The German giant bearded dragon is among the many different morphs of the bearded dragon species. Owners prefer to keep these reptile pets as domesticated home companions, especially those who desire a whole new pet-keeping experience.
We have explained much about bearded dragons, informing potential or new owners about these reptile pets’ typical nature and care requirements. We want to enlighten our readers about German giant bearded dragons and what makes them stand out among the other bearded dragon morphs.
In this article, we described the nature of German giant bearded dragons. We also provided the possible and existing owners or keepers of this bearded dragon morph with helpful insights about how they can give the best care to these lizard pets.
Getting to Know the German Giant Bearded Dragon
For first-time bearded dragon owners who want to care for a German giant morph, they may wonder about the specific attributes of these reptile pets. These lizard pet keepers may feel astounded as they watch this particular bearded dragon specie under a UV lamp.
We want to share the following important details that educate our readers about the nature of German giant bearded dragons. They will then understand if they, indeed, got their choice when purchasing these kinds of reptile pets:
1. These bearded dragons have large bodies and small heads.
German giant bearded dragons’ body ratios feature them having much larger physiques than the central or inland bearded dragons, which are the regular ones with the scientific name Pogona vitticeps.
Additionally, this morph features small heads. Hence, we want to point out to our readers that they surely purchased the German giant morph if the bearded dragon mainly has a bigger body with a proportionally smaller head.
We also want to suggest bearded dragon owners compare their reptile pets’ ratios of their heads to their bodies. This step enables these lizard pet keepers to know if their bearded dragon demonstrates the conspicuous head-body sign of the German giant morph.
2. German giant bearded dragons have gold or silvery eyes.
A bearded dragon’s eye color can tell if it is a German giant bearded dragon. We want to inform novice owners that the common or regular bearded dragon’s eyes are normally brown or yellow.
Meanwhile, a German giant bearded dragon has silvery or gold eyes. While their large reptile pet sits atop its hangout decor or hideout decor big rock, we suggest that the reptile pet keepers check their lizard pet’s eyes.
They will see that their German giant bearded dragon has gold or silvery eyes, which are certainly noticeable body features. The eye color enables potential owners to know if they are, indeed, buying their preferred lizard pet.
3. These reptile pets grow fast and bigger within six months compared to the common kind.
Since German giant bearded dragons are larger than the common ones, we want to point out to our readers that they normally exhibit a higher growth rate. These lizard pets, indeed, grow extremely rapidly.
We want to stress that these bearded dragon morphs can already reach 21 inches long by the time they are six months old, compared to a 14-inch normal bearded dragon at such age.
4. German giant bearded dragons are potentially more aggressive.
The central or regular bearded dragon, with the scientific name Pogona vitticeps, is less strong and aggressive when compared to a German giant bearded dragon. The latter is a large morph.
Thus, we want to confirm that it also has considerable strength. If a reptile pet keeper experiences getting bitten by a German giant bearded dragon while it is under a basking lamp, he will notice that his lizard pet’s attack is more powerful.
Because of its aggressive and powerful nature, we want to advise owners to adjust their handling methods for their bearded dragon that has a more robust and larger physique.
5. Female German giant bearded dragons can lay up to 60 eggs.
When learning about bearded dragons, we want to explain the basic concept of “clutch.” This idea pertains to a cycle in which the female bearded dragons will lay their eggs.
Female German giant bearded dragons are notoriously known for having large clutch sizes. This attribute is among the primary reasons hybridizers selectively breed this morph.
Furthermore, having a large clutch is a favorable trait for German giant bearded dragon breeders as they can be more efficient. We can tell apart common bearded dragons’ clutch size from those of the German giant morphs.
The regular bearded dragon’s average clutch size is between 14 to 16 eggs. This number can reach up to 20 eggs.
Meanwhile, it is common for German giant bearded dragon breeders to record clutches of up to 60 eggs. Indeed, we want to stress the fact that female German giant bearded dragons can lay a whopper-sized clutch.
This scenario confirms these lizard pets’ genes as those of the German giant bearded dragon morphs. We also want to point out that large clutch sizes are expected from healthy female German giant bearded dragons that regularly take multivitamin supplements or liquid vitamins.
