General & Adoption
What is the average lifespan of a bearded dragon?
With proper care, nutrition, and habitat setup, captive bearded dragons typically live between 10 to 15 years.
2. How big do bearded dragons get?
Adult bearded dragons generally reach 18 to 24 inches in total length from nose to tail tip.
3. Are bearded dragons good pets for beginners?
Yes, bearded dragons are widely considered one of the best reptile pets due to their docile temperament, manageable size, and interactive personalities.
4. What is a "morph" in bearded dragons?
A morph refers to specific genetic traits that alter a dragon's physical appearance, including color variations, pattern types, scale textures, or eye traits.
Read the section below "Understanding Bearded Dragon's."
5. Do bearded dragons bite?
Biting is extremely rare. Bearded dragons generally only bite if they feel severely threatened, confused during feeding, or handled improperly.
6. Are bearded dragons solitary animals?
Yes, bearded dragons are strictly territorial and should always be housed individually to prevent stress, fights, and injury.
7. Do I need a permit or license to own a bearded dragon?
In most regions, no permit is required. However, always check your local wildlife and animal welfare regulations prior to adoption.
8. What is the difference between male and female bearded dragons?
Males tend to have larger heads, darker "beards" during displays, and two visible hemipene bulges under the base of the tail. Females typically have a single central bulge.
9. Can bearded dragons interact with other household pets?
While dragons are docile, direct contact with dogs, cats, or other domestic pets is not recommended due to the risk of accidental injury or stress.
10. How long does it take for a dragon to acclimate to a new home?
Most dragons experience a brief adjustment period called "relocation stress," which usually lasts between 3 to 14 days.
🐣 Baby Bearded Dragon Care
11. How old are your baby dragons when they are ready for adoption?
Our hatchlings are raised, established, and feeding consistently on both live insects and greens before going to their new homes, typically around 6 to 8 weeks old.
12. What should I feed a baby bearded dragon?
Baby dragons require a high-protein diet consisting of 80% live feeder insects and 20% fresh leafy greens.
13. How often do baby bearded dragons eat?
Hatchlings and juveniles should be fed live insects 2 to 3 times per day, offering as many as they can comfortably consume within 5 to 10 minutes.
14. What size insects can a baby dragon eat?
Always follow the rule of thumb: never feed insects larger than the space between your dragon’s eyes to prevent impaction.
15. Why is my baby bearded dragon shedding so frequently?
Rapid growth in young dragons leads to frequent shedding. This is completely healthy and normal for growing juveniles.
16. Should I help my baby dragon peel off stuck shed?
No, never pull loose shed off your dragon, as this can tear delicate skin underneath. Instead, offer shallow lukewarm baths to help loosen it naturally.
17. How can I tell if my baby dragon is healthy?
A healthy baby dragon is alert, active, has clear eyes, a full belly, holds its head high, and shows a strong appetite.
18. Why does my baby dragon wave its arm?
"Arm-waving" is a submissive behavior dragons use to communicate peace and acknowledge their surroundings or human caretaker.
19. How often should I handle my baby dragon?
Start with short, gentle sessions of 5 to 10 minutes per day once they have settled into their new enclosure to build trust without causing stress.
20. Why is my baby dragon glass-surfing?
Running against the glass often indicates temperature issues, relocation stress, seeing their reflection, or a desire for more out-of-tank exploration.
🥗 Diet & Nutrition
21. What live insects are best for bearded dragons?
Staple feeder insects include Dubia roaches, Black Soldier Fly Larvae, crickets, and silkworms.
22. Which greens and vegetables are safe to feed daily?
Great daily staples include collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, dandelion greens, and endive.
23. What foods are poisonous to bearded dragons?
Never feed your dragon avocados, fireflies, rhubarb, citrus fruits, or wild-caught insects.
24. How often should I supplement with Calcium and Vitamins?
• Babies/Juveniles: Calcium dusting on feeder insects daily; multivitamin 2 times a week.
• Adults: Calcium 3 times a week; multivitamin once a week.
