The citrus bearded dragon, also known as the yellow or tangerine bearded dragon, is a boldly colored lizard that’s quite the eye-catcher with its mixture of bright and neutral tones. This beardie is overly friendly and interactive, making it a perfect pet for beginners.
There are 9 species of bearded dragons in the wild. Only four of those are kept as pets, with the Pogona vitticeps being the most popular for its docile and tranquil demeanor. Bearded dragons are native to Australia, and all have different appearances, with olive green, tan, yellow, and red being the most common colors.
Some bearded dragons have eye-popping, vividly colorful skin, which gives them a friendly personality. If you want to know more about this species and appreciate its uniqueness read on as we take a deep dive into citrus bearded dragons;
Quick facts about the citrus bearded dragon
Species name: Pogona
Common name: Citrus Bearded Dragon
Care Level: Easy
Lifespan: Up to 15 years
Diet: Omnivore
Adult size: 16 – 24 inches
Temperature: 75 – 100 degrees Fahrenheit
Minimum tank size: 40 gallons
Humidity: 20 to 40 percent
What is a Citrus Bearded Dragon?
A Citrus Bearded dragon is a docile reptile dragon with a bright lemon-yellow appearance and light lavender sidebars. That’s where the name citrus dragon comes from. Other species of citrus beardies feature a luminous property that gives them a green color.
The Citrus Bearded Dragon is loved for being relatively intelligent and responsive when kept in an environment they can thrive in. It’s the beardie’s triangular head and the bulging brown round eyes that give it a curious look. The upper and lower lip has lines, and there’s no gap in between. When the Citrus Bearded Dragon attains adulthood, the size shoots to a well-formed bearded dragon of up to 23 inches long and up to 620 grams for males and up to 20 inches and 540 grams.
Do Citrus Bearded Dragons Make Great Pets?
In their natural habitats, citrus bearded dragons prefer to live in grasslands as well as savannahs in Australia. Today, bearded dragon lovers across the world pet them. They are loved for their friendly nature and can be a great choice for a child.
What makes them a suitable choice for anyone is that they don’t have strict environmental requirements, so their upkeep should be relatively straightforward. You can even take a citrus-bearded dragon inside your pocket and let it out to play on the floor. You just need to offer primary care and interact with your beardie.
How to Take Care of a Citrus Bearded Dragon
Since bearded dragons thrive in tropical environments, they need specific conditions to stay healthy. For instance, they need the supply of UVB light to convert the nutrients in their body to calcium. Here’s the ideal environment of a Citrus Bearded Dragon.
Tank
Citrus bearded dragons can grow as long as 24 inches long, so the enclosure needs to accommodate the size of the tank. An adult bearded dragon needs a 40-gallon tank, and it should be all-glass as this is more popular. Glass tanks also allow a complete view of your pet. You can also use a wooden vivarium that’s also great at holding the heat in.
Unlike other reptiles, the bearded dragons are poor climbers, but their strength is in their tremendous ability to hang on to larger branches. The tank needs to have more width than height. Also, if you get a glass vivarium, ensure you do not place it by a drafty window, fireplace, or radiator.
Enclosure Décor
Bearded dragons are curious and highly responsive, but they love being lazy too. When they just want to relax, beardies can be seen basking on their favorite basking spot to soak up the rays. When the temperature is enough, and no tanning session is required, bearded dragons like to hide, the reason why they need a hollow log in the tank to hide. They prefer piling into a tight dark place for a good nap. You can also include beardie-safe plants and other things to spice things up.
Lighting
UVB light is important for the citrus bearded dragon as it aids in the absorption of vitamin D and calcium. The lights should stay active for 12 hours every day for the beardie to get enough. The reason why it should be half-day is that no lizard requires lighting at night. However, ensure to keep the temperature above 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
You can monitor a citrus bearded dragon’s behavior to know if their body temperature is too hot or cold. When it’s hot, bearded dragons hold their mouths open and appear much brighter. On the other hand, too much cold makes them appear darker, and they will turn to any heat source available.
