The bearded dragon is one of the more social and interactive lizards that you can keep in captivity. They are loved by their owners for their cool looks, curiosity, and quirks. They are easy to take care of, as long as you maintain the enclosure and feed them a healthy diet.
You’re probably brushing up all you can on bearded dragons if you’re a new owner. Bearded dragons need to grow. A well-balanced, ideal environment and a healthy diet will help your dragon grow big and strong.
Bearded Dragon Facts
The Australian climate is ideal for desert lizards. In the United States, the domestication of bearded lizards was a big hit in the 1990s.
Many reptile enthusiasts have been taken by the sociality of these amazing desert dwellers.
These are some interesting facts about these cute, rough-skinned cuties.
- They can run as fast as 9 miles per hour. Although humans are capable of running much faster than beardies, they can still run at a fast pace.
- Swimming is their favorite activity. Your bearded Dragon will love bath time. The bearded dragon is a skilled swimmer who can use his body structure and movements in order to move through the water quickly and accurately.
- It is possible for them to change their gender. This is extremely rare but it does happen, usually while the fetus is in the egg.
- They use head bobbing and waving to communicate. You may have seen cute videos of beardies. Head bobbing can be used to communicate, but also as a sign that you are aggressive.
- There are many different types of bearded dragons. Breeders have created different types of bearded dragons.
- They can climb up trees. Beardies can climb trees because of their overall shape and grippy nails. They can climb on any surface in your house.
- Egg layers. They lay eggs because they are cold-blooded.
- They prefer solitude. You might be able to keep the females together but most bearded Dragons prefer to live alone. If you group males together, they may fight until death.
- They produce mild venom. It’s not widely known that beardies don’t produce venom that affects humans. Beardies have mild venom that kills their prey.
- They can’t regrow their tails. Bearded dragons are unable to regrow a tail that has been broken.
Bearded Dragon Size and Growth Chart
| Age | Weight | Body Length |
| Hatchlings (0-2 Months) | 0.1 – 2.82 ounces | 3-9 Inches |
| Juveniles (3-11 Months) | 2.82 -16.9 Ounces | 8-20 Inches |
| Sub-Adults (12-18 Months) | 10.5 -17.6 Ounces | 16-22 Inches |
| Full Adults (18+ months) | 10.9 – 17.9 ounces | 16-24 Inches |
When do bearded dragons reach their full size?
By 18 months of age, bearded dragons are at their maximum size. Adults should be between 15 and 24 inches long, depending on several factors. The weight should be between 11 and 18 ounces.
It is vital to take your lizard for regular vet checks during the first year. It is important to ensure that they are healthy and properly nourished. You might miss out on some vital information that can help your beardie thrive if you don’t visit.
The ideal diet for optimal growth
Your beardie will need a variety of insects that are high in calcium and gut-loaded, as well as fruits and vegetables. It is recommended that 75% of the food be insects, and 25% fruit and vegetables.
- Baby Beardies: Feed them at least once a day. At this stage, calcium and protein are essential. To provide the body with nutrients necessary for growth, their diet should consist primarily of crickets and other small insects. Crickets are high in fat and protein, which is what helps them grow to maturity. You should feed the baby beardie as much as it will consume in 15 minutes, two to three feedings per day.
- You should feed your adult bearded dragon every other day. It is important to keep calcium levels healthy and to provide enough vitamin D. Adult bearded dragons do not require as much as they did in their juvenile stages.
Beardies do not need to eat much plant material until they are 12 months old. They must have fruits, vegetables, and insects. As a general rule, you should provide 75% insects, 20% veggies, and 5% fruit.
- Never put crickets in a cage with a bearded dragon unless you’re feeding them. Although it may seem convenient, crickets can be a nuisance and even bite your bearded dragon. Let them only interact with crickets when they are eating.
You should ensure that your beardie is eating a variety of healthy food.
Give them diets that:
- Commercial food for the bearded dragon
- Crickets
- Mealworms
- Roaches
- Superworms
- Dark greens
- Fresh veggies
- Tropical Fruits
What to avoid during feeding
There are foods that beardies can eat, but some of them could be dangerous.
Never feed your beardie:
- Wild-caught Insects (even if your food supply is running low)
- Fireflies
- Avocado
- Garlic
- Onion
- Eggplant
- Iceberg lettuce
What other factors affect the growth of a bearded dragon?
- The size of the enclosure can actually stunt your beard’s growth. Your bearded dragon will grow in accordance with its environment. If you keep your beardie in a small cage, it is possible that they will not grow, even after you have moved them to a larger cage.
- The size of both parents can influence the adult structure and mass.
- Gender–females tend to be smaller than males. You may notice that there is a huge difference in the size of both.