25. Do bearded dragons drink water from a bowl?
Many dragons do not recognize standing water. Hydration is primarily maintained through fresh greens, shallow baths, and gentle misting or dripping water onto their nose.
26. Can bearded dragons eat fruits?
Fruit should only be offered as an occasional treat due to its high sugar content. Safe treats include blueberries, raspberries, and squash.
27. What ratio of insects to greens do adult dragons need?
Adult dragons require a diet flipped from their baby stage: 80% fresh leafy greens and 20% live insects.
28. Why is my adult dragon ignoring its salads?
Adults can be stubborn with vegetables. Try offering variety, mixing brightly colored toppers, or dusting greens with bee pollen.
💡 Housing, Lighting & Heating
29. What size enclosure do I need for an adult bearded dragon?
An adult dragon requires a minimum enclosure size of 4x2x2 feet (120 gallons) to allow proper thermal gradients and room for movement.
30. What type of UVB lighting is required?
Bearded dragons require a linear T5 High Output 10.0 (10% to 12%) UVB tube bulb spanning half to two-thirds of the enclosure length. Do not use 5.0 UVB bulbs or compact/coil bulbs, as they do not provide adequate UVB intensity for desert reptiles.
(Note) For desert species like bearded dragons, a 10.0 UVB bulb (10% to 12% UVB output, such as a Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 T5 HO or Arcadia 12% T5 HO) is required. A 5.0 UVB bulb is designed for tropical, shade-dwelling reptiles and does not provide enough UVB intensity for a bearded dragon.
31. How often should UVB bulbs be replaced?
Linear T5 UVB bulbs typically need replacement every 6 to 12 months, even if they still emit visible light, as UVB output degrades over time.
32. What are the correct temperatures for a bearded dragon tank?
• Basking Spot: 100°F–108°F (Babies up to 110°F)
• Warm Side: 88°F–95°F
• Cool Side: 75°F–85°F
33. Should I leave lights on at night?
No, bearded dragons need 10 to 12 hours of total darkness at night to sleep properly. Avoid using red or blue night lights, as these disturb their sleep patterns.
34. What substrate is best for a baby bearded dragon?
For young dragons, stick to non-particle substrates such as paper towels, tile, or reptile carpet to prevent accidental ingestion and impaction.
35. Can I use loose substrate for an adult dragon?
Adults in proper husbandry conditions can use a safe, bioactive-friendly soil-sand mixture. Avoid calcium sand.
36. Do I need a heat lamp and a UVB lamp?
Yes, a halogen or incandescent basking light provides necessary heat for digestion, while a linear tube UVB bulb simulates sunlight for vitamin D3 synthesis and calcium absorption.
🩺 Health & Behavior
37. What is brumation?
Brumation is a natural, winter hibernation-like state where adult dragons slow down their metabolism, sleep more, and eat less.
38. Do baby bearded dragons go into brumation?
No, dragons under one year old generally should not go into brumation. If a young dragon is lethargic, consult a reptile veterinarian.
39. Why is my bearded dragon’s beard turning black?
A blackened beard indicates stress, territorial display, temperature discomfort, or feeling unwell.
40. What is Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD)?
MBD is a preventable condition caused by a lack of calcium or improper UVB lighting, leading to soft bones, tremors, and skeletal deformities.
41. How often should my bearded dragon poop?
• Babies/Juveniles: 1 to 3 times per day.
• Adults: Anywhere from once daily to once every few days.
42. What should a healthy dragon dropping look like?
A healthy dropping consists of two distinct parts: a firm, dark brown or black fecal portion and a solid white urate portion.
43. Why are my dragon’s eyes bulging briefly?
Eye-bulging is a normal behavior dragons use to stretch the skin around their eyelids, usually right before shedding.
44. How can I tell if my dragon is dehydrated?
Signs include wrinkled skin, sunken eyes, tacky or sticky saliva, and lethargy.
45. Should I take my bearded dragon to an exotic vet?
Yes, we recommend establishing care with a specialized exotic reptile veterinarian for annual wellness checks and fecal parasite screenings.
