With their docile nature, sociable personalities, and manageable sizes, bearded dragons have become one of the most popular pet lizards today. If you’re considering getting a beardie for the first time, a gray bearded dragon makes an excellent choice.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: Gray bearded dragons have a silver-gray body coloration and make good pets thanks to their calm demeanor. Proper housing, lighting, temperature regulation, nutrition, and health monitoring are key to keeping them healthy and happy.
In this approximately 3000 word care guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about gray bearded dragons as pets. You’ll learn about their origins and physical features, housing and habitat requirements, proper diet and nutrition, handling techniques, common health issues, and more.
We’ll also provide tips from experienced keepers on bringing home and caring for these unique reptiles.
Origins and Physical Features
Natural Habitat
Gray bearded dragons (Pogona breviscapa) originate from a fairly small range within the inland regions of Western Australia. They inhabit arid woodlands and desert areas with rocky outcroppings among spinifex grasslands.
This harsh environment sees searing hot summer temperatures and cooler winters with occasional frosts.
These Dragons tend to spend considerable time basking on rocks or in branches of shrubs and trees. They retreat to burrows dug beneath spinifex clumps or rocky overhangs at night and during extreme weather. Such behavior helps them regulate body temperature.
Coloration and Size
Gray bearded dragons display unique coloration as juveniles before transitioning to pale gray or cream colors as adults. Hatchlings may be bright yellow, red, orange or brown and patterned to blend into rocky surrounds. Their ability to rapidly change skin colors aids thermoregulation and camouflage.
Adults reach approximately 60 cm (24 inches) long from their snout to the tip of their tail. Females are generally slightly smaller and slimmer than males. Weight ranges between 300 to 600 g (11 to 21 oz) depending on age, gender and size.
Behaviors
Gray bearded dragons are diurnal lizards meaning they are active during the day. They spend mornings and afternoons emerging from overnight shelter to bask, forage for insects and small vertebrates and interact with other dragons.
By late afternoon when temperatures peak, they usually retreat to shaded shelters again.
Males establish territories in the breeding season and will bob their head and puff out a gray “beard” located under their throat to warn off rivals. Dominant dragons will stand on three legs and wave one front leg to further intimidate competitors.
😠Despite this, serious aggression is fairly rare in the wild. 😌
These solitary Dragons become more social in captivity, especially when housed together from a young age. If provided sufficient space and basking/feeding sites, groups often co-habit peacefully. Overall, their calm nature and inquisitive behavior make them pleasing reptile pets. 😃
Enclosure Setup
Setting up the perfect enclosure is crucial to keeping your gray bearded dragon healthy and happy. Here’s a detailed guide on everything you need to consider when constructing their habitat.
Tank Size
Gray beardies are active reptiles that need adequate space to thrive. The minimum enclosure size is a 55-60 gallon tank for juveniles, while adults require a minimum of a 75-120 gallon tank. Make sure the tank is escape proof with a secure screen top.
Substrate
It’s vital to choose a safe substrate that won’t impact digestion or cause impactions. Recommended options include non-adhesive shelf liner, paper towels, or reptile carpets. Avoid loose substrates like sand, as ingesting it can be extremely dangerous for beardies.
Landscaping and Accessories
Gray bearded dragons love climbing, so provide plenty of hammocks, branches, and platforms at different heights. Natural wood and stone décor is ideal. You’ll also need a food and water bowl, a basking area, and a hide box so they can feel secure.
Lighting
Proper lighting is crucial for maintaining healthy bone density and metabolism. Use a Reptisun T5 HO UVB bulb that spans 2/3 the tank’s length. Combine it with a basking bulb emitting 100-110°F at the warm end. Make sure lighting is on 12-14 hours daily.
Temperature Regulation
Maintaining the right heat gradient is vital. The cool end should stay 80-85°F. The basking area surface temp should reach 105-110°F. Use under tank heat mats, ceramic heat emitters, and thermometers to regulate temperatures. Never let the tank get below 75°F at night.
Humidity Control
Gray bearded dragons thrive in drier enclosures with 20-40% humidity. Use hygrometers to monitor levels. Install ventilation fans and avoid wet substrates to prevent respiratory infections. Provide a humid hide box instead for shedding aid.
Proper Diet and Nutrition
Protein Sources
A balanced diet for bearded dragons should include adequate protein from sources like insects and worms. Top protein choices are crickets, mealworms, superworms, waxworms, silkworms, hornworms, roaches and black soldier fly larvae.
These should make up about 30-50% of their diet as juveniles and 20-30% as adults.
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and veggies provide important vitamins, minerals and fiber. Some top picks are collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, endive, squash, sweet potato, peas, green beans, figs, melon, berries and other leafy greens. Variety is key! Only feed fruits sparingly since they are high in sugar.
Supplements
Proper calcium and vitamin D3 supplementation is crucial for bearded dragons to prevent metabolic bone disease. Use a high quality powder supplement like Repti Calcium or ReptiVite multivitamin lightly dusted on feeder insects and salads 2-3 times per week.
