If you’re lucky enough to own a Bearded Dragon, you’ll want to know how they see and what they can see on a day-to-day basis.
However, with so little information available in books and online, it can be difficult to fully understand how your Bearded Dragon’s eyesight works.
This guide will take an in-depth look at exactly how they see, the importance of their vision, and the various ways you can help to improve their eyesight as an owner.
How Do Bearded Dragons See?
Firstly, it’s important to establish how Bearded Dragons see. They have two eyes located at the sides of their head, giving them a really wide range of vision.
When the eyes are located at the front of the skill, as is the case with humans, vision is mainly focused straight ahead. Yes, we also have some peripheral vision around the shoulder area, but more often than not, we’ll need to move our neck or change our body position to get a better all-round view.
This, however, isn’t the case for Bearded Dragons. With their eyes positioned at the sides of the skull, they have the ability to look forward and over their shoulder almost simultaneously.
Third Eye
Perhaps the most fascinating piece of information about Bearded Dragons is the fact that they have a third eye that many people (including a surprising amount of owners) don’t know about.
This eye, also known as the ‘parietal eye’, is barely visible and comes in the form of a grey spot at the top of their skull. It also has a thin, transparent layer of skin that covers it.
The eye has a lens and a retina, but no iris, so the Dragon can’t see colors and images out of this eye unlike their other two eyes.
Despite this, the parietal eye is still extremely useful. It’s main function is to see shadows and changes to light from above, which helps to provide them with vital information about changes in their surroundings.
To use an example, imagine you’re sunbathing and the sun moves behind a cloud. You’ll notice, even with your eyes closed, that everything suddenly gets a little bit darker.
This is essentially what the parietal eye of a Bearded Dragon does. Albeit, a lot more efficiently.
Although it’s always recommended to be gentle and considerate when handling a Bearded Dragon, it’s okay to touch and pet the top of their head.
As mentioned earlier, their third eye is covered by a transparent layer of skin so it’s sufficiently protected.
Why Is Their Sight So Important?
For Bearded Dragons, their sight is hugely important to almost all facets of their life.
Without the excellent vision provided by all three of their eyes, they’d undoubtedly struggle to survive in the wild.
We’ll now take a detailed look at four of the main reasons why it’s so important for Bearded Dragons to see well.
1). Staying Clear Of Predators
Bearded Dragons can use their wide range of vision to closely monitor what’s in front of them, as well as what’s behind them, without having to noticeably move their neck.
As is the case with any animal, without the adequate tools to combat predators, they’ll struggle to survive for long.
While this obviously isn’t as important in captivity as it is in the wild, the ability to successfully evade predators is still an essential skill.
Something which significantly helps evading predators is the Dragon’s secret weapon – their parietal eye. This eye can be used to sense when predators are near-by or over the top of them, by picking up on any subtle changes to the light.
This is particularly useful if a bird of prey is flying overhead while they’re basking. The third eye can quickly sense that something is above them, giving the Dragon enough time to take the appropriate action.
2). Catching Their Prey
Bearded Dragons in the wild rely on their excellent, all-round vision to spot any insects that are scurrying around.
The placement of their eyes makes this significantly easier, allowing them to spot any potential prey from a number of different angles without even having to move.
Dragons in captivity also use their eyesight to catch prey. Most are homed in tanks with plenty of rocks and plants which insects love to try and hide under. A wide range of vision helps to catch these insects a lot easier.
3). Judging The Time Of Day
The parietal eye can also be used to judge the time of day. This is especially important when it begins to get dark.
This eye will pick up on the change of light as the sun begins to set, which is essential for Bearded Dragons in their understanding of the day-night cycle, considering that they aren’t nocturnal.
Therefore, it’s equally important if you’re keeping a Dragon in captivity, to provide them with a regular routine of bedtimes where you turn the light off at the same time every night.
This is why it’s strongly recommended that you should never keep any of the lights on in your Bearded Dragon’s tank at night. Doing so will confuse your Dragon into thinking it’s the middle of the day as their third eye will notice the light.
4). Finding The Way Home
Bearded Dragons and lizards are territorial and often like to occupy a certain area as their own. If they decide to leave this territory for whatever reason, they’ll usually be able to find their way back without any problem.
In a study on lizards with parietal eyes, it was investigated whether the parietal eye is used for this navigation or whether other senses are responsible.
The experiment released a number of lizards over 200 metres from home, splitting them into two groups: one where they covered the parietal eye of the lizards, and the other with the parietal eye uncovered.
The results found that the group of lizards with their parietal eye uncovered found their way back home without issue, while the group with the covered eye were disorientated, and took over two days longer to find their way back.
Therefore, it’s pretty safe to assume that lizards with a parietal eye, including Bearded Dragons, use it to help with their navigation and orientation.
How Far Can A Bearded Dragon See?
While it’s difficult to find an exact statistic for just how far a Bearded Dragon can see, it’s believed that their range of sight is extensive in order to hunt insects and evade predators.
Some owners have even reported their Bearded Dragon spotting aeroplanes up in the sky.
What we can be sure of however, is that they can easily see from one end of a room to the other. So, if you placed a worm or insect down for your Dragon at one end of your living room, they’d easily recognize it and chase after it from the other end.
Despite their vision, Bearded Dragons are known for having poor perception when it comes to judging surrounding objects and distances.
For example, when climbing up a tree they can often misjudge the distance of a branch that they’re trying to move towards.
