Bearded Dragon Care Calculators & Charts

Last updated: September 25, 2026 · Reviewed against sources listed below

Bearded dragon care comes down to a few numbers: how much to feed, how warm the basking spot should be, and how fast your dragon should grow. This bearded dragon care sheet collects those numbers in one place, with calculators that turn your dragon’s age and setup into a clear plan.

Quick facts

Adult length: 16–24 in41–61 cm
Lifespan: 7–12 years
Adult weight: 380–510 g (13–18 oz)380–510 g
Diet: Omnivore (insects + greens)
Basking spot: 95–110°F35–43°C
Humidity: 30–40%

Bearded Dragon calculators

Lizard Insect Feeding Calculator

How many insects per feeding, how often, and what to buy each week.

Bearded Dragon
Leopard Gecko

Calcium & Vitamin Schedule Generator

A printable 7-day calcium, D3 and multivitamin dusting schedule.

Bearded Dragon
Leopard Gecko
Crested Gecko

Reptile Age & Growth Estimator

Estimate age from length or weight, and check growth against normal ranges.

Bearded Dragon
Leopard Gecko
Ball Python

Reptile Enclosure Size Calculator

Minimum and recommended tank size, plus a gallons-to-dimensions converter.

Bearded Dragon
Leopard Gecko
Ball Python

Reptile Temperature & Humidity Checker

Enter your readings to see what is too hot, too cold or just right.

Bearded Dragon
Leopard Gecko
Ball Python

Dubia Roach Colony Calculator

How many breeding females you need to feed your reptiles from your own colony.

Bearded Dragon
Leopard Gecko

Bearded Dragon charts and guides

Bearded Dragon Feeding Chart

How much and how often to feed at every age.

Bearded Dragon Growth Chart

Typical length and weight by age.

Bearded Dragon Enclosure Setup

Tank size, hides, lighting and substrate.

Bearded Dragon Temperature & Humidity

Basking, cool-side and night ranges.

Bearded Dragon FAQ

Answers to common feeding and care questions.

Bearded dragon care at a glance

The central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) comes from the dry woodlands and scrub of inland Australia. In captivity it is one of the easiest lizards to keep, as long as three things are right: heat, UVB light and diet. Most health problems seen by reptile vets trace back to one of these.

Heat. Bearded dragons are cold-blooded and digest food using outside heat. They need a basking spot of about 95–110°F35–43°C (hotter for babies, cooler end for adults), a cool side of 75–85°F24–29°C, and a night-time drop to around 65–75°F18–24°C. Measure the basking surface with a digital probe thermometer or an infrared temperature gun, not a stick-on dial.

UVB. A linear UVB tube running most of the enclosure length lets your dragon make vitamin D3 and absorb calcium. Without it, even a perfect diet can lead to metabolic bone disease. Replace tubes on the maker’s schedule, because UVB output fades long before the visible light does.

Diet. Young dragons are mostly insect-eaters; adults are mostly plant-eaters. Getting this shift right is the single biggest feeding decision you will make, and it is what our bearded dragon feeding chart is built around.

How our tools help

Use the insect feeding calculator to see how many crickets or roaches to offer at your dragon’s age and how many to buy each week. The calcium schedule generator turns your feeding days into a printable dusting plan. To check whether your dragon is on track, compare its length and weight with the bearded dragon size chart.

Common beginner mistakes

Skipping UVB or using a coil bulb. Compact coil bulbs give patchy, weak UVB. A linear T5 or T8 tube over most of the enclosure is the standard recommendation.
Feeding adults like babies. Adults fed mostly insects become overweight. After about 12 months, greens should become the main part of the diet.
Oversized insects. Insects bigger than the space between the eyes can cause choking or impaction, a blockage of the gut, especially in babies.
Guessing temperatures. Dial thermometers are often wrong by several degrees. Use a digital probe or an infrared temperature gun on the basking surface.
Loose substrate for babies. Young dragons can swallow sand or loose particles while hunting. Many keepers use tile or paper towel until the dragon is older.