The bearded dragon is also known as the inland bearded dragon or the central bearded dragon. This large lizard hails from Australia.
Compared to the Chinese water dragon, you might think the bearded dragon is small — a fully grown adult has a length between 16 and 22 inches. (By comparison, male Chinese water dragons reach around three feet in length!) Bearded dragons are still considered large reptiles, and will need plenty of room to move. The tank base should be two feet by three feet (or more). House your bearded dragons in a glass aquarium with a screened top or a full-wire habitat. Adult bearded dragons can tolerate a sand substrate — just be sure there are no pebbles.
The temperature gradient in your lizard habitat should range from between eighty and 85 degrees Fahrenheit at the cool end to a hundred degree basking spot. Overnight temperatures should go no lower than 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Bearded dragons need UVB light in order to be healthy, so light your tank with fluorescent bulbs or specialty broad-spectrum bulbs. Overnight, you can use a blue or red light to keep your lizards warm.
Bearded dragons need a relatively dry habitat. In the wild, these lizards get the majority of their daily water from licking dew off plants in the early morning. For captive lizards, you’ll need to provide the “dew”. Spray fruits and vegetables before offering them; your bearded dragon will drink and eat at the same time. You should also mist the habitat three times per week (or more if you live in a very dry climate). Some bearded dragons will learn to drink from a dish, too. Be sure to change the water and clean the dish daily. In humid areas, a water dish can make humidity levels in the habitat too high.
These lizards are omnivores, but should eat mostly vegetables and fruit. Offer insects a few times per week, but make sure they have leafy greens and bits of fruit daily.
Choosing a bearded dragon for a pet is a long-term commitment — these lizards have an average lifespan of eight years.