Do you know that bearded dragons kept indoors can live longer than those who live in the wild? And how long do bearded dragons live?
That’s right. Although their immune systems are not as good as individuals living in harsh environments, there are a number of factors contributing to the increase in their longevity.
Want to know what they are?
We will list them in this article. You need to pay attention to them to maximize the amount of time that the bearded dragons can live with you.
But stay with me…
…Because you won’t want to miss the way to measure the age of your bearded dragon as well as other bearded dragon fun facts for kids.
Moreover, we believe the information provided in the FAQ section will be useful to most bearded dragon owners like you.
Let’s dive into it!
Page Contents
How long does a Bearded Dragon live?
Since the 1990s, bearded dragons have been a craze among pet owners because of their stately appearance but gentle nature.
People have found that their longevity somewhat different based on species. The bearded dragon has many species, of which the Pogona Vitticeps is popularly raised around the world.
In the wild, the species is found in the Northern Territory and the Eastern half of South Australia. Their habitats are deserts intertwined with forests and steppes. Here, a Pogona Vitticeps bearded dragon can live from 5 to 8 years.
You’ll really surprised about one of the bearded dragon lizard facts that in captivity, their lifespan is longer than that of about 6-7 years.
In some cases, bearded dragons can live for up to 20 years. After three years of age, bearded dragons approach adulthood. That is, they reach the maximum size and length of 50-55 centimeters.
How old is your Bearded Dragon?
There are many ways to recognize the age of a bearded dragon.
However, if you are not familiar with bearded dragons or have not adopted them since birth, don’t worry too much.
As one of the fancy bearded dragon’s facts, there is a simple way for you to estimate their lifespan. It is based on your pet’s body size.
In other words, their length represents the number of years they have grown.
In this way, measure your bearded dragon’s body length from the top of the head to the tips of their tails. Then, you compare it with the corresponding year number in the following table to get the exact life expectancy of each individual.
| Size (cm) | Age (months) |
| 7.6 – 10.1 | 0 – 1 |
| 12.7 – 22.9 | 2 |
| 20.3 – 28 | 3 |
| 22.9 – 30.5 | 4 |
| 28 – 40.6 | 5 |
| 28 – 45.7 | 6 |
| 33 – 50.8 | 8 |
| 40.6 – 55.8 | 12 |
Factors affecting a Bearded Dragon’s Longevity
Like all other species, bearded dragons can live long or not depends on many factors. Of which, the most important ones are the diet, species classification, surrounding environment, and gender.
Species
Usually, more massive bearded dragons will live longer than small ones. They eat, sleep, function healthier, and have better stamina. In the wild, more giant individuals can run faster and avoid predators.
And this is also true when we compare among species of the bearded dragon. In particular, species with superior body size and length will have a more significant lifespan.
Diet
When you provide all the necessary nutrients for bearded dragons, of course, they will always be healthy and happy.
The main foods of bearded dragons are mealworms, superworms, crickets, dubia cockroaches, and vegetables. Vegetables include mustard greens, water spinach, katuk, crested latesummer mint, tomatoes, rose petals, and leaves, etc.
For tubers, you can choose carrots and potatoes for them. Besides, some of the bearded dragons’ favorite fruits include mango, apple, pear, custard, watermelon, rambutan, and papaya, etc.
Notably, with vegetables that are too big, they need to be cut small enough for bearded dragons to eat. This is very important because, if the food pieces are more significant than the distance between the pets’ eyes, it can lead to severe consequences such as gastrointestinal obstruction and leg paralysis.
For baby bearded dragons, their diet consists of 80% small insects and 20% vegetables. As they get older, let’s gradually change them to 65% vegetable and 35% insects.
After the bearded dragons are done eating, you need to clean up the leftovers because they can produce lots of bacteria.
Moreover, let’s make their living conditions as pleasant as possible by changing their diet regularly. They will find it tastier, and you can tell which one they like best.
Besides the primary food source, you also need to supplement them with vitamin D3, calcium, and essential minerals.
Living condition
Building a stable and fully-equipped cage is an essential thing to do before adopting the pet. The barn will protect this species from predators, which bearded dragons do not have in the wild.
The cage needs to be large enough for bearded dragons to move depending on their age and body size. They do not run around much, but they have the instinct to burrow and hide.
In particular, the cage size for adult bearded dragons should be 65 cm wide and 50 cm high.
In hot desert environments of 50-60 degrees, caves, bushes, and rocks are the best places for bearded dragons to avoid heat. Therefore, in their cages, you should equip these items.
And most importantly, choose to buy the best bearded dragon substrates. There are many types for you to choose from, each of which has its own advantages and limitations.
