Many educational articles have been written about bearded dragon habitats, specifically the artificial ones. Common bearded dragon enclosure examples include wooden vivariums, plastic tanks, glass terrariums, and plywood cages.
Other examples of artificial bearded dragon habitats are vision vivariums and ABS enclosures made from Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastic. We also want to note that bearded dragon owners new to keeping these reptile pets usually encounter and read many online articles about properly setting up the bearded dragon’s tank.
These discussions convey details such as the necessary accessories to be placed in the terrarium, such as UV lamps, basking lamps, feeders, hangout decors, and so forth. These online articles mainly concentrate on the home of the lizard pets in captivity.
In this informative article, we elaborated on bearded dragon habitats in the wild. We aimed to enlighten bearded dragon owners that they must copy their domesticated reptile pets’ natural habitat arrangement in Australia’s deserts and woodlands when setting up these tamed lizards’ artificial abode in their homes.
Natural Bearded Dragon Habitat: An Exhibition of Wildlife in the Australian Deserts and Wilderness
Bearded dragons are typically identified as desert reptiles. They are quite common in many different locations in much of Australia.
We want to inform prospective bearded dragon keepers that there are eight types of these lizards. Not all of them are available for purchase in brick-and-mortar and online pet stores for domestication or pet-keeping.
It is due to the fact that some bearded dragons are uncommon. They consist of the Western, Nullarbor, Mitchell’s, Dwarf, and Drysdale River species.
On the other hand, bearded dragons available for pet-keeping and domestication at home include the most common, which is the Central Bearded Dragon. Plus, we have the Coastal and Lawson’s bearded dragons.
In general, the most popular bearded dragons domesticated as pets at home live in the wild, situated in the vast majority of the places in Australia. These natural bearded dragon habitats are in all of this Oceania country’s states and territories, except Tasmania.
We want to emphasize that creating a bearded dragon habitat in captivity should give the lizard pet a more natural environment. The tank should consist of elements exactly or similar to those found in the bearded dragon’s habitat in the wild.
Hence, we want to help our readers understand the natural habitat arrangement of the wild bearded dragons through the following information. In this manner, they can understand how to set up their reptile pet’s tank, simulating the natural bearded dragon habitat.
1. CENTRAL OR INLAND BEARDED DRAGON
The Central or Inland Bearded Dragon, which has the scientific name Pogona Vitticeps, is the most common lizard pet kept in captivity among the eight types of bearded dragons. They are widely available in pet shops for sale as many reptile pet enthusiasts have them as their top pick for a domesticated reptile home companion.
Central Bearded Dragons are gentle and calm lizards. They are typically found in Central Australia’s semi-arid and arid woodlands and rocky desert regions.
The Central Bearded Dragon’s natural habitat involves itself thriving and living healthily in dry brush environments, such as dry forests, deserts, and brush fields. Additionally, these wild animals live in Australia’s land with bushes, trees, and the savannahs, which are quite flat with only grasses dispersed across the landscape.
The other natural bearded dragon habitats for the Pogona Vitticeps are those with some shrubs, no trees, and considerable grass, like the Mitchell Grass. We want to inform our readers that Walpeup in Victoria, Australia is among the many examples of locations where wild bearded dragons reside.
This place is a semi-arid Mallee woodland. As a bearded dragon habitat, it features many silver emu bushes, Broom Bush, Scotia Bush, or Eremophila scoparia. Blue-leaved Mallee or Eucalyptus polybractea trees are also present in Walpeup.
In its natural habitat, the Central Bearded Dragons, which are excellent climbers in the wild and relish climbing as a pastime, tend to spend their mornings sunning themselves on exposed rocks or tree branches. They also burrow in the heat or retreat into a shady location.
With these facts, we recommend Central Bearded Dragon owners place a hangout decor or hideout decor big rock in the tank. This bearded dragon habitat accessory can provide their reptile pet a similar experience to what it is accustomed to in its natural home in the wild.
2. DWARF OR WESTERN BEARDED DRAGON
The Dwarf or Western Bearded Dragon, which has the scientific name Pogona Minor Minor, is a rare reptile similar to the Drysdale River Bearded Dragon. In Australia, this kind of bearded dragon is commonly found in the nation’s central or western regions.
One of the locations where many Western Bearded Dragons settle is the Perth bushland. We want to enlighten bearded dragon keepers that the Dwarf Bearded Dragon thrives in dry and rocky environments and woodlands.
Many of them roam in Western Australia’s Great Victoria Desert as well. This natural environment and bearded dragon habitat primarily features red sands with some vegetation like spinifex or Triodia, gum trees such as Eucalyptus gongylocarpa, and Eremophila.
Moreover, this natural bearded dragon habitat in the wild features plants like Thryptomene, Grevillea, and Hakea, along with the red sands. The wetter parts include mulga trees or Acacia aneura, and Lindley’s saltbush or Atriplex lindleyi.
The Western Bearded Dragons are semi-arboreal, similar to the other Pogona species. Their natural bearded dragon habitats involve them using the bushes, ground, and trees, and seeking shelter in the day’s heat at a meter or more off the ground.