Heating
Beardies rely on different sources of heat to regulate their body temperatures. There has to be a basking spot with a temperature of at least 750F and not more than 1000F. The basking lamp should be on one side of the tank to have a cooler side of the tank. The cooler should remain between 75 – 85 degrees Fahrenheit. You should place different décor and landscaping to provide access to the basking lamp as soon as possible.
The basking spot should be set at about 6 inches from the top with hammocks and branches to connect the lizard up. The cooler side of the tank should be on the far side and should provide places to hide and get shade. Use a thermometer and probe to measure the habitat temperature. Thermostats work as well but may not be reliable. If the temperatures go below 650F at nighttime, you can then use a ceramic heater.
Humidity
Keep the humidity between 25 to 40% to help with shedding and overall skin health. If the humidity is too low, your lizard is likely to suffer from respiratory infections. Humidity levels below 20% will leave your dragon susceptible to dehydration.
To tell if your bearded dragon is dehydrated, the skin becomes extremely wrinkled, and the pet becomes lethargic. Also, beardies will prefer to soak when dehydrated, but this is also common when they are shedding.
You can maintain the humidity in the enclosure by placing a soaking water dish in the tank so that it can evaporate. You can use any water dish like a plastic container but make sure it’s large and deep enough for the body to fit, e.g., a 2” D x 7” W x 10” L container.
Make sure not to fill the dish any deeper than the beardie’s ear level to minimize the chances of drowning. Nevertheless, bearded dragons are good swimmers capable of floating and holding their breath for up to 10 minutes should they stay underwater. Still, most of their water comes from vegetation and insects, so they are unlikely to drink directly from the water dish.
Substrate
Sand is necessary for a citrus bearded dragon, so you also need to get some sand for them. The only issue is that most of the commercial sand sold for reptiles is loose compared to the hardened sand they get in their native habitat. Wild bearded dragons can easily trap and eat insects without ingesting them. The commercial tiny and loose commercial sand gets everywhere and may eventually end up in water and food dishes. The tiny sand can be problematic for your bearded dragon’s health, affecting the intestines and potentially leading to impaction. In fact, many reptiles suffer from this issue.
The best substrate to use in captivity is a reptile carpet that’s made up of fake grass, hardened desert ground, or felt. You can also opt for a 12 x 12” ceramic tile that covers about 30% of the tank to keep your citrus beardies’ claws shorter while offering a comfortable area to cool down.
Supplies, Décor, and Landscaping
As mentioned earlier in this guide, the tank should offer climbing and hiding platforms for your citrus-bearded dragon. This includes throwing in hides, caves, and even logs. On the hotter side, make sure there are rocks, strong branches, and hammocks to relax. As for the rocks and branches you pick in the wild, ensure you soak them in boiling water to eliminate any parasites or bacteria. On the cooler side, include half-logs and even bush-like plants that are pesticide-free.
If you are just starting, make sure to provide them with the most engaging landscape while ensuring the tank remains healthy and appealing. As for the theme, the best citrus bearded dragon habitats are commonly fake cacti, desert-themed, and a sand-like reptile carpet.
Feeding A Citrus Bearded Dragon
Citrus bearded dragons may be the most popular pet reptiles, but they are definitely not the easiest to feed. Young beardies require primarily live insects and a small vegetable matter. With growth, the rations do a swap with adults preferring more vegetation with a few insects.
Bearded Dragon Diet
A correct diet for a bearded dragon should have vegetables, fruits, and protein (insects). Feed 25% insects, 75% greens, and the rest should be fruit. However, for a bearded baby dragon, the protein/green ratio should be 75%/25%. Some of the best protein sources are earthworms, Dubia roaches, crickets, and super worms. Suitable green includes collard greens, dandelion leaves, Mustard GreensBeet, Carrot, and kale. Whatever you decide to feed your pet, the food must mimic what they eat in the wild.