While the sand is considered to be not suitable for bearded dragons’ digestive system if they accidentally ingest, they are very beneficial for burrowing. As for carpet substrates, they have better moisture and smell absorbency. In addition, you have other options, including coconut fiber, newspapers, or ceramic tiles, etc.
Last but not least, in the cage of bearded dragons, the heaters and UVB light bulbs are indispensable. This is a tool to help them supplement vitamin D and calcium instead of taking them from sunlight.
But do they still need to sunbathe? Definitely.
You should let your pet contact the sunlight regularly in the morning (about 45 minutes every 2 days a week).
At the same time, the heaters and light bulbs also have a role in keeping the humidity in the cage always at a low level, avoiding harmful bacteria produced. The appropriate temperature in the enclosure should be 25-31 degrees Celsius in daytime and lower at night, about 21-26 degrees Celsius.
Sex
It is one of the bearded dragon fun facts that male bearded dragons will have a longer life span than females.
This is crazy:
The main reason for this difference is breeding. Hence, you should not allow bearded dragons to conceive after three years of age.
Otherwise, after laying eggs, the mother will have a significantly reduced life expectancy, and the babies will hardly be healthy.
Common Diseases of Bearded Dragons
There are two leading causes of several common evil bearded dragons’ conditions, including poor-quality food and habitat. And their diseases are listed below.
Indigestion
This is a common disease in this species because they live depending a lot on the ambient temperature. If the living space is not warm enough, it will affect their digestive system and cause indigestion.
The sign that you can recognize this disease is that they do not excrete despite eating well. You just need to adjust the temperature in the cage and stimulate digestion by soaking the pet’s body in water for 5-10 minutes per week.
Dehydration disease
If you notice that your bearded dragon has signs of sunken eyes, wrinkled skin, he does not want to eat and becomes more agile after drinking water, and then he is dehydrated.
In this case, you need to replenish drinking water for him, whether he wants it or not.
Paralysis
As we have warned, the large size of food will lead to paralysis of the legs of this species. Therefore, you should pay more attention when preparing food for them.
Metabolic bone disease
When you see your pet having seizures, tremors, a bump in the leg or lower jaw, then he is deficient in calcium, vitamin D3, and phosphorus. That is the cause of metabolic bone disease.
Therefore, you need to regularly supplement these nutrients for them, from food to light bulbs or to sunbathe.
Dry-eye disease
Bearded dragons’ eyes are also very susceptible to infections, which can cause the eyes to collapse. It is a sign of dry-eye disease. In this case, you should take the animal to see a veterinarian for treatment. Also, make sure your pet’s cage and food are clean, not damp.
Vitamin A excess
Too much in anything is always not good, including vitamin A. If you think that a bearded dragon with an overdose of vitamin A is no big deal, you are entirely wrong.
It can cause injuries such as swelling of the eyes, throat, body edema, and bearded dragons won’t have the energy to function.
Best Products to Help Maximize your Bearded Dragon
Fluker’s Freeze-Dried Crickets
Insects like crickets are the leading food for bearded dragons, but they carry lots of harmful bacteria. Therefore, the best option for them will be dried foods.
Not only are they cooked to ensure the bacteria cannot survive, but they are also very nutritious, are a useful source of protein and fat.
Fluker’s is a famous brand of bearded dragons’ dried food so you can be assured of the quality of their products. This is an excellent replacement for live insects that you can find on the market.
Moreover, this product is also very convenient. You don’t need to spend too much time daily to feed your pet. Surely, with its delicious taste and moderate brittleness, your bearded dragon will be irresistible and eat up all.
However, if your pet is small, this product will probably not be suitable because these crickets are quite large in size.
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Zilla Reptile Munchies Mix Treat
Zilla is another famous brand that many users appreciate. This product is a natural blend of many vegetable and insect ingredients such as bananas, carrots, squash, beans, crickets, and mealworms, etc. Thanks to that, your pet will be provided with the balance of necessary nutrients every day.
They will also be supplemented with essential vitamins and minerals.
It is also very convenient with the zip package. What you need to do is pouring them into a food bowl and mixing some water to soften them. Then, you pull the zip back and store it in the fridge.
In addition, you can also combine this mixture with other foods to enrich the meal for pets. This food is also believed to be good for the digestive tract of bearded dragons.
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Galleria mellonella Live Waxworms for Feeding Reptiles
If your bearded dragon is a fan of live insects, then you should not miss this product. At a reasonable price, your pet will be provided with the freshest waxworms.
These worms are very big and healthy. They will stimulate the bearded dragons’ ability to hunt and make them more active.
