For most pet owners, we have a vague idea of how long our pets will live, we know that dogs tend to live into their late teens, and cats are not much different, although they may often live into their early 20s.
We know mice, rats and other rodents will often live a few years, and we know hamsters are terrible at living, often being able to live a few years but being prone to catastrophe’s of their own design.
When it comes to lizards, the answer to the question, ‘ how long do they live?’ is not quite as simple, or as widely known. So, owning a lizard of any type will have you asking this question without a doubt.
As much as it is a fascinating question, and you will want answers for your own peace of mind, it is also important to know, because if you own a bearded dragon, then you will need to know what the future holds.
Today we will take a deep delve into the lives of these fascinating and beautiful lizards. We will over the life expectancy of both wild and captive dragons to see what the defining factors of a long life are.
So, how long can you generally expect a bearded dragon to live for? Well, with good care and a happy home, dragons can actually live 8-12 years in captivity. In the wild it is much different with a general expectancy of 3-8 years old.
Of course, factors such as the threat of predators, and a limited food availability can shorten a bearded dragons’ lifespan.
And so, with this in mind, let’s get to it and learn about what you should expect with your bearded dragon.
Captive Bearded Dragon Lifespans
When living in captivity, bearded dragons will typically live long and prosperous lives in comparison to their wild cousins.
This is simply due to the fact that captive bearded dragons are generally subject to better living conditions than bearded dragons in the wild.
Consider the difference between humans now and humans in the past, living as we do now, we have access to healthcare, we have no predators, and we have a sustainable food source.
The same goes for bearded dragons, in captivity they have medical care available with veterinarians if they get sick, they have a reliable source of food (us) and they have no predators because they are kept safe in their own private home.
Even though bearded dragons live longer in captivity, their average age seems to still be under debate by experts. Some veterinary experts such as the RSPCA suggest that captive beardies will live between 12 and 15 years of age.
Other authorities on the matter such as Pet-MD say that they can live up to 10 years. However, the most accurate is probably VCA- Hospitals, who state 7 to 12 years of age as being the best provided they are properly cared for in their captivity.
These averages tell us that bearded dragons can give short lives or longer lives by some margin, and this probably depends on the factors present in the dragons’ life, most namely, the level of care that they receive from their humans.
With all this taken into consideration, we can say that the average lifespan of your bearded dragon is probably between 8 and 12 years.
| Level of care received | Bearded Dragon Life Expectancy |
| Neglectful. | Less than 5 years. |
| Poor level of care. | 5 to 8 years |
| Average level of care. | 8 to 12 years |
| High-quality attentive care. | 12 to 15 years. |
Wild Bearded Dragon Lifespans
A vast majority of animals who live in the wild will have shorter life expectancies than their captive counterparts.
There are numerous reasons for this, which we will delve into in more detail shortly. However, bearded dragons in the wild can be expected to live between 3 and 8 years of age.
So, why this difference, and why is it so significant? Hmm, let’s find out!
Why Wild Bearded Dragons Do Not Live As Long
There are a few factors that can influence why a bearded dragon will live longer in captivity than in the wild. This is a trait in many animals, care comes into it, sustainable food source, and lack of predators.
In the wild, they won’t get healthcare if they fall sick, and when it comes to food there is a bit of a challenge for many animals there, especially with wild habitats shrinking and there being more competition between species for food.
That is an issue worldwide in hundreds, maybe thousands of animals around the globe.
So, what are the factors that are the most defining here?
1. Diet!
Bearded dragons in the wild do not consume the same level of nutrients on a consistent basis as a much loved and cared for beardie does in captivity. In the wild they must hunt and capture their own food, this alone is an issue.
There are problems with availability and a constant supply, in many places beardies are not only competing with other members of their species for food, but with other species as well.
Especially as wild territories shrink, there is more competition between animals in small areas for these little guys. The struggle is real.
There are also issues in finding greens that are rich enough in calcium to sustain their high calcium dietary needs. Their diets are easier to fulfil in captive environments, than in the wild.