The Dwarf Bearded Dragon is small, though we want to point out that they travel quite some distance on most days. These wild lizards can also be found close to the virtual ghost town Ora Banda in Western Australia, where they are frequently traveling more than 100 meters per day in the distance.
Furthermore, the wild Dwarf Bearded Dragons travel extensively across the land. It stops to forage or bask in bushes like the bluebush or Maireana and saltbush or Atriplex.
3. COASTAL OR EASTERN BEARDED DRAGON
The Coastal or Eastern Bearded Dragon is also known as frilly lizard or Jew lizard. Its scientific name is Pogona Barbata.
The Coastal Bearded Dragon is commonly found in Eastern Australia. These wild reptiles are among the lizards that live in multiple Australian states and over a wide range of diverse natural environments.
The Coastal Bearded Dragon can sometimes be found in the nation’s central and southern parts, as well as in the Cumberland Plain’s woodlands, which is close to Sydney, New South Wales.
Moreover, the Eastern Bearded Dragon thrives in the Oceania island nation’s dry and wooded places. In their natural habitats, they are active during the daytime and relish climbing.
The Eastern Bearded Dragons live among many gum trees, such as Eucalyptus moluccana, Eucalyptus sclerophylla, and Eucalyptus fibrosa, with bushes and ground cover. These semi-arboreal animals spend much time up in the trees basking and staying safe in their natural habitats.
Additionally, many Pogona Barbata and Pogona Vitticeps live within the Northern Wheatbelt of New South Wales. They are categorized as woodland generalists with some dependence on the presence of trees for their natural habitats.
Since the Coastal Bearded Dragon hails from Australia’s densely wooded locations, this attribute makes them much stronger climbers compared to the other bearded dragon types.
These reptiles can also be territorial when they are around the other bearded dragons. We highly suggest bearded dragon owners not forget to place a reptile carpet on their lizard pet’s tank. After all, if they happen to own a Coastal Bearded Dragon, they should understand that this domesticated reptile enjoys moving around its terrarium.
4. LAWSON’S BEARDED DRAGON
The Lawson’s Bearded Dragon, whose is scientific name is Pogona Henrylawsoni, has the latter given to this reptile in honor of the Australian philosopher, poet, and author Henry Lawson. Its other names include black-soil bearded dragon, Rankin’s bearded dragon, and dumpy bearded dragon.
The Lawson’s Bearded Dragon is commonly found in the central and western sections of Queensland, Australia. The bearded dragon habitat in the wild of this lizard comprises rocky, dry, and arid places such as deserts.
Furthermore, the Lawson’s Bearded Dragon, which is active during the daytime and enjoys climbing, can be found close to Winton, Queensland. Sightings of this Pogona Henrylawsoni bearded dragon can be made in late springtime, which is October in Australia.
These bearded dragons roam in the middle of Queensland, where it is hot and with a sub-tropical feeling. The Lawson’s Bearded Dragon usually basks in full sun on a rock or bitumen road in late afternoon hours with a relative humidity of 31 percent.
These reptiles also bask on rocks in the middle of the morning between 9:30 to 10:30 AM. They tend to perch or prop up on shrubs, and with these facts, we recommend owners not to forget to put a basking lamp on the artificial bearded dragon habitat.
The Lawson’s Bearded Dragon also thrives in areas in Australia where trees are sparse though there is a lower level of vegetation and plenty of the area has been cleared for farmland.
5. DRYSDALE RIVER BEARDED DRAGON
The Drysdale River Bearded Dragon has the scientific name Pogona Microlepidota. Its other name is the Kimberley Bearded Dragon.
This lizard has its natural habitat commonly located in North Kimberley’s coast and Northern Australia’s woodlands. We want to emphasize to our readers that the Drysdale River Bearded Dragon is very rare.
Therefore, these bearded dragons are not suitable to be sought for pet-keeping purposes.
6. MITCHELL’S OR NORTHWESTERN BEARDED DRAGON
The Mitchell’s or Northwestern Bearded Dragon has the scientific name Pogona Minor Mitchelli. This particular epithet honors the Australian zoologist Francis John Mitchell.
Similar to the Drysdale River Bearded Dragon, the Mitchell’s Bearded Dragon is a rare reptile, and we want to inform potential bearded dragon keepers that they will not see this lizard in brick-and-mortar and online pet stores.
As for the natural bearded dragon habitat in the wild of the Northwestern Bearded Dragon, it originated from northwestern Australia. This reptile thrives in deserts and semi-tropical woodlands.
7. NULLARBOR BEARDED DRAGON
The Nullarbor Bearded Dragon is a rare lizard with the scientific name Pogona Nullarbor. Its bearded dragon habitat in the wild includes the brush and flat environments in Southern Australia.
We want to point out to our readers that the Nullarbor Bearded Dragon is among the rare bearded dragon species. Therefore, they will normally not encounter it in the pet trade sold in the markets.
8. WESTERN OR ABROLHOS DWARF BEARDED DRAGON
The Western or Abrolhos Dwarf Bearded Dragon has the scientific name Pogona Minor Minima. This uncommon reptile thrives in the dry woodlands along the Houtman Abrolhos Islands and Western Australia.
