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Getting a bearded dragon can be extremely exciting, especially if it’s your first one. Any new pet is special, but bearded dragons are unique. These lizards are truly a sight to behold, and they can be a serious joy to keep as pets.
As with any pet, you’ll come to love your bearded dragon and won’t want to say goodbye. So, how long should you expect to get with your bearded dragon? Do they live just a few years, or will you have possible decades with them like some turtles or birds? It’s safe to say that a bearded dragon will live far longer than the anole lizard you tried to bring home from the carnival, but how long can you expect your new pet to stick around?
As a pet, your bearded dragon should live around 8–15 years. Keep reading to learn what affects their lifespan and how you can keep your dragon healthy and happy!
What’s the Average Lifespan of a Bearded Dragon?
In the wild, bearded dragons face some tough conditions. They have to locate and hunt their own food, fight for survival, and avoid the many perils of life in the wild. As such, they have pretty short life expectancies. For the average bearded dragon in the wild, life lasts just 3–8 years. Dragons that reach the age of 8 are impressive, as most will die closer to 5 or 6.
Of course, things are quite different for dragons kept as pets. The life of a domestic dragon is pretty laid-back. Food is delivered to your house daily and nothing ever tries to eat you, though the cat always looks at you through the glass like it wants to. As such, a domestic dragon in captivity can expect a much longer lifespan. On average, bearded dragons living as pets have lifespans of 8–15 years.
Why Do Some Bearded Dragons Live Longer Than Others?
Dragons who live until 15 are nearly twice as old as those dying at 8, so what’s causing such a huge difference in lifespan between captive dragons? It’s not just one thing, but several that all work together to either improve your dragon’s overall health or degrade it. Healthier dragons live longer, so knowing about these factors can help you potentially extend your dragon’s lifespan.
1. Nutrition
Just as with humans, diet and nutrition play a huge role in a bearded dragon’s overall health and longevity. For dragons that aren’t eating a well-balanced diet containing all the essential nutrients they need, life will likely be shorter and marked with deficiencies and health concerns. Poor nutrition can lead to a range of issues that negatively impact both quality of life and lifespan. On the other hand, dragons that are fed a diverse, nutritionally complete diet are far more likely to live longer, healthier lives.
The nutrient ratios your dragon needs will also change as they age. Juvenile dragons typically eat a diet made up of about 75% insects and 25% plant matter, though fresh greens should still be offered regularly. By the time a dragon reaches adulthood, this ratio generally flips, and the diet should consist of roughly 75% plant matter and 25% insects.
2. Environment and Conditions
A good bit of forethought and planning goes into caring for a bearded dragon. Bearded dragons come from Australia, so you have to match their enclosure to their original environment. This means keeping it at specific temperatures and providing a certain amount of light and humidity. Meeting these needs means a healthy dragon, while falling short can reduce your dragon’s lifespan.
You’ll need to provide two different areas of the tank; one that’s cooler and one that’s hotter. The hot area needs to be between 96–110 degrees F, depending on your dragon’s age. For juveniles, this is closer to 105–110°F, while adults do best around 95–105°F. On the cooler side of the tank, the temperature should be 75–85 degrees F. Additionally, UVA and UVB need to be provided through the light bulbs you use. Humidity levels need to remain below 40%, which means being careful with your water placement and sticking a hygrometer on the wall inside your dragon’s tank.
Also, consider your dragon’s substrate. There are many options, including newspaper, sand, bark, coconut husk, and more. But substrates that have dust and small particles could cause impaction, infections, and other health concerns. Any dragon with repeated health problems is likely to have a shortened lifespan.
3. Enclosure Size
Creatures need to live comfortably if you want them to live a long time. Your bearded dragon will need large enough accommodations to remain healthy enough to achieve as long of a lifespan as is possible.
Standard recommendations for adult bearded dragons: minimum 75–120 gallons, or at least 48–60 inches long, 24 inches wide, 24 inches high. That takes up a lot of space in your home, so keeping a dragon healthy can require some home adjustments. Hatchlings and juveniles can live in 20–30 gallon tanks temporarily, though more space is better as they grow.
4. Size
When it comes to bearded dragons, proper growth and overall health are more important than size alone. Dragons that are well-fed, receive a balanced diet, and live in a properly maintained environment tend to live longer. Good husbandry—including appropriate enclosure size, temperature, lighting, and nutrition—supports healthy growth and a stronger, more resilient dragon. Being overweight or obese can shorten a dragon’s lifespan and lead to serious health problems, as much as being underweight. Most of the time, dragons that are healthy and kept at a proper weight will outlive those that experience poor nutrition, inadequate living conditions, or excessive weight, regardless of their size.
5. Sex
For bearded dragon females, lifespan can sometimes be slightly shorter than for males, due mostly to the stress of breeding. Egg production and repeated breeding can take their toll on a female’s body, especially if her diet and calcium intake aren’t optimal. With proper care and by limiting breeding, females can live just as long as males, often reaching the typical 8–15 year lifespan in captivity.
