Go Bearded Dragon publishes care guides for people who keep bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) as pets. Max Brimley started the site in August 2024 and writes the articles.

About Me: My 20+ Years With Bearded Dragons

Yes, I keep bearded dragons. After more than 20 years with these little armored characters, I can say this with confidence: they are much more than “just reptiles.”

My first bearded dragon, Finn, moved in with me in the early 2000s. Since then, I have kept and cared for several dragons, each with its own personality, habits and strong opinions about mealworms. Luna is one of my dragons today: a curious, food-motivated little lady who can switch from relaxed sunbather to eager hunter in under a second.

Finn was the calm observer. He would sit on his branch for hours and watch everything around him like a tiny prehistoric supervisor. Luna is the opposite. When she hears the food container, she lifts her head, goes on full alert and looks at me as if to say: “Well? Don’t keep a dragon waiting.”

My Enclosure Setup

Over the years, I have learned that a good bearded dragon home is not about looks. It is about space, safety, warmth, light and choices for the animal.

My adult dragons live in spacious enclosures with plenty of room to walk, climb, bask and retreat. Each setup includes:

• a secure enclosure with good ventilation
• a basking area with a heat lamp on a thermostat
• UVB lighting for about 10 to 12 hours a day
• a cooler side, so my dragons can regulate their own temperature
• climbing branches, hides, a water dish and a safe substrate
• regular cleaning, temperature checks and lamp maintenance

A proper temperature gradient and reliable UVB are the basics. Get them right, and you will see the difference in your dragon’s activity, appetite and long-term health.

Mistakes That Taught Me a Lot

In more than two decades, I have made mistakes too, and each one made me a better keeper.

Early on, I underestimated how much exact lamp placement, thermostat control and regular temperature checks matter. A heat lamp that is “more or less” in the right place is not good enough. I also learned never to ignore small changes. A dragon that eats less, turns unusually lazy, loses weight or behaves differently deserves your attention.

Whenever something seemed off, I learned to act early and see a vet with reptile experience. Parasites, digestive problems, respiratory infections and metabolic bone disease are common in bearded dragons, and most of them are easier to prevent than to treat.

The Moment I Remember Most

One of my favorite memories is a simple one. One morning, one of my dragons sat calmly on my arm. She did not explore and did not beg for food. She rested her head against my hand and stayed there.

No drama. No hunger. Just trust.

That moment reminded me why I love keeping bearded dragons. They will not wag their tails or greet you at the door, but once they trust you, they show it in their own quiet, scaly way.

Why I Created Go Bearded Dragon

I started Go Bearded Dragon because reptile care can be confusing, above all for new owners. You find a lot of conflicting advice online, and a small mistake with lighting, diet, temperature or hygiene can affect a dragon’s health.

My goal is to share practical, experience-based advice that helps your bearded dragon live a long, healthy life. On this site, you will find guides on habitat setup, UVB and heating, feeding, hydration, enrichment, health warning signs, bonding and everyday care.

After more than 20 years, I still enjoy watching these animals every day. They are curious, stubborn, funny and affectionate in their own way, and I hope this site helps you enjoy your dragon as much as I enjoy mine.

What you find here

• Getting started: the Bearded Dragon Care Guide and the starter kit checklist.
• Enclosure: tank size, layout, hides and climbing branches in the enclosure guide.
• Light and heat: UVB, basking temperatures and Ferguson zones in the lighting setup guide.
• Diet: insects, greens and supplements in the feeding guide.
• Health: symptoms, common illnesses and the reptile vet finder.
• Behavior: head bobbing, waving, glass surfing and brumation in the behavior signs guide.
• Morphs and species: leatherback, silkback, zero, translucent and the other Pogona species in the species guide.

How the guides work

Each guide answers one question a bearded dragon owner asks, with temperatures, amounts and schedules you can use in your own setup. Max reviews older articles and updates them. The date at the top of each article shows the last change.

Health articles explain symptoms and first steps. They do not replace an exam. If your dragon is sick or injured, take it to a reptile vet.

How the site makes money

You can read every guide for free. The site earns money in three ways:

• Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Go Bearded Dragon earns from qualifying purchases. You pay the same price.
• The Complete Bearded Dragon Care Plan, a printable PDF for $7.99.
• The gift shop with bearded dragon shirts, mugs and accessories.

The disclaimer lists the details.

Follow along

You can follow new guides and care tips on Pinterest.