- Young bearded dragons must be fed frequently to keep up with the growth of their bodies. Their growing skin, muscles, and bones need plenty of fat and protein.
- Health Issues – Certain health issues like metabolic disease can occur without the right diet or environment.
- You need to ensure that your tank is always clean and free of debris. Temperature and humidity should be monitored.
Why is my bearded dragon not growing?
It may be a cause for concern if you haven’t seen any recent growth in your body.
- Inadequate lighting can cause vitamin D absorption to be reduced, causing growth issues and other bone problems.
- If you don’t keep your beardie to a schedule of feeding, it could be that you are not feeding them enough. This will lead to slow or non-existent development.
- Insects are the most common vectors of parasitic infection. Parasites can steal nutrients from your growing Lizard and affect its overall development.
- Certain bone diseases can cause growth to be stunted, so it is important to ensure that you are eating well before this becomes a problem.
- Brumation is basically a period of hibernation. This is due to lower-than-average temperatures and inconsistency of lighting. They will go into sleep mode in preparation for winter without eating or drinking. This can seriously stunt the growth of young beardies. Make sure that they receive 10 to 12 hours per day of sunlight.
How can I tell if my bearded dragon is overweight or underweight?
You shouldn’t have to worry about your bearded drake being overweight or underweight if you follow a diet that is appropriate for the stage of their life. If you do notice that their weight is off, it’s worth taking a closer inspection.
Bearded Dragons that are overweight
Your bearded Dragon should never appear flat or thin.
Underweight beardies may display these traits:
- The tail and legs of a thinned-down dog
- Protruding hips bones
- Small head and large body
- Sunken fat pads
- Protruding rib cage
Overweight Bearded Dragons
Your beardie can also pack on the ounces.
You may notice:
- Large round belly
- Thick Tail
- Jawline swollen
Healthy Bearded dragons
Healthy bearded Dragons will:
- Alert and curious
- Clear-eyed
- No discharge of openings
- Big appetite
- Filling out the bodies
Final Thoughts
Tracking your beardie’s growth is a great way to ensure that everything is going as planned. It can be nerve-wracking, especially if you are a new owner.
Keep a schedule for feeding your child so that you can be sure they are getting the correct amount of food for their age. They need vitamin D.
What is the maximum size of a fully-grown bearded dragon?
A typical beardie will grow to be between 16 and 24 inches long when completely mature. What exactly is this? Guys are normally taller, so expect their length to be between 21 and 24 inches. Ladies should be somewhat shorter, measuring 16 to 19 inches.
Do bearded dragon bites cause pain?
bearded dragon bite feels like a forceful pinch that may or may not produce bruises or break your skin. They do have teeth, and bites are frequently more painful due to the shock of being bitten than the bite itself.
What are the risks of keeping a bearded dragon?
Bearded dragons can transmit Salmonella infections to humans, making them ill. Always take precautions to keep yourself and your bearded dragon healthy. Even though they appear healthy and clean, bearded dragons can transmit Salmonella bacteria in their droppings.
Are bearded dragons toxic?
Kind of! Bearded dragons do not have venom in their fangs like cobras or deadly saliva like Komodo dragons. Bearded dragons, on the other hand, carry a lot of germs that can cause Salmonella—both to you and to themselves!
Are bearded dragons lonely?
Because bearded dragons are inherently solitary creatures, they do not become lonely when kept alone in a cage or separated from their caretaker for an extended period of time. They would rather keep their food and heat to themselves than share it with another bearded dragon.
How frequently do bearded dragons eat?
Usually, juvenile bearded dragons should feed once or twice per day, whereas adult lizards may only eat every 24-72 hours, depending on their appetite.
What is the preferred meal of a bearded dragon?
Vegetables should account for 25% of a juvenile bearded dragon’s diet and half of an adult’s. Kale, collard greens, mustard greens, zucchini, and shredded carrots are all favorites. Remove any veggies that have not been consumed so that they do not spoil inside their habitat.
What should you not feed a bearded dragon?
Avoid veggies like spinach, broccoli, and romaine since eating too much of these can be dangerous, and they have little nutritional benefit. Apples, strawberries, melons, and peaches are other favorites of bearded dragons. Apart from tasty fruits and vegetables, dragons will devour almost any moving bug.
Can a bearded dragon consume bananas?
You might be shocked to learn that dragons eat both the banana peel and the fruit, and it adds a little more nutrients to the pleasure. Therefore you may slice the banana up with the peel and place the pieces in your dragon’s food dish alone or in a beautiful, healthy salad with other fruits and vegetables.
Bearded dragons live for how long?
Captive bearded dragons have a life expectancy of about 10 years, yet the longest bearded dragon on record lived for 18 years. Husbandry is the single most critical component in keeping your bearded dragon healthy and enjoying a long life.