andreajn

Written by andreajn

Modified & Updated: 30 Dec 2023

Jessica Corbett

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

The planet Earth is abundant with various animal species, some of which are a joy to keep as pets. Different people favor different kinds of pets. It could go from the common cats and dogs to more exotic ones like the bearded dragon. From the name itself, these species are amazing beings. Know more about them with these bearded dragon facts.

  1. Bearded dragons are endemic to the wilds of Australia.
  2. The average bearded dragon size is 18-22 in, while the average weight is 10-18 oz.
  3. As semi-arboreal creatures, bearded dragons sometimes perch on tree branches and fence posts.
  4. Today, there are 8 recognized bearded dragon species.
  5. Bearded dragon names vary per type, but all of them are affectionately tagged ‘beardies.’
  1. Warm and arid areas like deserts, savannas, and subtropical woodlands are ideal habitats for them.
  2. The average bearded dragon lifespan is 4-10 years.
  3. Bearded dragons are active during the day and are known for being inquisitive and gentle beings.
  4. Their strong jaws let them chomp on the bearded dragon diet of beetles and other hard-shelled insects.
  5. As omnivores, bearded dragons also eat flowers, fruit, leaves, and even small lizards.
  6. Beardies are cold-blooded reptiles reliant on external heat sources for regulating body temperature.
  7. Male bearded dragons are larger than the females.
  8. Not much of fast runners, beardies can only run up to 9 mph.
  9. Beardies do not have a strict breeding season, meaning they breed all-year-round.
  10. Bearded dragons reach sexual maturity at 8-12 months.
  1. The tail of bearded dragons tends to grow half of its body length.
  2. Predators who feed on beardies include birds of prey, dingoes, and large lizards.
  3. Beardies are ideal pets as they are easy to care for and are sociable.
  4. Bearded dragons tend to develop behaviors like bobbing or waving their heads.
  5. Such peculiar behaviors appear during mating season or when they are being territorial.
Table of Contents

Bearded Dragon Facts Infographics

Bearded Dragon Facts Infographics

Bearded dragons are aptly named.

Their spiny reptilian scales armor make them ‘dragons.’ Likewise, they are ‘bearded’ with under-chin spikes which morph accordingly to various moods.

Their beards are essential parts of communication.

Both males and females have beards. A threatened bearded dragon opens its mouth, raises its chin and puffs its beard out to emanate a bigger appearance. Moreover, this show usually comes with a hiss.

angry bearded dragon, bearded dragon facts
Image by skeeze from Pixabay

Bearded dragon colors can vary by selective breeding.

This process involves the mating of two specific beardies with each other to deliver offspring with specific desired traits. They can produce color-varied types like the blue bearded dragon, albino/white bearded dragon, red bearded dragon, and citrus bearded dragon.

A fancy bearded dragon has less scaling.

In other words, their skin is smoother and color variation tends to lean more on the red color. However, they are only available seasonally.

The most common type kept as a pet is the central bearded dragon.

Also known as the Pogona vitticeps, these species are mainly grey in color. There are also occasional shades of orange, brown, black, or fawn. Also, their eyes situated by the side of their head is usually color yellow.

pet central bearded dragon in a terrarium, bearded dragon facts
Image by zoosnow from Pixabay

The eastern bearded dragon usually resides in eastern or southern Australia.

Other names for it is Pogona Barbata or Coastal bearded dragon. It is usually grey-brown in color and commonly resides in open forests and heathlands.

The leatherback species have a mutated gene.

This unique feature prevents the scales of leatherback bearded dragons from growing to full size. Hence, they appear to have smoother skin due to having more smaller scales.

Bearded dragons cannot detach their tails when escaping from predators.

It is yet another attribute that sets them apart from other lizards. Should beardies lose their tails, they will not be able to bring it back. In other words, they will be tailless for life.

An ideal bearded dragon cage should be at least 40 gallons.

bearded dragon cage, bearded dragon facts
Image by Stefanie66 from Pixabay

These cold-blooded beings seek a warm environment. Hence, a terrarium must be able to provide 12 hours of sunlight with a UVA/UVB bulb. Beardies need the rays in processing calcium.

A female beardie can lay a clutch of up to 20 eggs.

Fertile eggs would then grow into baby bearded dragons, although unmated females can also lay eggs. The eggs have 55-75 days to hatch.

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