🚚 Adoption & Shipping Questions
46. How do you safely ship live bearded dragons? "
Normally shipping would be done overnight via specialized, climate-controlled animal transport services using insulated boxes and temperature packs.
Currently Dragon Hatchery Co. DOES NOT offer shipping for our bearded dragons. We offer local pickups by appointment, or we can arrange to meet you halfway within a 50 mile radius of Princeton Massachusetts for an additional fee.
Click here to check out the Adoption fees and pricing section.
47. What happens if weather delays shipping transport?
The health and safety of our dragons and selves is our top priority. We monitor local weather patterns and will hold transporting until safe conditions permit.
In the event weather prohibits us from safely transporting the baby dragon, we will promptly reach out to inform you of the delay via email, phone, text, voicemail or any other applicable method.
48. Do your dragons come with a health guarantee?
Yes, every dragon adopted from Dragon Hatchery Co. comes with a 7-day health guarantee, provided all proper husbandry requirements are met.
49. What should I have ready before my dragon arrives?
Your enclosure, lighting, heating, sub-zero digital thermometers, and feeder insects should be fully set up and tested at least 24 hours prior to arrival.
50. Can I contact you for support after adopting my dragon?
Yes, we offer lifetime breeder support for all of our adopters to help ensure your dragon lives a happy and healthy life.
51. What should I do if I can no longer care for my bearded dragon?
We are committed to the well-being of our dragons. If you are no longer able to care for your bearded dragon, we will take it back free of charge. You can arrange to bring the dragon to us, meet us at a location, or pay for the shipping to have the dragon transported back to our house.
Types of Bearded Dragons Found in Pet Stores
52. What are the main "types" of bearded dragons found in pet stores?
When shopping at mainstream pet stores, you will generally see two options:
Standard (or Common): These lizards look closest to their wild ancestors, featuring muted earthy tones like tan, gray, brown, and olive.
Fancy (or Premium): This is a store marketing label for dragons that display brighter, more vibrant patches of red, orange, or yellow.
53. Do "Fancy" and "Common" bearded dragons have different scientific names?
No. They share the exact same scientific name: Pogona vitticeps.
This species is commonly known as the Central (or Inland) Bearded Dragon. Whether a dragon is labeled "Common," "Fancy," "Premium," or even a specific color morph, it belongs to this identical biological species.
54. What are the key differences between them?
Coloration: Common dragons have basic gray-brown patterns. Fancy/Premium dragons are selectively bred for heightened warm pigments (reds, yellows, oranges).
Cost: Fancy variants command a higher retail price purely due to their aesthetic appeal.
Scale Texture (Sometimes): Occasionally, a pet store will label a "Leatherback" morph (a dragon with smaller, smoother scales) as "Fancy," though most are just color variations.
55. What are the key similarities between them?
Because they are the exact same species, they share almost everything else:
Identical Care: They require the exact same heating (basking spot of 100–105°F), high-output UVB lighting, and humidity levels.
Same Diet: Both need a strict balance of live insects (like dubia roaches and crickets) and fresh leafy greens.
Adult Size & Lifespan: Both types grow to about 18–24 inches long and live 10–15 years with proper husbandry.
Temperament: They share the same docile, curious personality that makes bearded dragons excellent pets.
56. Are there other actual species of bearded dragons?
Yes, the Pogona genus contains six distinct species, though you will rarely see them in pet stores. The Pogona vitticeps is the global pet industry standard. Other wild species include Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) and Pogona henrylawsoni (Rankin's Dragon), which is sometimes kept by private hobbyists because it stays much smaller.
57. Do you determine the sex of your baby bearded dragons before adoption?
No, WE DO NOT determine the sex of our baby bearded dragons. At such a young age, it's difficult to be completely certain, and we want to avoid any disappointment if a later assessment turns out differently. Our priority is ensuring every little dragon finds a wonderful, healthy home regardless of their gender.
58. Would you try to sex a baby bearded dragon if asked?
We still won't attempt it, even as a special request. Our policy is in place for accuracy and to protect our adopters from misinformation, so we cannot make an exception just to try.