Where in the wild, they are viewed as opportunistic hunters who are forced to hunt their prey seasonally.
In captivity, these dragons get fed constant diets that contain high quality greens and insects with additional calcium supplements all year round. They give a good life.
In the wild, obtaining a diet as good as this is incredibly hard, and so wild dragons just do not get all they need in comparison.
2. PREDATORS!
Another clear reason that these little lizards do not live as long in the wild is down to their predators. In captivity, they do not have this problem, but in the wild they are under a non-stop constant threat of predators.
Here are some of the predators that they have to be on constant look out for;
- Birds.
- Black Headed Pythons
- Cats.
- Dingoes.
- Foxes.
- Goannas.
With so many potential predators, their lives could easily end very quickly, cut short super fast if they fell prey to one of these predators.
It is just the way of nature, and if a beardie does fall prey to one of these animals, these predators are likely prey for another animal and so on.
The circle of life. In captivity there are no predators however, and this can vastly increase the life expectancy of a bearded dragon, in comparison to their wild cousins.
3. Basking!
If you own a bearded dragon, then you will surely know the importance of good lighting and consistent access to basking areas. You will understand what an important factor this is in the health and well-being of your dragons.
This is just as important for their wild cousins, however it is more difficult to access as the wild is not monitored by a big lightbulb, and weather conditions can be sporadic and unpredictable, despite how consistent Australia (native beardie country) is.
While UVB from the sun is much higher quality than UVB from a bulb in a tank, there are factors in the wild that can stop a beardie from being able to bask as much as they would otherwise like.
They need to spend most of their time hunting, or hiding from predators, this alone makes it hard to have a decent amount of basking time.
This lack of UVB basking time can impact their health. Captive beardies do not have this worry, they get table service by us each day and can then bask as much as they like. What a relaxed life!
4. Sickness and injuries!
Another, possibly more obvious, reason that bearded dragons do not live quite as long in the wild as they do in captivity is due to the simple fact that they don’t receive medical care.
If a wild beardie gets injured then they can’t hunt, and they could become an easy target for a predator, they could starve, or easily get infections.
All it takes is one broken bone, and they can’t hunt for weeks, if they can’t hunt they may starve, and if they can’t move then they are an easy meal for a predator.
Not only this, but illnesses that can be easily fixed in captivity can get out of control super easy in the wild.
In captivity, a bearded dragon will be taken straight to a vet if they are either injured or unwell, and most of the time it is easy to nurse them back to full health.
Having this option available can add on many more years to your bearded dragons’ life span when we put them into comparison with their wild cousins, who just do not have the health support that captivity offers.
The Oldest Dragon Ever!
There are plenty of stories of bearded dragons who have lived extraordinary lives, however, in a modern age where so many stories are fabricated for attention it can be hard to know which stories are legitimate, and which are fabrications for media popularity.
But there is certainly one story that is legitimate, and also pretty awesome too.
There is one dragon who made it to the ‘Guinness World Records’ with a claim of being the oldest bearded dragon to ever be recorded.
This bearded dragon was named Sebastian, owned by Lee’ Anne Burgess, in Middlesex, UK. Sebastian lives to be an astounding 18 years and 237 days old! Quite the feat there, Sebastian.
Sebastian lived from 1st June 1997 to see in the 21st century and then passed on January 24th 2016. Sebastian lived through the millennium, and into the age of technology, living quite the fantastic life.
The life of this beardie is proof of just how these guys can live in captivity if given plenty of great care with good genetics.
Captive Beardies Vs Other Lizards
Now, we have a vague idea of how long we can expect a bearded dragon to live. We can anticipate somewhere between 8 and 12 years in captivity depending on the quality of life among some other factors.
Now, we want to know if bearded dragons have a long life expectancy in comparison to other captive lizards.
Taking together all the anticipated life expectancies by experts, we will say that 10 years is the average age you can expect a bearded dragon to live to in this example.
We know that a majority of animals will live much longer in captivity than in the wild, as the human intervention that takes them away from predators and provides regular food and healthcare will generally increase their life expectancy.
