There are many different factors which will affect how big a Bearded Dragon gets. These factors include species, gender, genetics, diet and health. We will look at each of these factors in more detail below.
When people are asking the question; How Big Does a Bearded Dragon Get, many of them don’t realise that there are actually 8 species of Bearded Dragon that grow to a different size.
However, the majority of people are actually trying to figure out how big the Inland/Central Bearded Dragon gets. This is the most popular species kept in captivity and is what most people think of when they hear the name.
How Big Does a Bearded Dragon Get?
A typical Bearded Dragon will grow to between 16 and 24 inches in length, including the tail. They will generally weigh somewhere between 400-500 grams.
A healthy baby should grow at a relatively steady rate of 1-3 inches each month and will reach their adult size after around a year. The exact rate at which they grow can vary depending on a number of factors.
Many people aren’t sure how big does a bearded dragon get once they are hatched and this can often lead to issues further down the road. One of the most important factors to consider is the space you will need to house an adult Bearded Dragon.
This is an active species that grows relatively large so they will need a good bit of space to move around in their enclosure. It is important to remember that that little baby you bring home from the pet store won’t stay that small forever.
How Fast does a Baby Bearded Dragon Grow?
A baby Bearded Dragon will initially grow at a fast rate, sometimes even exceeding 1 inch per week. This is dependent on a number of factors such as gender, diet, genetics and sub-species so don’t be worried if your lizard isn’t hitting these targets.
If you feel that your lizard is growing slower than expected, pay close attention to their diet and monitor how much they are eating. Providing they look healthy, are gaining some weight and are getting the correct levels of UVB, there is usually nothing to worry about.
Bearded Dragon Weight
Most of what we spoke about up to now has been around the length of your lizard. But weight is just as important, if not more important than the length.
Monitoring the weight of your lizard will give you a better indication of the overall health of your pet as it will help you determine if the lizard is over or underweight.
An adult Inland Bearded Dragon will typically weigh somewhere between 400-500 grams. You will often see comments such as; If your Bearded Dragon weighs more than X grams he is overweight.
However, this kind of information is misleading. If you have an average sized lizard, then they will weigh more than the average weight. The same theory can be applied to a below average sized Dragon.
The weight of the lizard should be considered one part of the equation. The length of the lizard and their overall body tone are two other important factors, along with their activity level and diet.
How do I know if my Bearded Dragon is Overweight?
There are a number of ways you can tell if your Bearded Dragon is overweight. If you have a fully grown adult with a while, monitoring their weight once a month can give you a good indication.
Other signs to look out for include an unhealthy body tone. An obese Bearded Dragon will have a large bulge in their belly. This bulge will typically extend out the sides of the lizard when they are standing up.
You will often find that their legs also become fatter and they become more rounded in the chest. Other signs to look out for include a decrease in activity levels.
If only the belly seems full and there are no other signs of obesity, it is possible that your Bearded Dragon may be impacted or constipated. If you are worried either of these may be the case, you should contact your vet.
How do I know if my Bearded Dragon is Underweight?
You will be able to tell if your Bearded Dragon is under-weight by examining their body. An underweight Beardie will look skinny and you may even be able to see the outline of their ribs and spine.
Their body will appear flat and they will have loose, wrinkled skin. This is a tell-tale sign that your lizard is under weight. You may also notice that the fat reserves on the back of their legs and skull will have sunken also.
There are a number of things you can do if your Bearded Dragon is under weight. First of all, pay close attention to their diet and ensure they are getting enough food. Are they eager to eat when food is offered or are they a picky eater?
If you feel you lizard is definitely getting enough food, the problem may be that they have internal parasites and are not getting the nutrients from the food that they are eating.
If they are a picky eater, try to vary their diet by offering different types of food and even feed at different times of the day. Avoid excessive handling and try to make sure they are comfortable in their environment.
How big does a Bearded Dragon Get – The Key Factors
There are a number of different factors which can affect how big a Bearded Dragon gets. We will discuss some of these factors below.
Genetics
Genetics can play a large role in how big a Bearded Dragon gets. Genetics are traits that are passed down from the parents to their offspring. While nothing is guaranteed here, if you breed two exceptionally large Beardies together, there is a good chance that many of the offspring will inherit this trait.
