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Central Bearded Dragon: Facts, Care, Diet & Health (with Pictures)

Jordyn Alger

By Jordyn Alger

Central Bearded Dragon

Central Bearded Dragons are a top choice for new reptile owners. These special reptiles make excellent pets; they are fun to play with and have calm, easygoing personalities.

Before making the Central Bearded Dragon a part of your family, you will want to brush up on the basics of this reptile’s needed care. It is crucial to ensure you have the time, space, and resources to care for a Central Bearded Dragon properly. In this article, we will go over what you should expect when owning a Central Bearded Dragon.

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Quick Facts about Central Bearded Dragon

Species Name: Pogona vitticeps
Common Name: Central Bearded Dragon
Care Level: Moderate
Lifespan: 10 – 15+ years
Adult Size: 18 – 24 inches
Diet: Vegetables, live invertebrates, and supplements
Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons
Temperature & Humidity 75 – 85 degrees Fahrenheit with a 95–100 degrees Fahrenheit basking area; 35–40% humidity

Do Central Bearded Dragons Make Good Pets?

Central Bearded Dragons are excellent pets for adults and children alike. They have docile temperaments and inquisitive tendencies, making them entertaining to spend time with. However, Central Bearded Dragons are known for their distinct personalities, so it is impossible to fully capture the range of an individual Central Bearded Dragon’s character. Many owners find the uniqueness of their Central Bearded Dragon to be endearing.

While Central Bearded Dragons require special care, they are relatively low maintenance once you have the specifics down. They will thrive as long as they have a proper environment, diet, and hydration.

Appearance

a central bearded dragon digging the substrate
Photo Credit: Sara Stanojevic, Shutterstock

Central Bearded Dragons have striking appearances. Their color ranges from orange to brown, but some have unique splashes of yellow or red across their bodies.

Both the males and the females have beard-like structures around their faces, lending credence to the name. This beard is most prominent when the Central Bearded Dragon feels threatened, so as your pet grows more comfortable with you, you may see it less.

Their heads are triangular, with tiny round eyes and spikes around the face. The spines trail down the reptile’s sides all the way to the tail. Their bodies are low and wide and allow them to cling tightly to whatever surface they’re on.

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How to Take Care of the Central Bearded Dragon

Habitat, Tank Conditions & Setup

  • Tank

One of the most challenging parts of caring for a Central Bearded Dragon is the space they require. If you live in a small, cramped home, the Central Bearded Dragon will not be the right fit for you, as this reptile requires a tank that is a minimum of 4 feet long, 2 feet wide, and 2 feet tall. Ideally, you’ll have room for a 6-foot-long tank.

  • Lighting

Lighting is a key component to caring for your Central Bearded Dragon, and they require UVB light. 10–12 hours of UVB light per day will be sufficient.

  • Heating (Temperature & Humidity)

Since the Central Bearded Dragon cannot regulate its own body heat, you must ensure that the temperature inside its tank is appropriate. A temperature gradient will help you maintain the environment inside your reptile’s tank: 75° Fahrenheit on the cool side and 85° Fahrenheit on the warm side. Your pet will need a 95°–100° Fahrenheit range for the basking area.

Humidity is also a key component of your Central Bearded Dragon’s environment. A good humidity level for the tank sits around 35% or 40%.

  • Substrate

Newspaper is an adequate substrate for the Central Bearded Dragon. It is cheap, easy to come by, and soft enough to be comfortable.

Tank Recommendations

Tank Type 4’ x 2’ x 2’ at a minimum
Lighting Low-level UVB light
Heating 75° – 85° Fahrenheit with a 95° – 100° degrees Fahrenheit basking area; 35 – 40% humidity
Best Substrate Newspaper

Feeding Your Central Bearded Dragon

Central-Bearded-Dragon
Photo Credit: h1r0maty31official, Pixabay

Live crickets will be your adolescent Central Bearded Dragon’s primary source of nutrition. Feed it 10–15 crickets twice per day.

What you feed the crickets matters, too. Feeding the crickets appropriate veggies and commercial cricket food will make them a healthy meal for your Central Bearded Dragon.