How To Help Your Bearded Dragon’s Eyesight
As an owner of a Bearded Dragon, you’ll have a big part to play in helping keep their eyes healthy and in good working condition. Below are a couple of easy ways you can assist them.
1). Balanced Diet
Your Bearded Dragon will need a balanced diet of protein from insects and vitamin from vegetation in order for their body to remain healthy, including the eyes.
The amount of insects and vegetation you ideally need to feed them will vary depending on the age of your Dragon.
In addition to vegetation and insects, you’ll also need to provide them the correct calcium, vitamin D3, and vitamin supplements.
2). Suitable Lighting
This is vital for the health of Bearded Dragons because if they don’t have the correct basking temperatures, they’ll struggle to digest their food properly.
As a result, this can prevent them from using any of the important nutrients that they’ve consumed through their food or supplementation.
Ultraviolet-B (UVB) lighting is equally essential, as this facilitates the absorption of vitamin D3.
Without suitable lighting and a well-balanced diet, your Bearded Dragon will be susceptible to health problems and their eyes will likely suffer as a result.
Why Are UVB Bulbs So Important?
As mentioned above, UVB rays are vital for your Bearded Dragon. These rays serve to replicate the rays from the sun.
They’re the main source of lighting that your Dragon needs, and without them, they’ll likely suffer from a range of health issues.
UVB rays mainly feed Bearded Dragons with vitamin D3 which helps them to absorb calcium. Without the required amount of vitamin D3 to absorb this calcium health problems such as metabolic bone disease become an unfortunate reality.
Making sure you have a good quality UVB setup as soon as you get your Bearded Dragon is the best way to ensure they remain healthy.
Where Should UVB Lighting Be Placed?
UVB bulbs for Bearded Dragons are long and fluorescent, and cover the majority of the tank to ensure they get plenty of exposure to the rays.
The UVB light should be positioned in the same corner of the tank as the basking bulb. This leaves space for a cool spot on the opposite side of the tank.
This cooler area is essential for the health and wellbeing of your Dragon, giving them the opportunity to cool down and regulate their body temperature if they start to get too hot at any point during the day.
Another advantage of positioning the UVB lighting in the same corner as the basking bulb is the fact that Bearded Dragons will spend most of their time under the basking lamp. This means that they’ll also be getting a good amount of exposure from the UVB bulb at the same time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Bearded Dragons See Any Color?
Yes they can. In fact, the spectrum of color that a Bearded Dragon can see is even better than that of a human. The main reason for this is that humans use three cones to detect light. These are located at the back of our eye.
On the other hand, Bearded Dragons and most other lizards use four cones, allowing them to see a significant amount more color than we can.
In addition to millions of extra colors, this cone also enables Bearded Dragons to see UV light.
Can Bearded Dragons See In The Dark?
Their ability to see in the dark is very limited. This is mainly because they’re ‘diurnal’, meaning they’re active throughout the day and asleep at night. So, essentially, there isn’t really any need for them to see in the dark as they’ll be sleeping.
Despite this, their parietal eye can still function in the dark. It’s just that the changes in light are much more subtle.
What Colors Are Bearded Dragons Attracted To?
Bearded Dragons react to different colors based on a number of factors. These include environmental, biological and hormonal influences.
In general, the colors they display are usually the same or similar colors that they’re also attracted to. So, when they see colors that correspond to their own genetics, the way in which they behave is somewhat pre-programmed.
Researchers have also found an interesting correlation between the colors that a Bearded Dragon will typically display and the colors in their natural habitat. For example, Mildura lizards are able to use the color of their skin and scale to blend in with the yellow sands that are common in the region.
Are Bearded Dragons Easy To Take Care Of?
For people who like reptiles and want a pet to hold and take out of its cage, Bearded Dragons are a great choice. They’re even-tempered, and can recognize and respond to their owners’ voice and touch.
So long as you support their wide, flat bodies from underneath, they’re generally easy to handle. Children can also safely handle them if supervised by an adult.
Just keep in mind that anyone who handles a Dragon must wash their hands afterwards. This is because all reptiles carry salmonella bacteria.
How Often Do UVB Bulbs Need To Be Replaced?
With a T8 light you should aim to replace it every six months, whereas if you have a T5 light, this extends to every 6-12 months.
The problem with UVB lights, and the reason that replacing them is often overlooked, is the fact that they still switch on even when the UVB rays are no longer present.
So, many people think that because the light is on, it must be providing their Dragon with the correct light. However, in reality, it isn’t doing anything. To avoid this problem, replace your UVB lights in line with the recommended guidelines noted above.
Do Bearded Dragons Use Any Other Senses?
One of their best methods of keeping safe is the use of their tongue. Bearded Dragons will lick just about anything to help them understand more about their surroundings.
Listed below are a few examples of situations where they use this licking behavior:
- To test the temperature of objects both inside and outside.
- To check the scent of their owners.
- To realise their position in a particular social hierarchy or group.
Final Thoughts
To conclude, the eyesite of the Bearded Dragon is a fascinating concept. Not only do Dragons have three eyes, their range of vision is also much wider and better than humans.
It can provide them with a number of important functions to improve their chances of survival in the wild, as well as their quality of life when kept in captivity or as a pet.
Just make sure that as an owner, you play your part in helping your Bearded Dragon’s eyes stay as healthy as possible.