At a more delicious level, you can mix them with other foods like vegetables or dried food.
You can store these fresh worms in a 55-60 degree environment to ensure they do not die or become infected. If you have time, you can also breed them to grow, becoming a long-term food source for your pet.
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Fluker’s 76041 Buffet Blend Adult Bearded Dragon Formula
With a special formula, Fluker’s ensures your pet will get a balance of essential nutrients, including protein, fatty vitamins, and minerals.
It is held in a sturdy glass jar that does not break with long shelf life. Moreover, it contains all the vitamins you won’t find in any other product like vitamin D3, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin B12, and vitamin A.
The food also has an eye-catching color to stimulate the appetite of bearded dragons. You can even add more greens to make their diet more complete.
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Fluker’s 76051 Buffet Blend Juvenile Bearded Dragon Formula
If you own a young bearded dragon, there is no better product for him than this Fluker’s blend. This is because it contains high levels of protein and fat from crickets and mealworms while still ensuring an adequate amount of vitamins.
As a result, your pet will have enough energy and comprehensive development, from the digestive system to body size.
You can add powdered calcium to this food source to make sure it is more nutritious.
Furthermore, with this option, you will save a lot of money compared to other products with similar uses.
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BYB – 100W 110V Ceramic Infrared Heat Emitter Infrared Lamp Bulb
When it comes to heaters, there will be no more versatile and higher-quality product than this BYB ceramic infrared heat emitter.
It is a 100W 110V light bulb and is capable of generating heat for up to 10,000 hours. That is, you can use it for at least 13 months!
And with the relatively low wattage, you won’t have to worry about electricity prices rising.
Besides, it also does not emit light, so you can be assured of letting your pet warm at night without fear of affecting his sleep. With exceptional use, it will keep your pet’s tank dry and warm, becoming the ideal environment for them to grow.
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MyComfyPets UVB Light and UVA 2-in-1 Reptile Bulb
Regarding light bulbs, we will recommend this product from the MyConfyPets brand. As you can see, this bulb also has the same parameters as the BYB heat bulb, which means you can use it for more than one year with energy savings.
It helps replenish the essentials for your pet like vitamin D3 and calcium. This is due to the UVA and UVB rays of this product, which can also promote bearded dragons’ appetite and make them more active.
You may be worried because after turning on, it will not give off blue light immediately. However, it doesn’t matter that after 5 minutes, it will work normally.
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Zilla Ground English Walnut Shells Desert Blend
If you like your pet using sand substrates, but they are too messy, you can switch to this walnut shell material. It is very convenient, clean, and fragrant. In particular, you will not have to spend much time because it is easy to clean the substrate.
Besides, it is also more affordable than high-class sand such as calci-sand. You also won’t have to worry about particles that might get in the eyes of bearded dragons.
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Zoo Med 26080 Repti Cage Carpet
This is a reptile carpet that any busy bearded dragon owner should have. They not only absorb well but can also be used for a long time, very useful for those who do not have much free time.
That is, you only need to replace another carpet after one week of use.
But here’s the kicker:
You do not need to throw it away and replace it with a new one. Instead, you can wash it clean and dry. In this way, you can reuse them later.
Also, you do not need to worry as they are effortless to wash. Just flush the water with a little mild detergent on it, it is ready for you to dry.
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Penn Plax Reptology Lizard Lounger
If you are looking for an item that gives your pet a place to sleep and climb, you can choose to buy a hammock or lounger. However, the lounger will bring a more stylish appearance and more suitable to terrarium than the hammock. Therefore, we would like to introduce this Penn Plax product.
With all-natural and durable materials, your bearded dragon will be extremely excited to climb here. You can attach it anywhere you want because it comes with suction cups.
Thanks to this feature, it is exceptionally convenient when the animal needs to be in a place that has more light or heat in the tank.
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FAQs on Bearded Dragon’s Longevity
What is the longest living bearded dragon?
About interesting bearded dragon facts, there have been opinions that bearded dragons can survive for up to 20 years in captivity. However, this is still not certain, and there are no specific cases about that.
Ideally, you should spend some time to take care of your pet and provide the necessary supplies and food for them. As such, they can live happily ever after with you.
How quickly do bearded dragons grow?
A bearded dragon reaches the most significant size at about 45-55 cm. Some individuals may be up to 60 cm.
The time it takes for them to reach their maximum size is three years.
When they are young, they need a lot of insects in their diets for full and healthy development. And when they grow up, if you still feed them a lot of insects, they will be redundant of nutrition.
Therefore, with mature bearded dragons, every day, you should only feed them insects once and plenty of green vegetables.