6. Genes
Genes matter, regardless of your species. If you want to be a basketball player in the NBA, you’ll need genetics that allow you to be well over 6 feet tall. Otherwise, your chances aren’t great. Genetics also play a role in your dragon’s health and potential lifespan. Dragons with strong, healthy genes are more likely to be resilient and live longer.
One way to increase the likelihood of getting a dragon with good genetics is to purchase from a reputable breeder. Big pet stores sell bearded dragons, but you often don’t know much about their origins. Some of these dragons may come from large-scale breeders that prioritize quantity over careful genetic selection.
Reputable breeders, on the other hand, usually work on a smaller scale and carefully manage breeding to promote healthy, robust dragons. They track lineages, avoid inbreeding, and select for strong health traits. Buying from such a breeder doesn’t guarantee perfect genetics, but it greatly increases the chances that your dragon will start life with a healthier, more resilient foundation.
7. Breeding History
Like we said, breeding and producing offspring are very hard on a female dragon’s body. Doing that a few times will take a lot out of them, literally. After reproducing a few times, a female’s lifespan may be reduced. Females that don’t reproduce live much longer on average than females that reproduce, and the more times she reproduces, the more that’s being taken out of her.
8. Healthcare
Bearded dragons don’t require any vaccines, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t receive any veterinary attention. Just like any pet, bearded dragons can benefit from checkups and physical examinations. Its feces can be checked for parasites and your vet can ensure there are no underlying health concerns that you might have missed the signs for.
The 6 Life Stages of a Bearded Dragon
As your dragon grows and ages, it will pass through several life stages. For care purposes, these stages are often divided into six, and each stage comes with its own growth patterns, dietary needs, and care requirements.
1. Embryonic Stage
This is the first stage of life development. The embryonic stage takes place inside the egg. Stress levels and nutrition of the mother during this stage will affect the offspring and its quality of life.
2. Hatchlings
Most dragon hatchlings start out around 3 inches and will remain hatchlings until they’re about 7–8 inches in a little more than 2 months. During the hatchling stage, dragons grow between 1–3 inches in length each month.
3. Juvenile
Juvenile dragons are typically 7–8 inches long and grow rapidly, adding about 1 inch per month depending on diet and care. They remain in the juvenile stage until around 12 months of age, after which they enter the sub-adult stage. During this time, their diet should be about 75% insects and 25% plant matter, including vegetables and occasional fruit, to support healthy growth.
4. Young Adult
After a year or more, a dragon is considered to be a young adult. They’re not growing as quickly anymore, though they’re nearing sexual maturity. Because of this, social behaviors are becoming more obvious. These dragons should be eating about 50% plant material and 50% insects.
5. Mature Adult
Between about 2 and 6 years of age, a dragon is considered a mature adult. By this stage, they are fully grown and should be eating the opposite diet of juveniles: roughly 75% plant matter and 25% insects to maintain optimal health and prevent obesity.
6. Senior
Old age begins around 6-8 years for a bearded dragon. Your dragon will start to move less and feedings will reduce as well. Depending on how well your dragon was cared for when it was younger, these effects may take longer to set in. If your dragon was well cared for, it could remain a senior until 15 years of age or older. On the other hand, dragons that received second-rate care might only reach 8 or 10 years before expiring.
How to Tell Your Bearded Dragon’s Age
If you’re unsure of your dragon’s age, you can estimate it by body length. Hatchlings less than a month old are usually 4 inches or shorter. Dragons between 4 and 10 inches are typically 1–4 months old, and those under 12 inches are probably less than a year old.
After one year, length becomes a less reliable way to determine age. Most adults are 16–24 inches long, but some juveniles can reach 16 inches as well. Weight can help; juveniles usually weigh less than 300 grams, while adults can weigh 400–600 grams depending on sex and genetics.
Finally, checking your dragon’s sex can provide an age clue. Bearded dragons are usually sexually mature between 8–12 months, so if you can determine the sex, your dragon has likely reached or is approaching adulthood.
Summary
The overarching idea here is that your dragon will live as long as the care you provide for it allows, barring unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances. Dragons that receive excellent care can live long, outstanding lives. Here’s a great example: a bearded dragon named Sebastian is the longest-living dragon on record with a total lifespan of 18 years and 237 days. If that doesn’t give you hope for your dragon to live a long, happy life, then nothing will!
While most dragons won’t reach Sebastian’s age, proper care can help your dragon live a full, happy life of 10–15 years or more. Knowing exactly what your dragon needs and keeping up with high quality nutrition, habitat requirements, and veterinary care is the best way to ensure your dragon stays healthy for as long as possible.
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Featured Image Credit: Josie Elias, Shutterstock
