Because of factors like food shortages and predators, continue reading to know more about how to enhance bearded dragon life expectancy, the components that affect it, and how to identify how old your beardie is.
Many bearded dragon enthusiasts are curious about beardies’ lifespan and how to detect the age of their favorite bearded dragon because estimating the age precisely is difficult. Based on whether a bearded dragon lives in the wild or in captivity, there are some biological and anatomical indicators that may be used to determine its age.
This is due to the fact that, in contrast to wild bearded dragons, pet beardies live in a much safer and healthier habitat. Enclosure, size, sex, diet, species, and breeding could all affect the enhancement of bearded dragon life expectancy. In the wild, beardies have a shorter lifespan than those raised as pets.
Because of factors like food shortages and predators. Continue reading to know more about a bearded dragon’s lifespan, the components that affect it, and how to identify how old your beardie is.
What is the Average Lifespan of a Bearded Dragon?
Beardies are long-lived species, having an average lifespan of five to fifteen years, with five being the lowest average number of years a bearded dragon in the wild could assume to survive and fifteen being the highest average number of years a bearded dragon in captivity could assume to survive. Your Beardie may live for roughly ten years in captivity, and with appropriate care, it can potentially survive for above fifteen years. Bearded dragons in captivity live for an average of ten to fifteen years in captivity. Their lives are tougher in the wild, where they must deal with predators and extreme weather. They live for five to eight years on average.
The Lifespan of Bearded Dragon in the Wild
They spend their days sunbathing in the sun, capturing insects, and consuming plants in the wild. Isn’t it wonderful? These reptiles, on the other hand, spend much time in the wild evading their natural predators. A beardies’ natural predators involve birds, prey, dingoes, and large goannas. In the wild, they have a lifespan of 5 to 8 years. A bearded dragon who lives in the wild for more than 8 years is regarded to be exceptionally old and fortunate. The severe circumstances of their natural desert environments, on the other hand, hinder many of them from enjoying longer lives. The following are the primary causes why beardies in the wild are shorter than those in captivity:
- Lack of Food
- Predators
- Weather
- Disease
Lack of Food:
In the wild, where they must search for prey, beardies must compete with other wild creatures for limited food supplies. This procedure expands a large number of calories, and if it fails, the beardie may become too fatigued to avoid predators on an empty stomach. Because of the paucity, meals are sporadic and far apart. When they come to find anything edible, the beardie will eat it, exposing them to worms and illnesses.
Predators:
The tameness of wild beardie makes them ideal prey for larger predators hunting for a meal. When searching for food throughout the day, young bearded dragons are especially prone to predators. The lifespan of wild beardies is drastically reduced as a result of continual predation.
Weather:
Bearded dragons are susceptible to sudden temperature fluctuations, and their bodies are unable to thermoregulate when the temperature hits either extreme, leaving them exposed to the elements. Their cold-blooded bodies need external heat sources to heat up and digest their food, which is troublesome in the wild due to the constantly fluctuating weather. The bearded dragons’ health might be compromised as a result of the weather changes, decreasing their lifetime.
Disease:
Beardies in the wild are susceptible to infections and other health issues. They are susceptible to parasites and infections that might otherwise go untreated in the wild. As a result, the majority of them die of diseases or have stunted development.
The Lifespan of Bearded Dragon in the Captivity
Beardies that are raised in good health often live for 8 to 12 years. There have been confirmed cases of bearded dragons surviving for fifteen years or longer, however, this is extremely unusual. You must provide your beardie with the greatest possible care if you want them to live a longer life. Beardies may have a long and healthy life provided they have a regular supply of fundamental necessities such as warmth, appropriate humidity, a healthy diet, and protection from predators. Some of the fundamental care requirements for healthy pet beardies are as follows:
- Proper Diet
- Safe Habitat
- Health Complications
- Safety
Proper Diet:
Pet beardies require an omnivore diet that includes vegetables and feeder insects in a 70/30 ratio. Adult beardies take 70% greens with fewer meals, roughly 5 per week since these ratios change with time. This is because they need more proteins to expand their bodies throughout their growth period, and they require more vitamins from plant stuff to be healthy after they reach maturity. With the right diet, beardie may stay healthy and suffer from fewer ailments.
Safe Habitat:
Your pet beardie will need a secure environment with lots of space to live in. A 100-gallon aquarium can accommodate a fully grown beardie. A separate basking rock must be included in the cage. Glass surfing may be avoided by putting your pet bearded dragon in a comfortable cage where he or she feels free to explore.
Health Complications:
Bearded dragons can develop health problems that can be treated with adequate veterinarian treatment. You should constantly be on the watch for any indicators of disease or health problems that might shorten your bearded dragon’s lifespan.
The following are some of the health problems that bearded dragons face, as well as their symptoms:
Swollen face, lethargic limbs, and twitching muscles are symptoms of metabolic bone disease.
Obesity manifests itself as a broad tail base, a swollen belly, and jowls.
Malnutrition manifests itself in the form of hazy, sunken eyes, black patches in the mouth, slowed movements, and watery feces.
Diarrhea, loss of appetite, mucus or blood in the stools, and dehydration are all symptoms of parasites.
Impaction symptoms include failure to defecate, leg spasms, regurgitation, and limb dragging.
