Bearded Dragons are one of the most popular lizards in captivity. These majestic creatures have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years; even more in some cases.

Simply put, a Bearded Dragon is a companion to behold.

However, the “Beardies” are wild animals after all. You need to keep and put them in a way that suits their lifestyle. So, in this post, you’re going to learn everything you need to know about taking care of your Beardie.

Let’s dive in.

Get a comfortable tank

Compared to other popular lizards, like Leopard Geckos, a Bearded Dragon is much larger in size. It can grow up to 45cm long including the tail, so it needs a good-sized house to live in.

We recommend you get a tank that’s at least 50 inches long, 20 inches tall, and 25 inches wide. That should give your Beardie enough room to roam around. In terms of volume, you’re looking at a tank of at least 40 to 100 gallons.

But if you want, you can get a bigger tank, of course.

Put in the right accessories

An empty tank would be too boring for your Beardie. You need to decorate it with some essentials.

One of the most important items to get is a suitable liner, and Geckopia Liner happens to be just the right fit. It’s super comfortable bedding for your scaled friend, which also happens to be easy to clean for you. Plus, it keeps bad odor and bacteria away, helping your Beardie stay healthier than ever. But, if you want to go for other ways, you can do tiles or kitchen towels as well.

Many bearded parents find the kitchen towels and regular reptile carpets are bit annoying because they do slip pretty easily. If you're looking for something that can always stay in position, check out our liner because the bottom layer is made with natural rubber so it won't slip no matter how much your pet runs inside the tank.

As lizards need something to hang from and lie around on, we recommend getting a hammock. Niteangel’s Bearded Dragon Hammock might just be the right fit.

Furthermore, make sure there are a few good hiding spots for your lizard to fall back into. If there aren’t, the Beardie won’t feel safe.

The right environment

To grow and prosper, your Beardie needs a suitable living environment.

Make sure there’s a hotter end and a cooler, shaded end in the tank. The hotter end should be bright and have a temperature between 100 to 107 degrees Fahrenheit. The cooler end should be shaded and have a temperature between 71 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit.

Last but not least, the humidity should be on the lower end.

A diet full of nutrients

Adult Beardies need to eat once per day — but baby dragons must be fed more than once per day.

Beardies eat live insects, like crickets, mealworms, and king worms.

Furthermore, they also eat vegetables, like leafy greens, sweet potatoes, and chilies.

As your Beardie gets older, you must reduce the amount of meat you’re feeding it. That’s because older Beardies don’t do as much physical exercise, so they need less protein.

To keep your Beardie healthy and away from diseases, it’s advised to include Calcium and Vitamin supplements in its diet.