BEARDED DRAGON
Pogona vitticeps
Origin: Eastern, central Australia to the coast of South Australia.
Family: Agamidae

This large sized lizard can achieve a snout to vent length of 7-8”, 18-20cm. This species has a stout body, with a large broad head, the largest in the Pogona genus.
In its native environment of this lizard can be found in a wide range of environments, from forest scrubland, to desert regions. As Australia no longer allow the export of live wildlife, all bearded dragons in captivity are captive bred. This has led to a wide range of colours including vibrant reds and oranges.

The bearded dragon requires a spacious cage, the bigger the better, as mentioned this is a large species. For an adult pair the cage should be no shorter than 4’ long and 2’ deep. The substrate should be sand or other substrates sold as desert substrates. Rock or cork basking platforms must be secure as bearded dragons can also dig well. The use of plastic or real plants is not advisable as bearded dragons eat a large amount of plant vegetation to gain their water requirements, and will try to eat plants if used.

Bearded dragons require hot temperature and require a basking site with temperatures of 90-100F. The ambient air temperature should be 80-84ºF. A night time temperature drop to 65-75ºF is ideal. Due to its diurnal desert environment a strong (5.0 – 8.0) UV emitting lamp must be used for a period of 12-14 hours a day & changed ever six moths. Male bearded dragons are highly territorial and two males should never be housed together.

Food can consist of all suitably sized commercially produced live foods, and hedge sweepings, remember to only collect from areas you are sure pesticides have not been used. Fruit and chopped salads should be offered fresh 5 times a week. A range of commercial food is also available for bearded dragons, most will take these, but they are not a sole diet. A good vitamin and mineral supplement should be used twice a week, or as per the manufactures instructions. In the wild bearded dragons will eat just about anything that moves including other lizards, never house smaller lizard species with bearded dragons preferably don’t mix this species with other species.

Bearded dragons are egg-layers, having clutches of between 10-25 eggs and can have up to four clutches in a season. Bearded dragons hibernate in the wild and a dormancy period is required for breeding purposes.

Overall this lizard is a very hardy captive, and will become very tame as it ages. This species is the second most bred species in captivity, just after the leopard gecko; with each year now colour forms are being produced making the species even more variable in colour. Conceded by most to be the “pet” lizard species as long as all the requirements are met this species should live between eight and twelve years.