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How fast do bearded dragons grow? This is one of the common questions that most people ask before or after getting a beardie as a pet.
Pogona, commonly known as the bearded dragon, is an omnivorous lizard of the order Squamata. Bearded dragons are believed to have originated from inland Australia.
In the wild, beardies can be found in woodlands and semi-arid areas. Additionally, they are good climbers and spend most of their time in trees.
Bearded dragons are social animals, and that is one of the reasons why people prefer keeping them as pets.
If you already have a bearded dragon or planning on getting one, it’s only natural to question how fast they can grow.
This post highlights some of the things that you should know about the growth rate of bearded dragons and what can affect it.
With that comes the question – How Fast Do Bearded Dragons Grow?
Bearded dragons have a slightly accelerated growth rate when they are babies. A baby beardie can grow from 3″ to 11″ in the first three months of growth. After this, their length may increase by 1″-2″ every month until they reach adulthood. However, the growth rate may vary depending on the bearded dragon’s diet, environment, and genes.
To get a better understanding of how these factors can affect the growth rate in bearded dragons, we will cover each point independently.
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Factors That Influence Growth Rate in Bearded Dragons
Like all living organisms, bearded dragons require certain conditions to grow optimally. Nonetheless, beardies can have serious growth problems if they don’t get what they need.
Here are some of the things that you should put into consideration when it comes to determining the growth rate in bearded dragons.
Diet
- Diet has a direct effect on the bearded dragons' growth rate in that a poor diet can lead to stunted growth while a balanced diet can result in optimal growth and development.
- Being omnivores, beardies can eat a wide range of foods. However, not all foods are good for them. As such, you should do some research before introducing new foods to your dragon’s diet.
- In addition to this, you should avoid foods with low nutritional value as this can slow down growth. You should also consider changing the diet in each stage of development.
Environment
- In order to achieve optimal growth, bearded dragons need a conducive environment. This mainly applies to the type and size of enclosure that they are in.
- As such, ensure that you keep your beardie in an enclosure that is not only spacious but also safe. The temperature in the enclosure should also be kept between 80 to 90 degrees F. on the cool end and 95 to 110 degrees in the basking area of the enclosure.
Genetics
- Just like there are variations in height in humans due to genetic factors, bearded dragons can grow fast or experience stunt growth depending on the genes inherited from parents.
- If the parents have good genes, a beardie can achieve optimal growth without experiencing any problems and vice versa.
Diseases
- Bearded dragons with underlying health conditions may have a hard time growing. Diseases can come about due to several reasons, so ensure that your pet is well taken care of at all times.
More: Ever wonder if bearded dragons have ears and how they hear?
Growth Rate in Bearded Dragons during Different Stages of Development
Stage 1: Hatchlings
- Baby bearded dragons come out of the egg when they are just 3″ in length. Depending on their health condition, a hatchling can weigh approximately 4g.
- During the first two months of development, baby beardies experience an accelerated growth spurt and an increase in length by up to 1″-3″ each week.
- Furthermore, you can keep your beardie healthy in this stage by supplying the right type of food. Since proteins are important in this stage, you should feed your pet insects and high-protein plants.
- If the beardie in question is healthy, the little guy will achieve a maximum length of 11″ in just three months.
- Additionally, calcium is crucial for bearded dragons, especially when they are young. Be sure to pick up a good calcium powder to support their development.
This is the calcium we use for our beardies and we highly recommend it:
Stage 2: Subadult Bearded Dragons
- The subadult, also known as the juvenile stage, is somewhat similar to the growth stage that we have discussed because bearded dragons exhibit accelerated growth.
- Subadult beardies are between 2-7 months old and can weigh up to 280g.
- Additionally, juvenile beardies can measure anything between 7″-8″. Their length may increase by 1″ in each month, provided that they are getting proper nutrition.
- Bearded dragons in this stage can grow 1″-3″ each month and can gain approximately 50g per month.
Stage 3: Adult Bearded Dragons
- As your beardie gets older, their growth rate starts to slow down. On average, adult bearded dragons are 18″-24″ in length.
- They can weigh anything between 370g and 510g. A bearded dragon is said to be fully grown when they become sexually mature.
- However, reaching sexual maturity may vary from one bearded dragon to another. Nonetheless, most dragons can reach this phase when they are 8 to 18 months old.
Keep in mind, if you notice that your beardie is not within the recommended length and weight limit in each phase of growth, there could be a problem.
Bearded Dragon Growth Chart
The chart below provides you with a summary of the growth rate in bearded dragons. It can help you track how fast or slow your beardie is growing, and can as well let you know if your bearded buddy has stunted growth
| Age in Months | Length in Inches | Weight in Grams |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3-4 | 4-6 |
| 2 | 5-9 | 8-40 |
| 3 | 8-11 | 22-110 |
| 4 | 9-12 | 41-115 |
| 5 | 11-16 | 102-115 |
| 6 | 11-18 | 183-188 |
| 7 | 13-18 | 230-280 |
| 8 | 14-20 | 252-327 |
| 9-10 | 16-22 | 280-360 |
| 11-12+ | 22-24 | 350-510 |
Achieving Optimal Growth: How to Keep Your Bearded Dragon Healthy
The best way to keep your bearded dragon healthy is by providing a varied diet that is equally balanced. In addition to this, you should provide your beardie with nutrient-rich foods right from the start.
Insects are a good source of protein, so ensure that your beardie is getting enough, especially during the hatchling and juvenile phases.
Aside from that, bearded dragons should be kept in large enclosures to prevent restriction when it comes to growth. Ensure that you clean the enclosure regularly to keep diseases and parasites at bay.
The lighting and temperature conditions should also be conducive as this will encourage your bearded dragon to eat.
Favorable temperature conditions can improve digestion, meaning the beardie will get all the nutrients within the shortest time possible.
Final Thought on Bearded Dragon Growth
To answer the question—how fast do bearded dragons grow? It all depends on the phase that the bearded dragon is in.
As such, baby bearded dragons and juveniles tend to achieve accelerated growth compared to adult bearded dragons who exhibit slowed growth rates.