There is one unusual exception, though, green iguanas. These interesting lizards have a life expectancy in the wild of 20 years, which is double their life expectancy in captivity simply due to one fact, they are really hard to look after.
| Lizard Species. | Average LifeSpan in captivity. |
| Bearded Dragon. | 10 years old. |
| Gidgee Skink | 15 years old. |
| Green Basilisk | 10 years old. |
| Green Iguana. | 10 years old. |
| Leopard Gecko. | 15 years old. |
| Veiled Chameleon. | 7 years old. |
A Recipe For A Long And Happy Life
Any pet owner wants the absolute best for their pet, and as a responsible and caring owner, you will always do everything you possibly can to make their life happy and healthy, ensuring all you do will grant them the best and longest life possible.
The real big question is, even if you do manage to do everything within your control to help them live a long and happy life, why is it that there is still a possibility that they may pass away early?
Sadly, much like any animal, including humans, there is still a chance that your bearded dragon may pass away before their time due to unprecedented circumstances.
Genetics have a big role in this. If you have a beardie whose genetics are poor, then even the absolute highest quality of care won’t save them from their genes.
If your bearded dragon also becomes seriously ill, this is another factor that can decrease their life expectancy too, no matter how much care you put into them.
These are factors that are out of your control, as sad as it is, sometimes there is nothing more we can do. All we can do is concentrate on giving them the absolute best level of care that we possibly can, and loving them with all our hearts.
If you do that, then no matter how bad their genetics are, or if they get sick, they can give the happiest and healthiest life possible for them.
What might affect the lifespan of my Bearded Dragon?
We know you want to know how you can best provide for your beardie.
Not all the things you can do are as black and white obvious as you may think upon buying one, so we have all the care tips that will help you provide the overall best life you possibly can for your bearded dragon.
It is important that you know what factors may affect their lifespan, either in positive ways, or in negative ways.
First up…
Diet
Every bearded dragon requires a diet that is made up of insect protein and high levels of calcium from a mixture of greens and calcium supplements.
The more that you provide your bearded dragon with a balanced diet that is tailored to their nutritional needs, the healthier and long a life they will live.
If you have baby bearded dragons, then you need to provide them with a diet that is 70% insect protein and 30% plant based. While adult bearded dragons, you reverse this to 30% insect protein and 70% plant based.
Baby and juvenile bearded dragons require more protein in their diets instead of more greens, as they need this to support the extreme speed at which they are growing at this early period of their lives.
Much like with humans, variety is the key to giving a well-balanced and rounded diet to your bearded dragon. Although calcium must always remain to be a priority, bearded dragons need this for muscle function, bone growth, and maintenance.
So, as well as providing them with high-quality and calcium-rich greens and veggies, you should also add in calcium supplements to your bearded dragon’s diet.
Tank size
You should also consider the size of your bearded dragon and the respective size of their tank. The size of their tank can affect their quality of life, and therefore, in turn, potentially the length of their life too.
Bearded dragons should really be placed in a tank that is as large as you can provide once they have reached adulthood.
55 gallons should be the minimum size for a bearded dragon’s tank. A good size is between 75 and 120 gallons, especially for an adult. Remember that as a bearded dragon grows up, they will need a bigger and bigger tank.
Keeping them in a large tank will reap many benefits. Giving your bearded dragon plenty of space to roam around, more mental stimulation, the ability to grow larger, and therefore making them happier.
With more space, you can also provide more enrichment that will keep them entertained, preventing boredom and stress, and mimicking their natural habitat better too.
You should be mindful not to just go out and buy a big tank from the off, as tempting as it may be, baby and juvenile dragons should not be housed in large tanks, they should be in smaller tanks until they reach adulthood.
- Baby bearded dragons should have a tank size between 20 gallons to 40 gallons.
- Juvenile bearded dragons should have a tank size between 50 gallons and 75 gallons.
- Adult bearded dragons should tank a tank size between 75 gallons and 120 gallons.
