Bearded Dragon

Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps)

Scientific name: Pogona vitticeps

Description

Various colour patterns are recognised. The typical one is light to dark brown on the dorsal surface often with lighter coloured stripes and bands. The underside is cream coloured.

They have a blunt arrow-shaped head that becomes proportionately wider in mature males by comparison to females. Scales along the skin of the throat and the side of the head and body have specialised into spiny points; the skin on the underside of the throat can be extended creating a beard-like display (this can vary from a slight extension of the beard to a full extension accompanied by an open mouth display of the lining of the mouth, which may be a bright sulphur yellow). Juveniles (which weigh as little as 2.1g at hatching) are often strikingly banded and may have an orange stripe near their eyes. As they mature this pattern becomes less distinct. Sexually mature males develop enlarged preanal and femoral pores. Young bearded dragons are difficult to sex since they lack the enlargements of the pores.

In the breeding season the throats of males darken to almost black and they show an increase in aggressive behaviour.

Range

Australia and New Guinea; arid, rocky, semi-desert regions and arid open woodlands.

Diet

Omnivore

Bearded dragons are voracious eaters of invertebrates and small vertebrates with plant foods comprising about 20 percent of their diet. Invertebrates should be gut-loaded for several days prior to offering. Adults should be offered adult crickets and king mealworms every one to two days. Pink mice can be offered once weekly. Offer soft plant matter such as greens, fruits, shredded or torn mixed vegetables and flowers every other feeding (e.g. green beans, orange-fleshed squash, carrots, escarole, parsley, mustard, dandelion and collard greens, raspberries, mango, and cantaloupe). As adult beard dragons will eat animals smaller than themselves hatchlings should not be housed with juveniles or adults.

Juveniles should be offered small crickets two to three times a day, offering only what the animals can eat at one feeding. Every other day offer a small amount of finely chopped kale and chopped mixed vegetables (corn, carrots, green beans and peas).

Enclosure

The minimum size of enclosure for keeping adult bearded dragons is 180 x 45 x 45 cm. Sand layered thickly to a depth of about 6-10 cm on the bottom of the tank is ideal. Branches for climbing and basking are essential since bearded dragons are semi-arboreal. In addition, rocky, ceramic or wooden caves should be made available and perhaps even some non-prickly succulents. A shower is often enjoyed: a light misting with water will also help keep the skin humidified to make it easier to shed. The tank, however, should never be damp. Clean water should be offered in a shallow water dish.

Temperature

Daytime air temperatures in the vivarium should be 23-29ºC, with a basking area up to 34ºC. Night-time temperatures should drop no lower than 18ºC.