About Our Prehistoric Pals
Welcome to Beardrock Dragons — where prehistoric pals come to life! We are passionate about breeding healthy, friendly bearded dragons right here in New Zealand.
What is a Bearded Dragon?
Bearded dragons are calm, curious reptiles known for their friendly nature and unique personalities. They get their name from the spiky "beard" under their chin, which they puff out when excited.
These prehistoric pals make amazing pets for beginners and experienced reptile owners alike.
Care Guide
- Habitat: Adult dragons need at least a 120cm enclosure with space to move, climb, and bask. Use solid substrates like tiles or reptile carpet to avoid impaction.
- Lighting & UVB: A high-quality UVB tube (10.0–12%) is essential for calcium absorption. Lights should run 10–12 hours daily and be replaced every 6–12 months.
- Temperature: Provide a proper heat gradient: basking spot 35–40°C, cool side 22–26°C. Dragons regulate their body temperature by moving between zones.
- Diet: Juveniles require more insects (crickets, roaches), while adults eat more greens. Offer leafy greens daily and dust food with calcium supplements several times a week.
- Hydration: Provide fresh water and occasional baths to help with hydration and shedding.
- Handling: Handle gently and regularly to build trust. Always support their body and avoid sudden movements.
- Lifespan & Health: With proper care, bearded dragons live 8–12+ years. Watch for signs of illness like lethargy, lack of appetite, or abnormal shedding.
Why Choose Beardrock Dragons?
- ✔ Healthy, well-cared-for dragons
- ✔ Friendly and handled from a young age
- ✔ Passionate, caring breeder
- ✔ Ongoing support after purchase
Common Beginner Mistakes
- No UVB Lighting: One of the biggest mistakes. Without UVB, dragons cannot absorb calcium properly, leading to serious health issues like metabolic bone disease.
- Incorrect Temperatures: Not providing a proper heat gradient can cause digestion problems and lethargy.
- Wrong Diet Balance: Feeding too many insects to adults or not enough greens can lead to obesity or deficiencies.
- Loose Substrate Use: Sand or loose substrate can cause impaction if ingested, especially in young dragons.
- Housing Dragons Together: Bearded dragons are territorial and can become aggressive or stressed when housed together.
- Skipping Supplements: Calcium and vitamins are essential for long-term health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, bearded dragons are widely considered one of the best reptile pets. They are known for their calm temperament, curious personalities, and ease of handling, which makes them a popular choice for both beginners and experienced reptile keepers.
Yes, UVB lighting is essential for bearded dragons. It helps them produce vitamin D3, which allows them to properly absorb calcium and maintain strong bones. Without proper UVB lighting, bearded dragons can develop serious health issues such as metabolic bone disease.
Juvenile bearded dragons usually need feeding more often and require a higher proportion of insects to support growth. Adult bearded dragons generally eat a more balanced diet with more leafy greens and vegetables, along with insects in moderation. Feeding routines can vary depending on age, size, and condition.
Generally, no — bearded dragons are territorial and are usually safest when housed separately to reduce the risk of stress, bullying, aggression, or injury.
In some cases they can live together, depending on the personalities of the dragons and whether the enclosure is large enough to provide plenty of room, multiple basking areas, hiding places, and separate feeding spaces.
Even then, they need to be monitored closely, because behaviour can change over time and separation may still become necessary.
In some cases they can live together, depending on the personalities of the dragons and whether the enclosure is large enough to provide plenty of room, multiple basking areas, hiding places, and separate feeding spaces.
Even then, they need to be monitored closely, because behaviour can change over time and separation may still become necessary.
With proper care, diet, heating, and lighting, bearded dragons commonly live between 8 and 12 years, and some can live even longer. Good husbandry plays a big part in their overall health and lifespan.
Occasional baths can be helpful for some bearded dragons, especially during shedding or for extra hydration, but they are not a replacement for proper husbandry. A correct enclosure setup, fresh water, and a healthy diet are far more important for long-term care.
An adult bearded dragon should have an enclosure that is at least 120cm long. This provides enough space for proper movement, basking, and temperature regulation.
Larger enclosures are always better, as they allow for more enrichment, climbing areas, and a proper heat gradient between the warm basking zone and cooler areas.
Larger enclosures are always better, as they allow for more enrichment, climbing areas, and a proper heat gradient between the warm basking zone and cooler areas.
Before bringing your bearded dragon home, you should have your full setup ready. This includes an appropriate enclosure, UVB lighting, a heat lamp, thermometers, safe substrate, food supply, and calcium supplements.
It’s important to set everything up and test temperatures for a few days beforehand to make sure the environment is stable and ready for your new dragon.
You can also use our setup checklist above to make sure you have everything covered.
It’s important to set everything up and test temperatures for a few days beforehand to make sure the environment is stable and ready for your new dragon.
You can also use our setup checklist above to make sure you have everything covered.