Citrus Bearded Dragon Foods,
The following list of insects, greens, and fruits are some of the foods to include in your beardie’s diet.
- Earthworms, crickets, super worms, and dubia roaches
- Cabbages carrots, kales, sweet potato, collard greens, pepper, dandelion, zucchini, and pumpkin
- Blueberries, apples, strawberries, peaches, grapes, bananas, tomatoes, and watermelon
The greens are preferred for calcium content and are nutrient-dense. A small amount of fruit is beneficial, but you shouldn’t overfeed them due to the high sugar content. Use them as treats. Also, avoid oranges, and other citrus fruits like limes and lemons as these are too acidic for bearded dragons.
Feeding Schedule
For a young bearded dragon, growth occurs quickly. That’s why you need to provide a lot of protein compared to adults. A young citrus bearded dragon should be fed cricket throughout the first two months. As hatchlings, start with two crickets after every 10 minutes because they can eat more often. At about two months of age, they start eating less often and can work with three times a day. also, introduce greens and fruits, making sure to cut them into bite-sized pieces before feeding. The rule of thumb is to ensure these pieces aren’t bigger than the distance between your beardie eyes. Providing large pieces of food can result in gut issues.
See an example of a young bearded dragon feeding schedule:
| Time | Protein | Greens and Vegetables | Fruit |
| Day1 (am) | 10 Dubia roaches | 2 small-sized kale leaves A small-sized pumpkin piece | blueberry |
| Day 1 (noon) | 10 crickets | 2 small collard green pieces A small piece of squash | Peach slice |
| Day 1 (pm) | 10 dubia roaches | 2 small dandelion leaf pieces A slice of bell pepper | Blackberry |
| Day 2 (am) | 10 crickets | 2 small collard green pieces 1 small piece of pumpkin | Peach slice |
| Day 2 (noon) | 10 dubia roaches | 2 small kale pieces A small piece of squash | strawberry |
| Day 2 (pm) | 10 crickets | 2 small dandelion pieces A small slice of bell pepper | Blueberry |
With growth, the diet will change. Beardies reach adulthood at 18 months, after which they become less active and prefer less protein and more greens. You should feed your adult bearded dragon once a day, splitting 75% greens and 25% insects and fruit. Keep in mind that variety is better because it acts as a form of enrichment and can keep them interested.
Here is an adult citrus bearded dragon feeding schedule.
| Protein | Greens and Vegetables | Fruit | |
| Day1 | 5x Dubia roaches, 5x crickets | Kale, sweet potato pieces, collard greens, bell pepper slice | 3 blueberries and a strawberry |
| Day 2 | 3 earthworms, 5 superworms | Collard green, Carrots, squash, Bok Choy | 2 Peach slices |
| Day 3 | 5 dubia roaches, 5 Crickets | Collard greens, kale, bell pepper slices, sweet potato slices | 2 Blackberry, 3 blueberries |
| Day 4 | 3 earworms, 5 superworms | 2 pumpkin pieces, Dandelion greens, 2 small carrots | 2 Peach slices |
Adults are typically good eaters and will normally eat whatever you offer. If they begin to refuse food or start eating too little than normal, it’s perhaps wise to speak to a vet as this could be a sign of illness or injury. If your beardie doesn’t eat the food, you should remove it within an hour, so you don’t feed him spoiled food.
Tips On How to Feed Your Citrus Bearded Dragon
From dealing with live insects to providing a diet full of fresh salad and veggies, ensuring your citrus bearded dragon is properly fed can take lots of effort. Some tips can make this process a lot easier.
Check these tips on how to feed a citrus bearded dragon
Establish A Routine
The first step to feeding your citrus bearded dragon is to have a regular and consistent routine. This will ensure the lizard eats at the right time and will get familiar with the diet. If you leave for work in the morning, you can offer food in the morning and evening at the same time. Soon you realize that your bearded dragon gets used to the routine, and you may even find him awaiting your visit to taste your everyday delicious morsels.
