Kayda our Bearded Dragon
| Scientific Name | Pogonoa vitticeps |
| Colourings | Orange and beige – Kayda is a tangerine or Citrus morph |
| Date of Birth (Approx.) | 2015 |
| Gender | Female |
| Country of Origin | Central and Eastern Australia View on Google Earth |
| Habitat | In the wild, Bearded Dragons can be found in forest, savanna, shrubland and desert areas |
| Average Life Span | Approximately 10-15 years |
| Alternative Name | Inland bearded dragon, central bearded dragon, or yellow-headed bearded dragon |
| Interesting Facts | The name bearded dragon is related to their spiky, expandable throat, that, at times, can look very much like a beard, particularly when it is darkened or black (see later in behavior). |
Information & Care
Understanding Kayda
Kayda came to live with us in 2019, as an unwanted pet. Like most Bearded Dragons, Kayda, is placid and gentle and appears to enjoy company and time out of her vivarium. She is fine being handled, but due to her age, does need careful handling, and often prefers to have all four feet on the ground.
Bearded Dragons are primarily terrestrial (ground dwellers), but are skilled climbers and burrowers. They are diurnal (active during the day) and like to bask in the sun, which we try to replicate (see later UV requirements).
Kayda, like other adult bearded dragons, can be notoriously lazy. But, Kayda is now a little old lady, and every year, when she wakes from her winter brumation, she appears increasingly less mobile. We take this into account in the care she receives, and in the provision of low level basking areas and enrichment.
Kayda very rarely (seen twice) displays a ‘black beard’, so signs of this should be judged as a sign of pain or discomfort and checked out.
When not brumating, Kayda should be seen emerging from her overnight hide mid-morning to bask under the hot / basking lamp area. She usually heads to an overnight hide by around 4:30pm, or for a break from the light at mid-day.
It is relatively normal for Kayda to poop just once a week (depending on the season, and the volume of food eaten during the week). If she does not toilet within 7-10 days, she may need a warm bath to help her prevent impaction.
Kayda came to live with us in 2019, as an unwanted pet. Like most Bearded Dragons, Kayda, is placid and gentle and appears to enjoy company and time out of her vivarium. She is fine being handled, but due to her age, does need careful handling, and often prefers to have all four feet on the ground.
Bearded Dragons are primarily terrestrial (ground dwellers), but are skilled climbers and burrowers. They are diurnal (active during the day) and like to bask in the sun, which we try to replicate (see later UV requirements).
Kayda, like other adult bearded dragons, can be notoriously lazy. But, Kayda is now a little old lady, and every year, when she wakes from her winter brumation, she appears increasingly less mobile. We take this into account in the care she receives, and in the provision of low level basking areas and enrichment.
Kayda very rarely (seen twice) displays a ‘black beard’, so signs of this should be judged as a sign of pain or discomfort and checked out.
When not brumating, Kayda should be seen emerging from her overnight hide mid-morning to bask under the hot / basking lamp area. She usually heads to an overnight hide by around 4:30pm, or for a break from the light at mid-day.
It is relatively normal for Kayda to poop just once a week (depending on the season, and the volume of food eaten during the week). If she does not toilet within 7-10 days, she may need a warm bath to help her prevent impaction.
Not all captive Bearded Dragons enter a stage of brumation, but Kayda has always brumated from around the middle to end of November, often until the end of January or middle of February.
Caring for her during this time is generally as ‘hands-off’ as possible. Signs of her going down into brumation, including slowing down, refusing to eat, not coming out to bask and starting to hide away under her favourite bendy bridge hide.
Roughly seven days after she has stopped eating, her basking lamps and UV/LED are to be turned off. The UV and LED can be gradually reduced down from the 12 hour days, until they are switched off totally. This helps to replicate the naturally cooler temperatures and reduced daylight hours that a Bearded Dragon would experience in the wild.
Room temperature is more than adequate for Kayda during brumation and the temperature can be as low as low as 60f (15.5), which is highly unlikely in our exotic room.
Fresh water should still be available, and should Kayda wake, food can be offered. If taken, the basking lamps / heat should be switched back on for the day to aid digestion. It is preferable for no food to be offered / taken.
