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== Taxonomy ==
'''Order:''' Squamata <br />
'''Family:''' Agamidae<br />
'''Genus/species:''' Pogona vitticeps <br />

== Housing ==
Bearded dragons grow to 18-24" and will need at least a 40gal breeder type tank or larger. They can only be kept together if you have females and one male. Beards also love to climb so several branches and/or vines are needed. They can be a little skittish if they are not handled much, but with regular handling they can be as tame as a well behaved dog. Generally, they love to be handled.

== Substrates ==
Beards should not have sand as a substrate, especially juveniles. Sand, even if it says safe for beards can cause impaction. I have found that newspaper works the best. Its not the most attractive but it is the safest. I have also found that ground walnut shells appear to be safe as well as coconut shell (I don’t ever see this in my local stores but I have heard of it being used). Do not use cedar or wood chips.  Cedar oils are toxic to most reptiles.

== Feeding ==
Babies should be fed 70% insects no larger than the space between their eyes (crickets, supper worms as a regular and sometimes wax worms as treats once a month or so) and 30% veggies (no ice burg lettuce.. Kale, collard greens, squash, dandelion greens etc.) and a little bit of fruits. Adults are the opposite. Food should be dusted with calcium (with D3) and vitamins several times a week. Large prey items have an adverse effect on the nervous system of bearded dragons in someway. Animals that suffer this will display the extension and twitching of their hind legs soon after the meal. In most cases, the animal will die. DO NOT FEED LARGE PREY ITEMS TO JUVENILE BEARDED DRAGONS! Again, only feed a beard food that is smaller than the space between their eyes. DO NOT ALLOW YOUR BEARD TO EAT FIREFLIES? LIGHTNING BUGS!!! They are toxic!!! One will kill your beard.

== Vegetation ==
{|-
|'''Greens'''
|'''Vegetables'''
|'''Fruit'''
|-
|alfalfa pellets
|bell pepper
|apple
|-
|bokchoy
|broccoli
|apricots
|-
|clover
|frozen mixed vegetables
|bananas (with skin)
|-
|collards
|grated carrots
|dates
|-
|dandelion greens
|green beans
|grapes
|-
|escarole
|okra
|igs
|-
|kale
|peas
|kiwi
|-
|mustard greens
|squash
|melon
|-
|parsley
|sweet potato
|papaya
|-
|swiss chard
|zucchini
|peaches
|-
|turnip greens
|
|plums
|-
|
|
|strawberries (seeds removed)
|-
|
|
|tomatoes
|}

== Water ==
Use a shallow dish for water, beards can have problems with dehydration so its best to let them swim in the tub or other type of basin as it help to re-hydrate them if they don’t use their water dish much for drinking. Keep in mind that many lizard species will refuse to drink from a dish. You will want to spray the cage lightly every day to provide water droplets that your dragon may lap up. You do not want to create a humid environment for them.

== Heating / Lighting ==
Beards should have a basking area of 95 to 115 F and must have a UVB 8.0 or higher bulb.  The rest of enclosure should be around 80-85F. I use a red or black light for basking so they can regulate their temps at night too. Regular temps should be mid 80s. Don’t use heat rocks. Beards mainly absorb heat from above.

== Breeding ==
When born, bearded dragons are a little less than 4 inches in total length. With proper care, they will mature in 12 to 18 months and attain a length of around 18-24 inches.  Beards breed easily in captivity and can breed as early as 1.5yrs old.

== Lifespan ==
Beards can live to be 8yrs or older.

[[Category:Care Guides]]