Tank Conditions
It goes without saying that the conditions inside the tank are also important and will impact how long your bearded dragon will live. It is much like how our health and lives will suffer if our living conditions are not good.
But, for bearded dragons, a poor tank condition can be anything, ranging from the wrong substrate, to poor UVB lighting, incorrect basking temperatures, and even a lack of adequate hides.
Your bearded dragon will be spending a majority of their lives in their tank, and so all of these factors must be on point in order for them to live the healthiest and longest life possible.
You should definitely do plenty of research before you set up your bearded dragon’s tank, so that you can ensure that it will be a healthy environment for them, that will have them feeling completely at home.
Breeding
We do not mean breeding in general, we actually mean over breeding. The number of times a female breeds in her lifetime will have an impact on how long she lives, as breeding can put an obscene amount of strain on her body.
This is due to the constant laying of eggs and the stress involved in the whole process too. Nutritionally breeding can put a lot of strain on a female as well, and it can leave her depleted of her vital nutrients such as calcium.
The more that she has to breed in her life, the more she can be long term impacted by this, and thus her life can be shortened by it.
So, if you are considering breeding your female, be cautious about how often you do this, and how much help you can give her. She will need all the help she can get. And do not breed her too much, or you could be dramatically impacting her life span.
Gender
Bearded dragons are the odd ones out in the animal kingdom. In most species of animal, females will live longer than males, e.g. humans. However, with bearded dragons, males tend to live longer than females.
Even if you do not breed your female dragon they will still develop and lay eggs, this is still very draining on them nutritionally and physically.
Over the course of their lives this is likely to have an impact on them, and they will live slightly shorter lives than the average male.
Such a burden to be a female dragon.
Genes
Genetics are totally out of your hands, and while it will impact how long your bearded dragon will live, there is nothing you can do to alter the impact it will have.
Just like humans, and any other animal out there, genetics are passed from parent to child. Although sometimes these genetics will be subtle and have little impact on how long they live, this can still be a factor.
In humans, genetics can bring about susceptibility to certain conditions, i.e. if your father and his father were both diabetic, you most likely will be too, etc. This is similar for every animal.
It is virtually impossible to guess how long a bearded dragon will live, if their parents both lived long and happy lives then yours probably will too, as long as you care for it well.
Owner care
The absolute biggest factor here is you. As the owner of a bearded dragon, you are in control of everything, you’re their food source, their protector, and their home. It is your responsibility to provide them with all the love and care they need to live a long and happy life.
A majority of owners are fantastic and deserve a big pat on the back and slice of cake for caring for these reptiles and helping them to live long and happy lives. Sometimes it is the small things we do on a consistent basis that make the biggest difference. A butterfly may flap their wings and the world may change, sometimes, it is just the little things that make the biggest difference.
Healthcare
The one thing that wild dragons absolutely do not have is access to healthcare. Care via a vet is a huge benefit that can help to lengthen your beardies’ life.
Having a good vet is recommended, and it can save their lives and improve their quality of life. They should have regular check-ups and visit whenever something seems amiss to ensure that your dragon lives as long and as well as possible.
How To Age A Bearded Dragon
Aging a bearded dragon is no easy feat, you need papers and confirmation from the breeder. However, if you haven’t got this or if you have bred them yourself, then you can guess their age by measurement.
This will only give you a rough estimate, as you must remember that all the factors previously mentioned can also affect the size of your dragon too.
| Age of Dragon | Length nose to tail. |
| <1 month baby | 3- 4” |
| 2 month baby | 5- 9” |
| 3 month baby | 8- 11” |
| 4 month baby | 9- 12” |
| 5 month baby | 11- 16” |
| 6 month juvenile | 11- 18” |
| 8 month juvenile | 12- 30” |
| 12 month adult | 16- 22” |
| >24 month adult | 18- 24” |
You can also check this by checking their sexual maturity, which happens around 8-12 months old. Measuring is the more accurate way of aging your dragon, but you will only get a rough estimate from this.