In this series, we will be answering some of the most common questions about our animal team. Today, it is all about bearded dragons!
Are bearded dragons social?
Bearded dragons aren’t considered to be social animals. They are normally solitary and tend to be territorial. When they congregate in the wild a social hierarchy can be seen, with more dominant members grabbing the highest and best basking spot.
Bearded dragons are known to be social with their owners once trust is established and tend to enjoy being handled.
Can bearded dragons live with other reptiles?
It is recommended for bearded dragons to have their own enclosure.
How do I look after bearded dragons?
Our Ranger Lydia has composed a fantastic blog of bearded dragon advice; from setting up the perfect home habitat to food, temperature and lighting.
What do bearded dragons eat?
Bearded dragons are omnivorous - they will eat plants, fruit, insects, small mammals and even other lizards! Their diet should consist of approx. 20% vegetation (mainly leafy greens) and 80% meat - e.g. crickets, locusts, morioworms and pinky mice. Their food must be sprinkled with calcium powder 3 or 4 times per week.
What is a bearded dragon’s wild habitat?
Subtropical woodland, desert, scrubland and savannah in Australia.
How do bearded dragons get calcium in the wild?
Calcium is vital to the healthy development of bearded dragons! In the wild, beardies have a hugely varied diet of insects and vegetation rich in minerals. Plants eaten straight from the earth have a higher calcium deposit to what we buy in stores. As insects are constantly consuming nutrients from soil and plant matter, this is then passed on to their predators.
When sources are scarce, bearded dragons brumate, a dormant period for reptiles (a bit like hibernating, however in brumation reptiles need to drink).
Can bearded dragons regrow their tails?
No, they can’t. Like many reptiles, bearded dragons can drop off part of their tail when threatened giving them time to get away but unlike some other reptiles they cannot regenerate the lost part.
Do bearded dragons really have a third eye? If so, do they have an eyelid?
Bearded dragons have a third eye on top of their head! It doesn’t ‘see’ images like the other two but detects a change in light, allowing them to spot predators from above. It doesn’t have a eyelid but does have a scale that covers the 'third eye' that acts as a protection