Vitamin supplements support bone health and overall wellness.
Feeding Techniques and Schedules
Most bearded dragons enjoy “hunting” food so use feeding tongs to wiggle insects in front of them. Offer fresh salad daily along with live feeders like crickets or worms 2-3 times per day while they are young, scaling back to 1-2 times per day for adults.
Use shallow dishes for salads so food does not get dirty. Gut load feeder insects with nutritious foods 24-48 hours before feeding for maximum nutrition.
Handling and Bonding
Establishing Trust
Building trust with your bearded dragon is crucial for forming a strong bond. Start by moving slowly and speaking softly when interacting with them. Allow them to become familiar with your scent by placing a worn t-shirt in their enclosure.
Offer treats by hand to associate you with positive reinforcement. With time and gentle handling, your bearded dragon will learn to trust you.
Supporting the Body
Properly supporting a bearded dragon’s body makes handling safe and less stressful. These lizards can reach up to 2 feet in length, so support their abdomen and chest when lifting them. For juvenile dragons under 6 inches, cradle them in both hands.
For larger dragons, place one hand under the abdomen and use the other to support the chest and front legs. Avoid restraining or squeezing them too tightly.
Interacting Regularly
Frequent, gentle handling is key to bonding with your bearded dragon. Aim for at least 10-15 minutes of supervised interaction per day. Remove jewelry and wash hands before handling to avoid injury. Allow the dragon to walk on your hands, arms, and lap. Speak softly and move steadily to build trust.
Pet them softly on the head, chin, and sides of the body as positive reinforcement.
Signs of Stress
Watch for these signs of stress while handling your bearded dragon:
- Gaping mouth
- Arm waving
- Puffing out throat
- Changing colors
- Attempts to flee
If you notice these behaviors, give them a break from handling to lower stress. With time, gentle interaction will reduce anxious responses.
Common Health Issues
Metabolic Bone Disease
Metabolic bone disease (MBD) is one of the most common health problems seen in bearded dragons. MBD is caused by an improper balance of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D3 in the diet, which leads to soft, deformed bones and other skeletal abnormalities.
Symptoms include rubbery legs, arched spine, hesitance to move, and jerky movements. MBD can be prevented by providing proper UVB lighting and dusting feeder insects with calcium and vitamin D3 supplements. If caught early, mild MBD can be reversed with calcium injections and dietary adjustments.
However, severe MBD causes permanent bone deformities.
Parasites
Intestinal parasites like pinworms, roundworms, tapeworms, and protozoa are fairly common in pet bearded dragons, especially wild-caught ones. Bearded dragons pick up parasites by ingesting infected insects or through contact with contaminated substrates.
Symptoms of a parasitic infection include weight loss, lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. Parasites can be diagnosed through a fecal examination at the vet’s office. They are easily treated with oral deworming medication like fenbendazole.
Keeping the enclosure clean and quarantining new dragons can help prevent parasitic infections.
Respiratory Infections
Respiratory infections are a leading cause of illness in bearded dragons. They are typically caused by unsanitary housing, low temperatures, and stress. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, discharge from the nose and eyes, and keeping the mouth open to breathe.
Without veterinary treatment, respiratory infections can quickly become life threatening. Antibiotics, nebulization therapy, and environmental changes are required to resolve respiratory infections. Prevent this condition by maintaining proper temperatures and humidity in the enclosure.
Mouth Rot
Mouth rot refers to a bacterial infection of the tissues in and around a bearded dragon’s mouth. It is characterized by cheesy-looking pus pockets, reddened gums, and dead tissue in the mouth. Causes include poor hygiene, mouth injuries, malnutrition, and improper temperatures.
Left untreated, mouth rot leads to tooth loss, oral deformities, and possibly systemic infections. But it can be cured in the early stages with antibiotic injections and topical disinfectants. Maintaining cleanliness and a stress-free environment helps prevent mouth rot.
Tail Rot
Tail rot occurs when bearded dragons suffer tissue damage to the tail, which then becomes infected with bacteria. Injury, inadequate housing, malnutrition, and restricted blood flow can cause tail rot. Signs include swollen, reddened, and blackened tissue at the tip of the tail.
The infected part of the tail eventually shrivels up and falls off. Mild tail rot can be treated with antibiotics and improved husbandry. But severe infections may require amputation of the tail tip. Proper handling and housing is key to preventing tail injuries that can lead to tail rot.
Conclusion
With their gray hues, relaxed personalities, and manageable care needs, gray bearded dragons can make excellent pets for beginner and experienced keepers alike. By providing proper housing with adequate lighting, heat, and accessories, feeding a balanced diet, and regularly interacting with your beardie, you’ll be rewarded with a calm, personable companion.
We hope this guide gave you a comprehensive overview for keeping healthy, happy gray bearded dragons. With the proper setup and care guidelines provided here, you’ll be prepared to bring one of these unique reptiles home.