Bearded Dragon
Very tame & interactive; needs strong UVB + basking heat; spacious enclosure
Overview
The Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps) is a reptile reaching about 18–24 in and living 8–12 yrs. It is an omnivore, kept in a terrestrial / desert set-up. It is generally tolerant of handling. With a typical lifespan of around 10 years, it's a medium-length commitment.
Is the Bearded Dragon right for you?
A good match if — you want a reptile you can actually handle.
What a Bearded Dragon needs from you
The real work is the enclosure: correct heat, lighting/UVB and humidity, plus a good amount of room — for this species, a hot, dry set-up with strong basking heat and UVB. Feeding means the correct species diet. Get the habitat right and most reptiles are calm, low-drama animals.
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Pogona vitticeps
- Adult size
- 18–24 in
- Life span
- 8–12 yrs
- Diet
- omnivore
- Habitat
- terrestrial / desert
- Care level
- beginner-intermediate
- Handling
- yes
- Notes
- Very tame & interactive; needs strong UVB + basking heat; spacious enclosure
What it needs from you (at a glance)
| Space needed | |
| Experience needed | |
| Maintenance | |
| Time per day | |
| Need for company | |
| Handling / closeness | |
| Cost level |
What it costs
Scaled to this breed’s roughly 1 kg and a ~10-year life, keeping a Bearded Dragon works out at about:
Rough cross-breed averages in USD — a planning guide, not a quote. Break it down by life phase in the Cost Calculator →
Temperament (at a glance)
| Affection | no data yet |
| Energy | no data yet |
| Vocalness | |
| Trainability | no data yet |
| Tolerates alone | no data yet |