Bearded Dragon care guide
Enclosure, measured heat, UVB, feeding and honest editorial limits for Pogona vitticeps.
Open the guideCare that begins with the animal
Clear reptile care for your species, setup and local climate.
Find the right species record, build a measurable habitat, and understand how the room around it changes through the year.
Search ReptBase
Observebehavior + body condition
Measureheat + light + humidity
I already own a reptile
Begin with the species, then inspect the setup.
Open the care record for your animal, compare its needs with what you have, and make one measured change at a time.
Find my species- 01Open the field record
Confirm adult space, environment bands, diet pattern and current editorial status.
- 02Map the enclosure
Mark basking, warm, cool, shaded and humid areas before buying more equipment.
- 03Log what happens
Measure conditions and observe appetite, weight, movement, shedding and stools.
Help me choose
Choose for the life you can reliably support.
Eight focused questions turn your available space, time, feeding comfort, handling preference and location into consistent matches. Beginner safeguards keep advanced species out of normal first-reptile results.
Find a realistic matchPopular species
Six very different care commitments.
Flagship sourced guides now cover Bearded Dragon and Leopard Gecko. Other cards remain imported field records with transparent status.
Bearded Dragon
Pogona vitticeps
One of the most popular pet lizards, known for their docile nature and 'beard' of spikes under their chin.
- Adult size
- Up to 60 cm
- Enclosure
- 120 x 60 x 60 cm
- Commitment
- About 10 years
Leopard Gecko
Eublepharis macularius
Small, nocturnal lizards famous for their beautiful spotted patterns and ability to store fat in their tails.
- Adult size
- Up to 25 cm
- Enclosure
- 60 x 40 x 30 cm
- Commitment
- About 15 years
Ball Python
Python regius
Detailed source review pending. This card is an imported dataset record, not an approved care recommendation.
- Adult size
- Up to 150 cm
- Enclosure
- 120 x 60 x 60 cm
- Commitment
- About 30 years
Crested Gecko
Correlophus ciliatus
Detailed source review pending. This card is an imported dataset record, not an approved care recommendation.
- Adult size
- Up to 20 cm
- Enclosure
- 45 x 45 x 60 cm
- Commitment
- About 15 years
Corn Snake
Pantherophis guttatus
Detailed source review pending. This card is an imported dataset record, not an approved care recommendation.
- Adult size
- Up to 150 cm
- Enclosure
- 120 x 45 x 45 cm
- Commitment
- About 20 years
Blue-Tongued Skink
Tiliqua scincooides
Detailed source review pending. This card is an imported dataset record, not an approved care recommendation.
- Adult size
- Up to 60 cm
- Enclosure
- 120 x 60 x 60 cm
- Commitment
- About 20 years
Explore care topics
Understand the relationships inside a habitat.
Good husbandry is not a list of isolated products. Each decision changes the conditions around it.
01 02 03 04
Heat + light
Build a measurable gradient with bright basking, effective UVB where required, and real shade.
Habitat design
Balance usable space, cover, climbing, ventilation, maintenance and species-specific movement.
Food + supplements
Match food form, variety, portion and supplementation to the animal and its verified UVB system.
Health observation
Notice changes early and know when the next step is a reptile-experienced veterinarian.
Care by location, explained
Albuquerque is outdoor context. Your enclosure is the decision point.
The normalized NOAA record describes long-term conditions at Albuquerque International Airport. It cannot tell us the temperature of a particular room, so ReptBase turns the outdoor pattern into questions to measure at home.
- Annual average daily high
- 70.3°F
- Annual average daily low
- 45.5°F
- Annual mean
- 57.9°F
NOAA Climate Normals · 1991-2020 · Station USW00023050
See the Bearded Dragon exampleOutdoor station normals describe long-term conditions at the airport, not temperatures or humidity inside a home or enclosure. Humidity is a supplemental contextual estimate and should not replace an enclosure hygrometer.
Interactive tools
Move from reading to a useful next step.
01
Guided reptile finder
Eight questions, editable answers, repeatable results and beginner safety constraints.
Start the finder 02Local climate guides
Explore seasonal outdoor pressure without confusing climate normals with enclosure readings.
Choose a city 03Comparisons & Methods
See whether a page is a literature summary, editorial comparison, guide or planned work.
Open the deskSetup + equipment
Select equipment by the job it must do.
Start with target conditions and the dimensions of the enclosure. Category-specific records keep food, enclosures, lamps, controls and monitoring devices from inheriting irrelevant fields.
Browse equipment categories- 1Define the species target
- 2Describe room + enclosure
- 3Select compatible control
- 4Measure before adjusting
Completed resources
Start with finished guides and methods.
Leopard Gecko care guide
Terrestrial housing, moist-hide shedding support, low-level UVB evidence and insectivore feeding for Eublepharis macularius.
Open the guideBearded Dragon in Albuquerque
Seasonal setup-pressure estimate with NOAA climate normals, checklist and transparent methodology.
Open the profileLiterature summaries and unfinished comparisons remain under Comparisons & Methods (10 entries listed there).
Latest articles
Practical reading for the next care decision.
Getting started
How to Choose Your First Reptile: A Beginner's Guide
Starting your journey as a reptile keeper is exciting, but choosing the right first species is critical. From bearded dragons to leopard geckos, we break down the best beginner reptiles and what to consider before bringing one home.
Heating & lighting
Understanding Reptile Heating and Lighting Requirements
Proper heating and lighting are the cornerstones of reptile health. Learn about basking spots, UVB requirements, heat sources, photoperiods, and how to create the perfect thermal gradient for your scaly companion.
Habitat design
The Complete Guide to Reptile Enclosure Setup
Setting up a bioactive or naturalistic enclosure is an art and a science. From substrate selection to hardscaping, plants, and water features, this guide walks you through creating a thriving habitat for your reptile.
Your next useful step
Start with the reptile in front of you.
Choose a species record if you already know the animal. Use the guided finder if you are still deciding. ReptBase organizes records and climate context; it cannot know your room conditions or diagnose health changes.