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Free Resource
Bearded Dragon Care Sheets
Quick-reference guides for every life stage. Select your beardie’s age and get everything — temperatures, lighting, diet, supplements, and vet schedule — on one page.
🐣 Hatchling Care Sheet
Ages 0–3 months · Typical length 3–7 inches · Rapid growth phase
TEMPERATURES
Basking surface (IR gun)100–110°F
Warm side ambient90–95°F
Cool side ambient80–85°F
Nighttime low70–75°F
Basking height6–10 inches below bulb
LIGHTING
UVB bulb typeT5 HO 10.0 or 12% Desert
UVB brandsArcadia 12% or Reptisun T5
UVB distance (no mesh)15–18 inches
UVB distance (mesh)10–12 inches
Photoperiod12–14 hrs/day
Replace UVB bulbEvery 12 months
DIET RATIO
Insects80%
Greens/veg20%
Feeding freq.3–5× daily
Insects/meal20–40 small
Insect sizeMax = eye-width
BEST FEEDERS
- Dubia roaches — top choice
- BSFL — high calcium
- Crickets — widely available
- Discoid roaches — FL/HI alt.
- Gut-load 24–48 hrs before
DAILY GREENS
- Collard greens — #1 staple
- Turnip greens
- Mustard greens
- Dandelion greens
- Endive / Watercress
SUPPLEMENT SCHEDULE
| Supplement | Frequency | How to Apply |
|---|---|---|
| Calcium + D3 | 5× per week | Dust lightly on insects before feeding |
| Multivitamin | 2× per week | Dust on insects; rotate with calcium days |
ENCLOSURE
Minimum size20 gal long
Recommended40 gal breeder
SubstrateTile, paper towel, or reptile carpet
Loose substrateNever for hatchlings
Humidity target30–40%
HEALTH & VET SCHEDULE
- First vet visit within 4–6 weeks of acquisition
- Fecal exam at first visit — parasites very common
- Monthly weight check (gram scale)
- Daily visual check — eyes, skin, activity
- Watch for MBD signs: twitching toes, soft jaw
- Never use calci-sand, heat rocks, or coil UVB
Never feed hatchlings: Mealworms (impaction risk), superworms, wax worms, wild-caught insects, fireflies, avocado, onions, rhubarb, or any loose sand substrate.
🦎 Juvenile Care Sheet
Ages 3–12 months · Typical length 7–18 inches · Transition phase
TEMPERATURES
Basking surface (IR gun)100–110°F
Warm side ambient90–95°F
Cool side ambient80–85°F
Nighttime low68–75°F
LIGHTING
UVB bulbT5 HO Arcadia 12% or Reptisun 10.0
UVB distance12–18 inches
Photoperiod12–14 hrs/day
Replace UVBEvery 12 months
DIET RATIO (3–6 mo)
Insects70%
Greens/veg30%
Feeding2–3× daily
Insects/meal15–30
DIET RATIO (6–12 mo)
Insects50%
Greens/veg50%
Feeding1–2× daily
Insects/meal10–20
ENCLOSURE
3–6 months40–75 gal
6–12 months75–120 gal
SubstrateTile or reptile carpet only
Humidity30–40%
SUPPLEMENT SCHEDULE
| Supplement | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Calcium + D3 | 5× per week | Dust lightly on all insects |
| Multivitamin | 1–2× per week | Rotate with non-calcium days |
BEST FEEDERS
- Dubia roaches — best staple
- BSFL — high calcium
- Crickets — good variety
- Hornworms — hydration treat
- Gut-load 24–48 hrs before
HEALTH & VET
- Fecal exam at 6 months
- Monthly weight check — rapid growth phase
- Upgrade tank as beardie grows
- Begin daily greens habit now
- Annual wellness visit when adult
Juvenile hazards: Loose substrate is still an impaction risk throughout juvenility. Mealworms are risky — hard chitin shells cause blockages. Always size insects to eye-width.
🐉 Adult Care Sheet
Ages 12–60 months · Typical length 16–24 inches · Maintenance phase
TEMPERATURES
Basking surface (IR gun)95–105°F
Warm side ambient85–90°F
Cool side ambient75–85°F
Nighttime low65–75°F
LIGHTING
UVB bulbT5 HO Arcadia 12% or Reptisun 10.0
Bulb length22–34″ (covers half tank)
Photoperiod10–14 hrs (seasonal)
Replace UVBEvery 12 months
DIET RATIO
Insects20%
Greens/veg80%
GreensDaily
Insects2–3× per week only
FEEDERS
- Dubia roaches
- Crickets
- BSFL / Silkworms — treats
- Hornworms — hydration
- 10–15 per feeding max
ENCLOSURE
Minimum75 gallon
Recommended120 gal (4’×2’×2′)
SubstrateTile, bioactive, or reptile carpet
Humidity30–40%
SUPPLEMENT SCHEDULE
| Supplement | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Calcium + D3 | 2–3× per week | Dust on insects; reduce if using Arcadia 12% |
| Calcium (no D3) | 1–2× per week | Alternate with Ca+D3 for powerful UVB setups |
| Multivitamin | 1× per week | Repashy Calcium Plus LoD simplifies the schedule |
HEALTH & VET SCHEDULE
- Annual wellness exam + fecal test every year
- Monthly weight check — log it
- Weekly 15-min warm bath
- Watch for brumation onset in fall/winter
- Never cohabitate — chronic stress
BRUMATION CHECKLIST
- Fecal exam before brumation
- Reduce photoperiod to 10 hrs in October
- Offer water and greens even if not eating
- Weigh weekly — don’t let weight drop >10%
- Brumation >4 months → vet check
Adult obesity is common: Stick to 80% greens / 20% insects. Fasting days (greens only) are healthy and natural.
⭐ Senior Care Sheet
Ages 5+ years · Slower metabolism · Increased vet monitoring
TEMPERATURES
Basking surface95–105°F
Warm side85–90°F
Cool side75–85°F
Night minimum68–75°F (seniors feel cold more)
LIGHTING
UVBSame — T5 HO, 12–18 inches
Replace bulbEvery 12 months — critical for seniors
Photoperiod10–14 hrs seasonal
Basking accessAdd a ramp — arthritic seniors need easy access
DIET
Ratio80–90% greens
Insects1–2× per week max
Best feedersHornworms, silkworms (soft)
Chop greensFiner — easier to eat
SUPPLEMENTS
Calcium + D32–3× per week
Multivitamin1× per week
ConsiderRepashy Grub Pie — soft, high nutrition
ENCLOSURE ADAPTATIONS
- Lower basking platform — easier to reach
- Remove tall climbs — fall injury risk
- Add ramp to basking spot
- Extra humid hide — sheds get harder
- Softer substrate if arthritis present
SENIOR VET SCHEDULE — INCREASED MONITORING
- Bi-annual vet exams (every 6 months from age 5+)
- Annual bloodwork — kidney/liver function, CBC
- Fecal exam at every vet visit
- Monthly weight logging
- Watch for: reduced basking, appetite loss, swollen joints
- Kidney disease and gout more common in seniors
- Tumor/mass growths — palpate abdomen monthly
- Metabolic bone disease can recur if supplementation lapses
Senior red flags — vet within 48 hours: Unexplained weight loss (>10% in a month), sudden lethargy, swollen limbs or abdomen, changes in stool lasting >3 days, or any neurological symptoms.