Also, as they grow, you may notice their process of skinning. Bearded dragons shed their skin about once every 3-4 months, while the younger do this every 2-3 weeks.
Which signs indicate that your pet is happy?
There is no specific body language proving that your bearded dragons are having fun. But as long as you see them eating, sleeping, and functioning normally, it means they are having no problems with negative emotions.
That is, they will look healthy, move around, dig burrows, and alert to their surroundings. The healthy bearded dragons will have bright eyes and no listless outlook.
Have they ever “neglected” you and hidden from you when you’ve just brought them home?
It is very normal that every bearded dragon owner will encounter. However, after a short time, the pet will not hide from you anymore, let you hold them in your hand, and enjoy closing their eyes as you pet them. It proves that your bearded dragons are entirely familiar with their owner and live comfortably, happily.
Do bearded dragons like to be petted?
Of course.
If you notice, bearded dragons have a preference for sleeping on their owner’s shoulders and hands. So, take your time playing with them every day and stroking them.
There is a fact that although it is not as apparent as other pets show, bearded dragons can also recognize their owners.
At first, they may get away and hide from you, or even inflate their throat, and change their color. This is because they are on guard and feel threatened. However, after many times of contacting and being fed, they will return to their gentler and more relaxed nature. At that time, you can also take them for a walk in the garden with leashes.
Why do bearded dragons flatten out?
There are many reasons that you should worry when your pet flatten up.
Firstly, maybe he’s experiencing fear and defending by making himself look more prominent. He will flatten the tummy along with discolorating the body and inflating his throat.
Secondly, he may be hungry or ill. Therefore, he has no energy to move but lies with a flat body. Calcium imbalance is also a common cause in this case.
Thirdly, maybe he’s getting cold. The bearded dragon is a cold-blooded animal, and he lives depending on the ambient temperature. When he needs more warmth, he will flatten the body so that he can take advantage of the heat on the surface of something.
Do bearded dragons get lonely?
No.
Bearded dragons are independent species. In other words, they don’t live with herds. Therefore, it’s fine if you pet one bearded dragon alone.
On the other hand, if you own two male bearded dragons, they will tend to fight each other for territory. Ideally, you should have two separate cages or divide it into two spaces, which are still large enough for them to live independently.
How often do you bathe a bearded dragon?
In nature, water for bearded dragons is very “precious.” Therefore, if it does not rain, they will eat the leaves to take water.
However, they enjoy bathing. Soaking in water can help them moisturize and stimulate the digestion of food in the stomach.
If you own a bearded dragon, you should bathe them once a week. Remember that they cannot swim, so you need to prepare a bowl of shallow water. The water level needs to be lower than the distance from its eye to the ground.
One more thing that you need to keep in mind is that too clean will not be good for this animal. Therefore, each time they take a bath, you should only leave it for at most 10 minutes.
How do I entertain my bearded dragon?
There are many ways to make your bearded dragon happy. But first, you need to find out what he likes because each individual will have different interests. Here are some suggestions for you.
As well as living in the wild, they cannot lack the sunlight. So, you should regularly let them out in the sun and relax.
Stroking bearded dragons will not only help them feel comfortable but also make your relationship with them more connected.
Build them a tank that is large enough for them to move around and play. If possible, you can make a terrarium or aquarium. In the tank, there should be enough items, as we mentioned above, such as substrate, stone, twigs, lounger, bathwater, food, drinking water, bearded dragon toys heaters, and light bulbs, etc.
They are quite curious animals and often look at everything around them. So, you can also buy a leash and let them explore the garden under your supervision.
What do I do if my bearded dragon doesn’t eat?
There are many reasons for bearded dragons to stop eating, so you need to know your pet’s specific case before helping him to eat again.
The most common case happens when you first bring your pet home. Due to unfamiliarity with the new environment, they will hide and refuse to eat for the first few days.
You do not need to worry but just stabilize their habitat and provide everything they need. After that, they will eat again.
In case they have stopped eating for a long time, you need to add electrolytes for them.
The second case is due to weak health. This could be due to too low cage temperatures, their digestive system, wrong eating, or improper pet food. In this case, you need to pay attention to each of the above issues to adjust them. If they have intestinal problems, you need to supplement them with electrolytes and take them to the vet.
To sum up
When raising pets, of course, everyone will hope them to be healthy and happy living with you.
Provide all accessories need to your bearded dragon.
While your bearded dragons may not live as long as their average lifespans, one thing is for sure: they will be satisfied if you follow the above things and bearded dragons facts.
If you need more advice about your pet’s situation, don’t hesitate to let us know. Please like and share the article if you find it useful. Thank you.
Last update on 2021-11-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API