Bearded dragons are the most popular lizards kept as pets. They’re docile and relatively easy to care for, which makes them a great choice for novice reptile owners. But there is one important question that all prospective bearded dragon owners must consider: Understanding the answers to this question will help you make sure you have an appropriate living space and enough resources to provide the best possible care for your pet. Read on to learn everything you need to know about how big bearded dragons can grow.
Average Sizes of Bearded Dragons
The size of any individual bearded dragon depends on its age, sex, species, and other factors like genetics. But if you want an approximate idea of how big your pet could get, it’s helpful to understand the average sizes of different species.
The most common species kept as pets is Pogona vitticeps or the Central Bearded Dragon (CBD). CBDs typically reach 16-24 inches in length from head to tail when fully grown. Females tend to stay on the smaller end of this range while males generally reach greater lengths. Additionally, some larger individuals have been known to exceed 24 inches in length!
Wild populations of other Pogona species like the Inland Bearded Dragon (also known as Painted or Eastern Bearded Dragon) may grow even bigger than their CBD counterparts – up to 32 inches in total length! This is generally much larger than what captive-bred specimens hit due to differences in nutrition and husbandry practices used by their keepers.
Factors That Affect Size
Age is a major factor when it comes to predicting how large a bearded dragon will get. Hatchlings are usually only 4-5 inches in length at birth, but they can rapidly outgrow their enclosures over time if allowed proper care and nutrition. A “yearling” or one-year-old beardie will be significantly larger than when it was born, although still not at its full adult size yet. Juveniles – those between 6 months and 2 years old typically reach lengths between 12-16 inches depending on their sex and species type. It isn’t until adulthood that they reach their maximum size potential; expect adults to measure between 16-24 inches long from head to tail tip!
Gender also plays a role in determining a beardie’s ultimate size potential; males tend to grow larger than females since they produce more testosterone which allows them to put on bigger bodies with longer tails. Genetic diversity within a population also affects overall body sizes; some animals may inherently be bigger than others due simply because of genetic differences within the breeding stock they were born from! Finally, environmental conditions like temperature and humidity play a role too since these things affect metabolism rates that can ultimately contribute to or impede growth rates over time.
Adequate Living Spaces for Your Pet
Knowing approximately how big your particular bearded dragon might get is important when deciding on housing options for your pet lizard! An undersized enclosure won’t encourage adequate growth; plus it could lead to other health problems like a metabolic bone disease if limited space restricts activity levels over time too much!
For single adult CBDs, 30 gallons is considered an acceptable minimum enclosure size (this would equate roughly to 36x18x12 inch dimensions). If multiple adults are housed together then bigger enclosures should be considered – 50+ gallons per animal would be ideal if possible based on relative floor space measurements per creature versus actual enclosure size volume totals mentioned above). Just remember; since bearded dragons can get quite large it’s always better safe than sorry so err on the side of providing larger living quarters rather than risking inadequate living spaces that don’t promote healthy growth patterns over time!
The Factors Affecting a Bearded Dragon’s Size
Several factors affect a bearded dragon’s size, such as diet, genetics, and environment, so it’s important to be aware of these factors if you’re thinking of getting one. This article will discuss each factor in detail, along with its impact on a bearded dragon’s size.
Diet
Bearded Dragons need to eat a diet that is high in protein and calcium. This helps ensure that they can reach their full potential size, as any deficiency in these nutrients will stunt growth. Wild bearded dragons mainly feed on insects, but captive ones are typically fed with other foods such as fruits, vegetables, and commercial diets.
Genetics
The size of a Bearded Dragon also has to do with its genetics; some individuals may simply never grow past a certain size due to having small genes. If you’re looking to get one as a pet, be sure to pick out the largest individual possible so they can reach their maximum potential. Even if two bearded dragons are genetically identical, one may grow to be larger than the other if given better care and nutrition.
Environment
The environment in which a Bearded Dragon lives can have a significant effect on its size as well. If they aren’t provided with enough space to move around, it can stunt their growth, so always make sure your pet has enough room. Additionally, make sure that the temperature and humidity of their enclosure are at an appropriate level for them; extreme temperatures can cause stress, which will also inhibit their growth.
Conclusion
Bearded dragons are popular reptiles kept as pets due largely in part due their docile personalities and reasonable ease of care compared with many other species available today. As such, many prospective reptile keepers ask “how big do bearded dragons get?” The answer varies depending upon the individual’s age, sex, species type as well as genetic diversity within its breeding population but most captive-bred specimens tend to reach between 16-24 inches long from head-to-tail tip upon reaching adulthood! However wild caught specimens may potentially exceed these lengths so always take appropriate steps toward providing adequate living spaces for your reptilian friend just in case it gets even bigger than expected once fully grown.