If Kayda is not eating over her brumating period, she will also not be defecating, and this is not a cause for concern.
Bearded Dragons are solitary species; therefore Kayda is housed on her own.
Bearded Dragons are omnivores and in the wild would eat vegetation and bugs, such as cockroaches, grasshoppers and crickets. However, Pet Bearded Dragons can become very fussy and may adopt eating habits established in early life.
Unfortunately, Kayda had been fed a ‘bug only diet’ and has remained resistant to eating her veggies since we adopted her. We try to get fresh vegetables in her diet by ‘gut loading’ the bugs prior to these being fed to Kayda, and through offering a range of foods, particularly wild foraged foods, such as dandelion.
Kayda has a walk in water bowl, which should be refreshed daily with one drop of reptisafe added. However, it is rare to see her drink or bathe.
Kayda should be offered gut loaded bugs (approximately 4-5 bugs) on 3-4 days per week.
Vivarium
Kayda lives in a 150 x 60 x 60cm wooden vivarium with glass sliding doors.
Heat & Lighting
Luminez Linked UVB Lighting (14% UVB) for Fergusson Zone 3/4 (an open sun basker) with a solar meter reading of 2.9-7.4 on a 12 hour day / night cycle in winter and a 14 hour light cycle in summer. Kayda has a linked Luminez LED Jungle Dawn Bar. Both her LED and UVB lighting are controlled via a bluetooth App, and are programmed to come on at 08:00am and switch off at 20:00.
Heating
Kayda, like all reptiles, needs a temperature gradient in her vivarium for health. Kayda, has a basking heat bulb (Deep heat projector) on a a dimming thermostat with a temperature range of
– Basking spot surface temperature — 108-113°F (42-45°C), NOT above 50°C
– Cool side surface temperature — 77-85°F (25-29°C)
– Air temperature gradient — 72-99°F (22-37°C)
– Nighttime — 55-75°F (12-24°C)
– Brumation temperature can be as low as 60°F (15.5°C), no basking lamps, UV or LED should be used.
Kayda has a thermometer in the warm and cool end of the vivarium to check ambient temperatures and a laser thermometer to monitor the basking spot and surface temperatures.
Bearded dragons need a dry dry environment to stay healthy. Ideal daytime humidity will be between 30%- 40%, which is similar to the room humidity.
Substrate
Kayda has a desert sand type substrate, called Beardie Life mixed with sterilised play sand. This needs to be around 3 inches in depth to allow for burrowing, but the substrate should always be dry.
Kayda lives in a 150 x 60 x 60cm wooden vivarium with glass sliding doors.
Heat & Lighting
Luminez Linked UVB Lighting (14% UVB) for Fergusson Zone 3/4 (an open sun basker) with a solar meter reading of 2.9-7.4 on a 12 hour day / night cycle in winter and a 14 hour light cycle in summer. Kayda has a linked Luminez LED Jungle Dawn Bar. Both her LED and UVB lighting are controlled via a bluetooth App, and are programmed to come on at 08:00am and switch off at 20:00.
Heating
Kayda, like all reptiles, needs a temperature gradient in her vivarium for health. Kayda, has a basking heat bulb (Deep heat projector) on a a dimming thermostat with a temperature range of
– Basking spot surface temperature — 108-113°F (42-45°C), NOT above 50°C
– Cool side surface temperature — 77-85°F (25-29°C)
– Air temperature gradient — 72-99°F (22-37°C)
– Nighttime — 55-75°F (12-24°C)
– Brumation temperature can be as low as 60°F (15.5°C), no basking lamps, UV or LED should be used.
Kayda has a thermometer in the warm and cool end of the vivarium to check ambient temperatures and a laser thermometer to monitor the basking spot and surface temperatures.
Bearded dragons need a dry dry environment to stay healthy. Ideal daytime humidity will be between 30%- 40%, which is similar to the room humidity.
Substrate
Kayda has a desert sand type substrate, called Beardie Life mixed with sterilised play sand. This needs to be around 3 inches in depth to allow for burrowing, but the substrate should always be dry.
Kayda has several platforms, roots and hides to both hide under and to bask on. She particularly likes her slate rock under her basking area as this generates heat for her from above and below.