Safety:
Beardies are passive pets who rarely have a chance against predators, so you must give a secure habitat for them. Keep an eye out for natural predators and other pets that could want to eat your bearded dragon. Because bearded dragons love to be alone in their enclosures, you’ll need separate settings for each one if you have more than one. This reduces the number of injuries caused by territorial fights.
How to Determine a Bearded Dragon’s Age?
While determining the accurate age of a bearded dragon can be challenging, particularly when it is fully grown, there are a few methods. If the bearded dragon is still young, measuring its length might help you figure out how old it is. You may also find out if the beardie is sexually active by consulting your veterinarian or a breeder.
Measure the Bearded dragon from the tip of the tail to the top of the head:
By comparing the length of your bearded dragon to the average growth chart, you may get a good estimate of its age. This approach is not always accurate since, in addition to age, health issues and environmental variables can impact the length of a beardie.
Growth Chart Table of Beardies
| Bearded Dragon Age (Months) | Average Growth Chart (Inches) |
| Above 24 | Above 18-24 |
| 12 | 16-22 |
| 8 | 13-20 |
| 6 | 11-18 |
| 4 | 9-12 |
| 3 | 8-11 |
| 2 | 5-9 |
| 0-1 | 3-4 |
Checking for Sexual Maturity:
Healthy beardies reach sexual maturity between the ages of 8 and 12 months. This approach is also imprecise in its calculations since there are health issues that may delay sexual maturity in beardies. To identify if the bearded dragon is sexually mature, check for gender characteristics including bulging towards the base of the tail, which would suggest that they are one year old.
How to Enhance Bearded Dragon Life Expectancy?
Bearded dragons are unique pets. They are easy to care for in comparison to many other exotics. Their requirements are not always identified or addressed, which can lead to illness and premature death. The good news is that beardies may live for ten years or more if properly cared for. There are several factors that influence your pet’s health. Here are five ways to extend the lifespan of your beardie:
- A well-balanced and varied diet
- Habitat that promotes natural behaviors
- Hydration
- Ensure your beardie is warm
A well-balanced and varied diet:
Bearded dragons in their infancy and adolescence require significantly higher protein and insect consumption than adult bearded dragons. This is due to the fact that they are no longer developing. But it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep an eye on what they consume. Make sure they’re getting enough fresh vegetables and plant stuff instead of the insects they used to devour as baby lizards.
Habitat that promotes natural behaviors:
Enclosures for bearded dragons must be larger than you think so that your reptile has enough space to exercise and survive. A crowded and small cage might cause your lizard to get stressed, resulting in a lower quality of life and a shorter lifespan. You may also provide them with a variety of lying rocks and levels, and also soft rocks or bedding around the enclosure floor.
Hydration:
While beardies may thrive in warm conditions, they require a certain degree of humidity as pets. This is because many reptiles might get respiratory problems and infections if they are not kept at a specified degree of humidity. Ensure your bearded dragon’s habitat is well-ventilated and that it has enough water.
Ensure your beardie is warm:
It’s essential to keep your bearded dragon’s habitat warm if you want them to live a long time. You should provide them with not only a heat lamp but also a location to find shade and cooler temperatures. Bearded dragons are equally as susceptible to overheating as they are too cold.
What is the oldest bearded dragon’s age?
“Sebastian”, the world’s oldest beardie, died in 2016″ at the age of “18 years and 237 days”. He was a well-liked pet who was well-cared for by his owner. It was declared the world’s longest-living bearded dragon by Guinness World Records. ” Lee-Anne”, a British citizen, has raised the pet since its birth on “June 1, 1997”.
Common Mistakes to Avoid If You Want to Enhance Bearded Dragon Life Expectancy:
Unfortunately, there are various mistakes that owners can do that shorten the lifespan of their Bearded dragon:
- Adults are getting too much protein and not enough vegetables.
- Heat, light, and humidity conditions are not maintained.
- Keeping them in an inadequate enclosure.
- They do not provide a shaded place in their enclosure.
- Forgetting to keep track of their waste.
- Breeding a female when she is too young.
Fortunately, these mistakes are easily avoidable.
Conclusion:
Beardies live for eight to twelve years and sometimes fifteen years as pets. Because of circumstances like food shortages, predation, and droughts, wild ones have a reduced lifetime of five to eight years. In general, the larger a lizard is, the longer it will survive. A beardy’s lifespan is rather long, and a variety of factors can alter it. This allows you to enhance the amount of time you have to spend with your extraordinary pet! We hope that this guide has provided you with some valuable information that will assist you in providing excellent care for your beardie. They are deserving of it.
FAQs on How to Enhance Bearded Dragon Life Expectancy:
Bearded dragons’ longevity can be influenced by a number of factors, both in the wild and in captivity. These are some of them:
A well-balanced and varied diet
Habitat that promotes natural behaviors
Hydration
Ensure your beardie is warm
The world’s oldest beardie was more than 18 years old. ” Sebastian”, an 18-year-old beardie from “Middlesex, UK”, according to the Guinness World Records. It was “18 years and 237 days” old when it died!
The oldest bearded dragons belong to the “central bearded dragon species” and have evolved to live in the deserts and scrublands of northern Australia. They may survive for over 15 years in captivity in pretty excellent condition if given a healthy diet and ample space to roam and bask in.
Yes, but they, like other reptiles, lack the emotional reactions that mammals do. They interact with people mostly because they provide food and care for them. When a beardie identifies you as a food and care provider, they get calm and affectionate, crawling all over you.