The same can be said for breeding two exceptionally small lizards together. Pairing animals with specific traits together in order to try to maximise the trait in generations of offspring is known as selective breeding and is common practise.
Gender
Gender can also play a role in how big a Bearded Dragon gets. Males are typically slightly larger than females but this is usually a relatively small difference. You are not going to get a Bearded Dragon that is 50% larger than another one, simply by choosing a male.
Diet
This is one you need to be careful of. We are not suggesting you stuff as much food into your Bearded Dragon as possible in order to get them to grow as large as possible.
However, a Bearded Dragon must be given a well-balanced and complete diet. This is particularly important for juveniles as they need the correct nutrients to grow into healthy adults.
You should avoid low nutrient foods such as iceberg lettuce as there is very little nutritional value in these foods. This doesn’t mean this food is bad for them. Iceberg lettuce is almost pure water, it just doesn’t add any real nutritional value.
Husbandry and Health
Another factor which influences how big a Bearded Dragon gets is husbandry and health. If your lizard isn’t correctly taken care of, they will develop health issues which may impact their growth rate, or worse.
Correct temperature, lighting, humidity, space and security are all very important for a Beardie. For example, if a Bearded Dragon doesn’t have access to enough UVB they can develop a number of conditions such as Metabolic Bone Disease.
Types of Bearded Dragon
There are actually 8 different species of Bearded Dragons out there. When asking the question, How Big Does a Bearded Dragon Get, most people are referring to the Central Bearded Dragon which is the popular species kept in captivity.
However, it is important to show that there are more species out there and these can all grow to different lengths.
Eastern Bearded Dragon
The Eastern Bearded Dragon which has the scientific name Pogona barbata can be found in parts of Eastern, Central and Southern Australia where they like to live in dry wooded areas. They are also known as the Coastal Bearded Dragon.
How big does the Eastern Bearded Dragon get?
The Eastern Bearded Dragon can grow to around 2 feet in length including their tail.
Black-Soil Bearded Dragon
The Black-Soil Bearded Dragon which has the scientific name Pogona Henrylawsoni
can be found in parts of Queensland Australia where they live in dry, rocky, arid regions. They are also known as the Lawson’s Bearded Dragon.
How big does the Black-Soil Bearded Dragon get?
The Black-Soil Bearded Dragon can grow to around 12 inches in length including their tail.
Kimberley Bearded Dragon
The Kimberley Bearded Dragon which has the scientific name Pogona microlepidota
can be found in a remote area of Kimberley, Australia where they can be found along the coast and in woodland habitats. They are also known as the Drysdale River Bearded Dragon.
How big does the Kimberley Bearded Dragon get?
The Kimberley Bearded Dragon only grows to around 4-6 inches in length including their tail.
Dwarf Bearded Dragon
The Dwarf Bearded Dragon which has the scientific name Pogona minor can be found in parts of Western and Central Australia where they like to live in rocky and wooded areas. They are also known as the Western Bearded Dragon.
How big does the Dwarf Bearded Dragon get?
The Dwarf Bearded Dragon can grow to around 14-18 inches in length including their tail.
Western Bearded Dragon
The Western Bearded Dragon which has the scientific name Pogona minima can be found in parts of Western Australia and some of the surrounding islands where they like to live in dry woodland areas.
How big does the Western Bearded Dragon get?
The Western Bearded Dragon can grow to around 12 inches in length including their tail.
North-West Bearded Dragon
The North-West Bearded Dragon which has the scientific name Pogona mitchelli can be found in parts of Western Australia in the Kimberley region where they live in desert and wooded habitats. They are also known as the Mitchells Bearded Dragon.
How big does the North-West Bearded Dragon get?
The North-West Bearded Dragon can grow to around 18 inches in length including their tail.
Nullabor Bearded Dragon
The Nullabor Bearded Dragon which has the scientific name Pogona nullarbor can be found in parts of South Australia where they like to live in scrubland habitats.
How big does the Nullabor Bearded Dragon get?
The Nullabor Bearded Dragon can grow to around 14 inches in length including their tail.
Central Bearded Dragon
The Central Bearded Dragon which has the scientific name Pogona vitticeps can be found in Central Australia, as their name suggests. They like to live in scrubland and desert habitats.
How big does the Central Bearded Dragon get?
The Central Bearded Dragon can grow to around 24 inches in length including their tail.