We want to clarify to bearded dragon enthusiasts that the Western or Abrolhos Dwarf Bearded Dragon is a rare specie. Thus, they will not find them in online or brick-and-mortar pet stores.
We discussed the eight bearded dragon types. Some of them are common and available for pet keepers to buy in the market.
However, the majority of the bearded dragons in this list are rare. Overall, we want to highlight the important fact that the natural bearded dragon habitats in the wild are mainly Australia’s deserts, woodlands, and scrublands.
With these significant details, we believe our readers were able to comprehend the natural living arrangements of bearded dragons in the wild. Therefore, we think the bearded dragon owners now have a clear idea of how to simulate this living setup in the artificial bearded dragon habitats, which are the tanks.
We want to emphasize that bearded dragon habitats will facilitate overall wholesomeness and happiness for the domesticated lizards if they provide the latter with a replication of their homes in the wild.
5 Tips on Setting Up the Best Bearded Dragon Habitat in Captivity
Artificial bearded dragon habitats such as the terrarium play an important role in providing bearded dragons with a healthy and delightful existence. If the reptile pet owners set up this vivarium properly, it becomes a comfortable home where the bearded dragon can thrive for the long term.
We want to reiterate to our readers that healthy lizard pets can live up to 15 years old. This possibility is achievable with proper care, which involves the provision of a bearded dragon habitat that is similar to the wild animal’s natural environment.
The following tips offer bearded dragon owners useful insights about creating the best living space for their bearded dragons. They highlight the fact that bearded dragon habitats have to be a mock-up or imitation of the lizard pet’s natural habitat in the Australian deserts or woodlands.
1. Use a good hygrometer and thermometer on hand.
A hygrometer is very helpful for gauging the humidity in the artificial bearded dragon habitat. We also want to point out that a thermometer is essential to ensure that the bearded dragon receives the proper temperature ranges during the day and night.
We recommend placing several digital thermometers at either end of the tamed reptile’s vivarium. Bearded dragon owners also have the option to employ a temperature gun.
This useful tool facilitates the fast scanning of the bearded dragon tank’s various sections. The whole terrarium should have a temperature range from 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit during the evening.
Meanwhile, a basking spot with a temperature range between 95 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit during the day is also essential for the domesticated home companion’s optimum health.
As for the other sections of the bearded dragon tank, we advise that owners ensure these parts are cooler to help their lizard pets regulate their body temperatures as needed.
2. Use a large plastic container as a specially designated area for live insect feeding.
Bearded dragon habitats in captivity can be a safe place for these reptile pets to live in, even if there is a loose substrate within the tank. We want to stress the fact that the latter can be a dangerous setting because live insect feedings like Dubia roaches, live crickets, and worms can escape during the bearded dragon’s mealtime.
These live insects can easily bury themselves in the loose substrate, hide there, and bite the bearded dragon. Additionally, the loose substrate can facilitate the deaths of the live crickets, which would subsequently rot in the terrarium, posing a risk to the reptile pet’s wellness.
We highly recommend utilizing a large plastic container. Hence, the live insects will not pose as a threat to the bearded dragon in its vivarium.
3. Place some safe live plants in the bearded dragon’s terrarium.
Some safe and recommended plants for putting in the vivarium consist of turtle vines, which are succulent plants, as well as haworthia, echeveria, and prickly pear cacti with spines removed.
We also suggest aloe vera and herbs like parsley, rosemary, oregano, and basil. These live plants are safe, though we recommend bearded dragon owners to keep an eye on their lizard pets.
The latter may eat the vegetation that can wilt in the humidity and cause diarrhea to the domesticated reptiles.
4. Shallow dishes and reptile carpets ensure a convenient artificial bearded dragon habitat.
Bearded dragons will feel comfortable if essential accessories such as reptile carpets and shallow dishes are within their reach in their terrarium.
The reptile carpet is a fantastic choice for these domesticated lizards because they are affordable and easy to clean. Many of them available in online and brick-and-mortar pet stores are designed to prevent harmful odors.
Additionally, shallow dishes ensure that bearded dragons can access their foods and fresh drinking water easily. We advise bearded dragon owners to have at least three to four shallow dishes on hand.
These essential bearded dragon accessories are useful for the green leafy vegetables, fresh drinking water, fresh fruits, and mineral and multivitamin supplements.
5. Use a ceramic heat emitter in the artificial bearded dragon habitat.
The ceramic lighting is helpful if a bearded dragon keeper cannot maintain a temperature over 65 degrees in his residence during the evenings. This piece of equipment in the artificial bearded dragon habitat can assist in keeping the room temperature at the ideal levels for the tamed lizard’s comfort.
These five helpful tips can aid bearded dragon owners in setting up an artificial habitat that imitates their tamed reptile’s natural environment. We assure our readers that following them can certainly lead to positive outcomes, with their bearded dragons feeling comfortable and not stressed, angry, or agitated in their abodes.
Hence, bearded dragon owners can relish spending quality time with their lizard pets as the latter will not exhibit any inconveniences in their artificial bearded dragon habitat.
