Community and contributor credits
This guide was compiled from the care guides written by our community, together with material from people whose work the hobby has been built on. Chapters 8 to 10 draw additionally on veterinary and published sources, listed below.
Peer-reviewed research
- 1.Grosset C, Daniaux L, Guzman DS-M, Weber ES, Zwingenberger A, Paul-Murphy J (2014). Radiographic anatomy and barium sulfate contrast transit time of the gastrointestinal tract of bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps). Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound 55:241–250.
- 2.Wright K (2008). Two common disorders of captive bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps): nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism and constipation. Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine 17(4):267–272.
- 3.Specific anatomy and radiographic illustration of the digestive tract and transit time of two orally administered contrast media in inland bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) (2019). PMC6705840.
- 4.Bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) with reduced scalation lose water faster but do not have substantially different thermal preferences (2021). Journal of Experimental Biology 224(12):jeb234427.
- 5.Finke MD (2015). Complete nutrient content of four species of commercially available feeder insects fed enhanced diets during growth. Zoo Biology.
- 6.Identification and comparative analysis of the epidermal differentiation complex in snakes (2017). Scientific Reports.
- 7.A survey of diseases in captive bearded dragons: a retrospective study of 529 patients (2017). Veterinární Medicína.
Veterinary references
- 1.VCA Animal Hospitals. Bearded Dragons, Problems.
- 2.Merck / MSD Veterinary Manual. Disorders and Diseases of Reptiles; Environmental Diseases and Traumatic Injuries of Reptiles; Clinical Procedures for Reptiles.
- 3.WikiVet. Lizard Physical Examination.
- 4.Veterian Key. Fluid Therapy in Reptiles.
- 5.LafeberVet. Fluid Administration in Reptiles; Clinical Medicine of Bearded Dragons.
Books, specialists and community sources
- 1.Warwick C, Arena P, Burghardt G (2023). Health and Welfare of Captive Reptiles, 2nd ed. (fruit and sugar, p.451).
- 2.Dr. Jonathon Howard (BeardieVet), native-habitat humidity readings; infertile egg laying and excess calories.
- 3.Southern Cross University, analysis of wild central bearded dragon habitat substrate composition.
- 4.Mariah Healey, ReptiFiles, bearded dragon shedding, impaction, tail rot, diet and hydration.
- 5.Manufacturer and retailer guaranteed-analysis panels for nine reptile calcium and multivitamin supplements, including both North American and EU labeling of the same products. Checked July 2026.
- 6.Nathan Burton, Reptile Lighting Tool, lightmyreptile.com. An interactive enclosure-lighting simulator built on the Reptile Lighting Guide (2025) figures; source for the basking-level framing, two-bulb additive heating, mesh and dome losses, and the deep-heat meter correction in Chapter 3.
| Source | What we used |
|---|---|
| KC O’Mongain | UVB fixture and bulb distances, thermometer gun demonstration, corner hide geometry, spectrum and infrared penetration |
| Dr. Frances Baines · Reptile Lighting | The hand test for basking irradiance; pigmentation and “stress marks” |
| Thomas Griffiths | LED and the pineal gland; surface temperature against power density |
| Aaron Carter · Reptile Lighting | Why surface temperature tells you nothing useful |
| Quentin Dishman · Reptile Lighting | LED color comparison |
| Quinn Harris | The vivarium brightness photographs, © 2018 |
| Dr. Jonathan Howard · BeardieVet | Infertile egg laying and excess calories |
| Warwick, Arena & Burghardt | Health and Welfare of Captive Reptiles, 2nd ed. 2023 |
| Reptile Lighting | Irradiance charts and mesh blockage figures |
| tomaskas.co.uk | Power density irradiance charts |