Consider Chilled Insects
Let’s agree, handling live insects like crickets is not easy. Worse yet, if the crickets escape, they might hide in the tightest spaces and lose sleep with their chirping all night. For these reasons, it’s perhaps more convenient to chill them gently before feeding them to your pet. Simply take the cricket tub into the refrigerator for about 15 minutes, and you’ll find them slow and sluggish, making it easier for you to manage and for the beardy to eat.
Grow Your Own
A full-sized bearded dragon can feed on a surprisingly large amount of vegetation and fruit. As a result, you might need to grow your own veg and fruit instead of feeding the wilted lettuce leaves in your refrigerator. Besides, growing your own will keep the costs down significantly while avoiding the likelihood of vitamin deficiencies.
Live Salads
You don’t need a large piece of land to grow food for your beardie. Your backyard is enough. Even apartment dwellers can easily grow some plants in containers. Indeed, choosing a range of salads can actually make your life easier by growing some in your pet’s cage and then removing it to regrow. This way, you are going to have a constant supply of food with less effort.
Commercially Dried Foods
Lastly, you also need a supply of commercially dried foods. The pellets are well-made with a perfect balance of nutrients that a beardie needs, so you will not deal with the mess. Every beardie owner should consider keeping a tub because it’s the easiest way to keep your citrus bearded dragon happy and healthy. Whether you have a supply of insects, fruits, and veggies, commercial diets are a practical idea and could come in handy during emergencies.
What Can’t Citrus Bearded Dragons Eat?
Bearded dragons are not selective, but there are a handful of foods you should avoid, perhaps because they contain toxins or can cause a variety of abnormalities. They include:
- Bread
- Avocado
- Beef
- Eggplant
- Chicken
- Fish
- Fireflies
- Onions/Garlic
- Fish
- Spiders
- Iceberg lettuce
- Celery
A mistake many owners make in captivity is to offer meat to bearded dragons. While meats serve as a great source of protein, they are too high in phosphorus and fat. Avocado, onions, and eggplant should also be avoided as they can be toxic even in small amounts.
Non-nutrient dense food with high water content like celery and iceberg lettuce are also unsuitable for citrus bearded dragons.
Finally, spiders, fireflies, and ticks are dangerous to bearded dragons. Even a small piece of a firefly can make ill and kill a bearded dragon due to the presence of cardiotoxins.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Mice?
Technically yes. However, there’s a lot of debate as to whether you should feed a citrus-bearded dragon mouse. On the one hand, a feeder mouse is proven to have lots of nutrients ideal for bearded dragons. On the other hand, mice have bones that any bearded dragon will find hard to digest. You could blend a portion of mice meat if you are interested in feeding your beardie mice.
However, there are only two good reasons to consider feeding your bearded dragon the mice: either when they are pregnant or after an illness. Pregnancy requires a lot of nutrients and energy from the production of eggs and fertilization to finding a good spot to lay eggs and then the production. They are going to need lots of calcium for the eggshell.
Moreover, a bearded dragon that suffers from a bad disease might be fed mice to recover and become healthy. Mice are high in protein and fat, which is exactly what a bearded dragon needs to get healthy quickly.
What Happens If You Overfeed Mice Too Often?
As you probably know, mice offer a rich source of protein and fat, which is just too much for your bearded dragon. Overfeeding mice can lead to illnesses such as renal gout and fatty liver disease. Bearded dragons living in the tank are prone to liver disease, perhaps because they lack the space to utilize the energy.
Conclusion
Bearded dragons are the perfect starter pet for novice owners, and the species is not only gorgeous to look at but also interactive. General care and maintenance are on the minimal side, making this lizard a great companion to have around. Being omnivorous, they will often feed on insects, and fully grown adults will require more vegetables. Bearded dragons will often live for up to 15 years when kept in favorable conditions and on the right diet, making them wonderful pets.