6. German giant bearded dragons have greater weight and length than the regular ones.
This bearded dragon morph is certainly massive. A German giant bearded dragon can be from 25 to 35 inches long and from 850 to 1,000 grams heavy.
On the other hand, the central or inland bearded dragon’s length is merely from 16 to 24 inches long, and its weight is from 400 to 500 grams heavy.
Apparently, the average sizes of the German giant and regular bearded dragons are striking attributes that clearly demonstrate their physical differences.
7. These big bearded dragons are born from parents with recessive German giant genes.
Potential bearded dragon owners who want the German giant morph can tell that they are getting what they want if they obtain the reptile pet’s available genetic information.
They can get these details that allow them to learn about their bearded dragon’s origin from the pet store.
Knowing that the German giant bearded dragon’s recessive genes are in the gene pool of one’s reptile pet will help a prospective keeper to determine if their lizard pet is, indeed, the bearded dragon morph they are seeking.
Potential or existing German giant bearded dragon owners can also request blood tests. Experienced exotic reptile veterinarians may have ties to laboratories processing animal blood tests.
By seeking their assistance, the lizard pet keepers can learn if their reptile pet’s genetics confirm that it is, indeed, a German giant bearded dragon.
We want to highlight the fact that bearded dragon parents possessing the German giant morph’s genes are likely to pass these genetic attributes to their offspring.
Therefore, a bearded dragon has a greater probability of becoming a German giant one if the recessive genes are highly present in its parents.
Learning about these seven characteristics can assist bearded dragon owners or potential ones in determining if their reptile pet is a German giant bearded dragon. These domesticated home companions also require proper care, which can be slightly different from the smaller species.
Caring for the Unusually Large German Giant Bearded Dragons
Although the German giant bearded dragon is different from the rest due to its size, we want to highlight the fact that these animals also deserve proper care.
We want to point out to our readers that these bearded dragon morphs can have a modified maintenance requirement due to their significant size disparity with the other bearded dragons.
The following are some of the special husbandry requirements of German giant bearded dragons:
1. Diet should still follow the 80/20 rule of green leafy vegetables-to-protein ratio.
German giant bearded dragons have similar dietary requirements as the regular ones. They also consume live insects such as Dubia roaches, mealworms, and live crickets.
Additionally, these lizard pets need to consume green leafy vegetables to stay healthy. However, we want to emphasize the fact that due to their large size, German giant bearded dragons need to receive larger food servings.
2. The bearded dragon’s enclosure should be bigger.
German giant bearded dragons require a tank that is large and with the right environment. Owners should use a thermometer to ensure that their lizard pet’s artificial habitat has the proper temperature.
We also highly recommend they ensure the presence of lighting provisions and other essential accessories in the artificial habitat, like a reptile carpet, a feeder, a basking light, and so forth.
Due to their large size, German giant bearded dragons need sufficient room in their tanks so they can select where they want to spend their time, exercise, and so on. The enclosure should also have more lights or heating equipment to keep the ideal gradient and environment.
3. Watch out for parasites adversely impacting the bearded dragon morph’s wellness.
Although they can handle stress quite well and are resilient to exposure to poor conditions and environmental modifications, German giant bearded dragons can suffer from parasite problems.
This health concern is common among these bearded dragons due to their large body and big appetites. Hence, we highly recommend German giant bearded dragon owners have regular visits to the veterinarians.
These animal healthcare specialists may provide their lizard pets with the necessary medications. They can also give the German giant bearded dragons some essential health-giving supplements, such as calcium powder with vitamin D, liquid vitamins, multivitamin supplements, and so forth.
German giant bearded dragons are, indeed, extraordinary mainly because of their physical features. We agree that larger reptiles tend to live longer due to their capability to be more resilient to stressors, thanks to their size.
Nonetheless, we want to emphasize the fact that, similar to other species, German giant bearded dragons can live long if they receive proper diet and living arrangements. Otherwise, these bearded dragons’ health can deteriorate fast, and they may not reach old or advanced ages.
After reading this informative article, we want to wish German giant bearded dragon owners a wonderful time today taking care of their beloved reptile pet!
