Bearded dragon

Bearded Dragon Care Guide

Housing, heat and UVB, diet, health and breeding.

A complete guide in nine chapters, checked against veterinary references, published studies and experienced keepers. Every number in it carries a source, listed in the last chapter.

Disclaimer: I'm not a veterinarian and I don't hold a degree in animal science or animal care. This guide is compiled from the published sources listed in every chapter. For a sick animal, a reptile vet is the authority.

  1. 01Start Here: Is a Bearded Dragon Right for You?

    What a bearded dragon needs, how big it gets, how long it lives, and the five mistakes behind most health problems.

  2. 02Housing and Environment

    Enclosure size, basking heat, UVB, humidity and substrate for a healthy bearded dragon, with the numbers to aim for.

  3. 03Feeding

    How much and how often to feed a bearded dragon at each age, which insects and greens to use, and how to supplement safely.

  4. 04Handling and Behavior

    How to handle a bearded dragon safely, why they live alone, and how to tell normal winter brumation from illness.

  5. 05Health

    Quarantine for new dragons, the common illnesses with signs and when to see a vet, and Salmonella hygiene for the household.

  6. 06Breeding

    Sexing, conditioning, brumation, pairing, egg laying, incubation, temperature and sex, and hatchling care for bearded dragons.

  7. 07Genetics and Morphs

    How bearded dragon morphs are inherited, what the trade names mean, which morphs to avoid, and how to read a breeder's listing.

  8. 08New Owner Checklist

    A printable one-page checklist for a new bearded dragon owner: setup, feeding, handling, vet warning signs and hygiene.

  9. 09Sources

    Every source cited in this bearded dragon guide, numbered to match the in-text citations and grouped by chapter.

Last revised November 6, 2026.