scales, eyes, mouth and teeth to spot any issues.
A fecal test to check for parasites is also typically done.
While baby dragons under 6 months old should have exams every 2-3 months as they grow rapidly, yearly checks are advised for adults along with fecal tests every 6 months. If issues are spotted early, treatment success rates are higher.
Preventative Care and Yearly Checkups
Preventative care measures like proper tank setups, balanced diets, supplementation and sanitation practices will help avoid certain diseases. But yearly exams allow vets to check your pet’s overall health including weight, temperature, heart, lungs, skin and more.
They can also test for metabolic bone disease from poor diets. And bloodwork helps evaluate organ functions, check for pathogens, or identify vitamin and mineral deficiencies. So regular wellness checks even if your dragon looks healthy are important.
Signs of Illness and Disease to Watch For
Keeping an eye out for physical, appetite or behavioral changes in your bearded dragon is crucial to spot issues early on. These include:
If you notice such signs, contacting an exotics vet promptly can mean faster diagnosis and more successful treatment. Common diseases bearded dragons suffer from include respiratory infections, parasites, fatty liver disease, gout and adenovirus.
By providing proper husbandry and habitats for your dragon, annual exams and watching their health, issues can hopefully be avoided or caught early on when they are easier to treat.
Comparing Maintenance Needs to Other Reptiles
Vs. Snakes
In contrast to snakes which only require a basic terrarium setup with a heat lamp or pad, bedding, hide box, and water bowl, bearded dragons are much higher maintenance. They need more complex enclosures with specific temperature zones and UVB lighting.
Bearded dragons also eat a diverse diet of insects and vegetables, whereas snakes strictly eat whole prey like mice or rats.
Additionally, bearded dragons enjoy being handled and require regular human interaction. Snakes tend to be more solitary and shy away from frequent handling. An owner must be prepared to dedicate at least an hour a day to a bearded dragon for feeding, cleaning, bathing, and bonding.
Snakes only need to be fed once a week and otherwise left alone.
Vs. Turtles and Tortoises
Although all reptiles require some specialized care, turtles and tortoises are generally less demanding pets than bearded dragons. Their enclosures don’t need bright lighting or intricate temperature gradients.
Most species only require a simple habitat with clean water for swimming and hiding places.
Turtles and tortoises also eat a less diverse diet, mainly vegetables and some commercial food pellets. Owners don’t have to handle live feeder insects. Furthermore, turtles and tortoises don’t require daily attention and handling.
An owner could easily get by with checking on them a couple times a week versus a bearded dragon’s daily care routine.
Vs. Other Lizards
Compared to other types of lizards, bearded dragons require slightly more specialized care. For example, monitors, skinks, and geckos do not require intense UVB lighting to stay healthy. Most lizards also don’t eat vegetables, only live insects.
| Maintenance Needs | Bearded Dragon | Leopard Gecko |
|---|---|---|
| Enclosure Size | 75+ gallon tank | 20 gallon tank |
| Temperature | 100-110°F basking area with 75-80°F cool side | 88-92° ambient temperature |
| Substrate | Calcium sand, tile, reptile carpet | Paper towels, coco fiber, moss |
| Lighting | UVB light + basking bulb | Optional heat mat/pad |
However, most lizards only need to eat 2-3 times a week versus a bearded dragon’s daily diet. And they do not require attentive handling or bathing. So while specialized, bearded dragons need more constant daily care compared to other reptiles.
Prospective owners should research thoroughly before getting a high maintenance, but very rewarding pet beardie!
Conclusion
To summarize, while bearded dragons are not the most difficult exotic pets to care for, their specific lighting, heating, habitat, diet, and enrichment needs do require an intermediate level of maintenance compared to beginner reptiles like ball pythons or leopard geckos.
Their frequent feedings, tank cleaning, accessory upkeep, and handling time makes them more demanding than reptiles like snakes or tortoises. But their personality and trainable nature rewards the extra work required of bearded dragon owners.
If you believe you can provide the proper vivarium setup, nutrition, temperatures, UVB exposure, and routine care bearded dragons need to thrive, these personable lizards can make for delightful reptile pets.
