Bring on the beardies! We are excited to announce that the bearded dragon is our reptile of the month for June.

To celebrate these popular pet reptiles, we'll be sharing new content on our website, blog, and social media throughout the month.

Bearded Dragon Fun Facts

● Bearded dragons originate from the dry bushland and desert regions of Australia.They were first introduced to the United States around 1990.

● The scientific name for bearded dragons is Pogona, and they are affectionately called "beardies" by many pet owners.

● Beardies are omnivorous; they eat both plant and animal matter. While their diet consists mostly of plants and vegetables, the also love insects including crickets, roaches, and mealworms.

● They get their name from the spiky growths under their necks, which will puff up and turn black when the lizard is excited, resembling a human beard.

● Beardies will wave to each other! It is believed this is a passive message to indicate submission when a larger or more dominant lizard is near.

● They show their romantic interest by bobbing their heads up and down at prospective mates — the male bobs his head rapidly and the female responds with a slower head bobbing

● Although normally calm and sedentary, bearded dragons are deceptively quick and are capable of running up to 9 mph. They can even run on two legs!

● Bearded dragons are medium-size desert lizards and range from red to brown to yellow to white in color. They have a limited ability to change their colors. Softer colors reflect most of the sunlight, which helps them regulate their body temperature.

● On average, they measure between 16 and 24 inches and weigh 10 to 20 ounces.

● Bearded dragons have a tail that is almost as long as its body! Females have thinner and more slender tails than males.

● With proper care, beardies can live 10 years or longer.

Beardies as Pets

Bearded dragons make great pets and are arguably the most popular and sought after species among reptile hobbyists.

They are non-aggressive, don’t mind being handled, and have very social personalities. This makes them ideal pets for children, as well. They are also known to be very tolerant of other animals, just like they are with humans.

While keeping a bearded dragon does involve an initial investment; they are easy to care for and will develop their own low-maintenance routine.

Bearded Dragon Setup and Care

If you have a pet beardie or are considering one, check out Fluker's Reptile U resources.

Our Bearded Dragon Setup and Care guide and video tutorials provide helpful tips to keep your pet happy and healthy. Topics covered include enclosure, substrate, accessories, temperature, lighting, diet, nutrition, growth, behavior, handling, and safety.