In addition to crickets, add green veggies, mealworms, and health supplements to your Central Bearded Dragon’s regular meals. Once your Central Bearded Dragon is an adult, you can switch its primary meal from crickets to veggies. Feed your adult pet two meals of 5–10 large crickets.

Diet Summary (Adults)

Vegetables 75% of the diet
Live crickets 15% of the diet
Mealworms 5% of the diet
Supplements 5% of the diet

Keeping Your Central Bearded Dragon Healthy

The Central Bearded Dragon is a relatively easy reptile to please. As long as you are meeting all of its needs, it is not likely that your pet will develop too many health problems. Of course, this is not a guarantee, as any pet can fall ill at any time.

If you notice uncharacteristic, strange behavior in your Central Bearded Dragon, observe your pet closely for any signs of illness. Sunken eyes and folded skin can indicate dehydration, which can be solved by spraying your Central Bearded Dragon and offering it more water.

However, other illnesses will come with their own set of signs. The best way to keep your Central Bearded Dragon healthy is to know what your pet looks and behaves like when it is healthy and to take it to regular vet checkups.

Common Health Issues
  • Respiratory infections
  • Mouth rot (infectious stomatitis)
  • Metabolic bone disease
  • Parasitic infections
  • Atadenovirus
  • CANV or yellow fungus disease

Lifespan

Generally speaking, Central Bearded Dragons live 10–15 years. However, there have been recorded instances of a Central Bearded Dragon that is 18 years old.

Several factors may contribute to a longer or shorter lifespan. For example, inbreeding may lead to genetic conditions and deformations that negatively impact your pet’s health.

Poor husbandry will significantly impact your Central Bearded Dragon’s lifespan, as most fatal health complications result from poor care. These conditions often include metabolic bone disease and kidney diseases.

Breeding

Your Central Bearded Dragon will reach full adulthood around 1 or 2 years old; however, some of them have been known to reach sexual maturity as young as 6 months of age.

Female Central Bearded Dragons can lay eggs many times in one year, and they may lay up to 20 eggs at a time. She will lay a clutch of eggs regardless of whether a male Central Bearded Dragon is there to fertilize the eggs. If she lays a clutch of fertilized eggs, the eggs should hatch between 55 and 75 days.

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Are Central Bearded Dragons Friendly? Our Handling Advice

female customer talking with veterinarian in pet shop and holding cute central bearded dragon
Photo Credit: hedgehog94, Shutterstock

The Central Bearded Dragon is an incredibly friendly reptile. They are beloved for their docile personalities and playful attitudes, making them excellent companions. While any animal can bite, the Central Bearded Dragon is not known to be aggressive or prone to biting.

You can hand-feed your pet to increase harmony between yourself and your Central Bearded Dragon. This will help your reptile see you as an affectionate caregiver rather than an unfamiliar threat.

Shedding & Brumation: What to Expect

Central Bearded Dragons shed multiple times throughout the year. However, it will most often be shedding in the early parts of spring and summer. Your reptile will shed in patches over a period of several days.

During brumation, gently lower the temperature of your Central Bearded Dragon’s enclosure over several weeks to simulate winter. Then, gently raise the temperature to simulate spring. Adolescent Central Bearded Dragons will shed once every few weeks, and adults will shed once every few months.

How Much Do Central Bearded Dragons Cost?

central bearded dragon side view
h1r0maty31official, Pixabay

The Central Bearded Dragon is an affordable reptile. On average, a Central Bearded Dragon costs between $50 and $80. The steepest expenses will come from essential up-front costs such as the buying tank and other supplies to ensure that your Central Bearded Dragon has an adequate environment.

Care Guide Summary

Pros
  • Docile temperament
  • Unique personalities
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Must be housed individually
  • Requires a large enclosure
  • Move a lot during handling

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Conclusion

The Central Bearded Dragon is an excellent pet with a calm, laid-back temperament. This reptile is the perfect companion for children and adults, and it can be a great introduction to owning reptiles. Although the Central Bearded Dragon requires highly specific care, it thrives once those key details are perfected. Don’t be intimidated by the care requirements—with consultations with your vet and other reptile owners, caring for your Central Bearded Dragon can be a breeze.


Featured Image Credit: Joyce Mar, Shutterstock

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