Bearded Dragon

Pogona vitticeps

A friendly, hardy desert lizard and one of the best beginner reptiles. Alert, curious, and tolerant of gentle handling.

16–24 in (40–60 cm)10–15 years

Habitat

Enclosure

40 gal breeder (36×18×18 in) minimum for adults

Temperature

Basking 100–110°F · cool side 75–85°F

Humidity / Water

30–40% ambient

Heating & lighting

Halogen basking bulb over one end plus a linear 10–12% UVB tube spanning two-thirds of the tank. Run the basking bulb on a dimming thermostat. Never use heat rocks — they cause burns.

Diet

Feed these

Dubia roaches
Crickets
Black soldier fly larvae
Collard greens
Mustard greens
Butternut squash
Bell pepper
Berries as an occasional treat

Never feed

Fireflies — fatally toxic
Avocado, onion and garlic
Rhubarb
Iceberg lettuce (no nutrition)
Wild-caught insects (parasites & pesticides)
Citrus fruit

Juveniles eat ~70% insects and 30% greens daily; adults flip to ~70% greens with insects every other day. Dust insects with calcium + D3 4–5× a week and a multivitamin weekly.

Cohabitation

Can live with

No one — house this species alone.

Never house with

Other bearded dragons — males fight, even pairs stress each other Any animal small enough to be eaten

Bearded dragons are solitary and territorial. Even a male–female pair usually ends in bites and stress — house them alone.