At night time, she likes to hide under her bendy bridge hide. Because of her reduced mobility, we need to monitor her regularly to make sure she has not fallen over as she struggles to right herself. She also now has hides that are lower to the ground for safety. Kayda has reptile safe succulents and plants in her enclosure for aesthetics but will rarely eat these.
At night time, she likes to hide under her bendy bridge hide. Because of her reduced mobility, we need to monitor her regularly to make sure she has not fallen over as she struggles to right herself. She also now has hides that are lower to the ground for safety. Kayda has reptile safe succulents and plants in her enclosure for aesthetics but will rarely eat these.
(When not Brumating)
– Check doors are closed / secure
– Check Kayda has not rolled over / got stuck, or fallen
– Check UV lights is on (UVI reading is ideal at 2.9-7.4)
– Check basking spot temperature is 108-113°F (42-45°C), NOT above 50°C
– Check Cool side surface temperature is 77-85°F (25-29°C)
– Check ambient temperature range is 72-99°F (22-37°C)
– Water change (use reptisafe)
– Check doors are closed / secure
– Check Kayda has not rolled over / got stuck, or fallen
– Check UV lights is on (UVI reading is ideal at 2.9-7.4)
– Check basking spot temperature is 108-113°F (42-45°C), NOT above 50°C
– Check Cool side surface temperature is 77-85°F (25-29°C)
– Check ambient temperature range is 72-99°F (22-37°C)
– Water change (use reptisafe)
Daily
Spot clean, when faeces are seen.
Weekly full clean
This includes checking all through the enclosure and removing any faeces
– The water bowl should be thoroughly washed and disinfected using F10, vivarium clean
– Glass doors should be cleaned inside and our (inside with white wine vinegar)
– Substrate should be swept away from her feeding slate and where needed agitated / topped up.
Quarterly – Deep clean
– Removing all of the old substrate and disposing
– Fully clean the bottom, and sides of the vivarium, and disinfect
– Remove all hides and enrichment and where appropriate (not for wood), disinfect using F10. Refill substrate, ensuring adequate depth (around 3 inches).
Spot clean, when faeces are seen.
Weekly full clean
This includes checking all through the enclosure and removing any faeces
– The water bowl should be thoroughly washed and disinfected using F10, vivarium clean
– Glass doors should be cleaned inside and our (inside with white wine vinegar)
– Substrate should be swept away from her feeding slate and where needed agitated / topped up.
Quarterly – Deep clean
– Removing all of the old substrate and disposing
– Fully clean the bottom, and sides of the vivarium, and disinfect
– Remove all hides and enrichment and where appropriate (not for wood), disinfect using F10. Refill substrate, ensuring adequate depth (around 3 inches).
Did you know?
Bearded dragons are known to “wave” with their front legs, a quirky behavior that looks like they’re saying hello. It’s actually a sign of submission or a way to acknowledge others, often seen when they’re trying to avoid conflict with a bigger dragon or just vibing in their tank!
Health Check & Emergencies
Like all our animals, Kayda should be regularly checked to make sure she is in good condition and healthy. The following form should be completed at least once a month. You will be prompted to complete an animal medical record should any answer cause concern.
This is a table showing the Yes/No answers of previous submissions. If the full data submission is required, this must be done from the website backend.
Kayda will need a vet if she has any (non-minor) scale damage that poses a risk of infection, or has any lumps (possible impaction), behavioural changes or any burns. Should her mobility deteriorate and impact her daily life, she should also be seen by a vet.
On health checking, if there are any areas of cause for concern, then make an appointment at Chine House Vets.
● Kayda’s behaviour changes suddenly.
● Kayda is eating or drinking less, or is losing weight
● There is discharge from her nose or mouth, or she can not keep food down
● She has trouble shedding, or there are bits of old skin remaining after the rest of the skin has shed.
● She appears impacted and is not defecating (first try a warm bath), or the faeces are runny or have red / blood in them. NB, Kayda normally (in non-brumation periods) only defecates once or twice a week. This often has a solid urate plug, which is white, and this should not be of concern.
On health checking, if there are any areas of cause for concern, then make an appointment at Chine House Vets.
● Kayda’s behaviour changes suddenly.
● Kayda is eating or drinking less, or is losing weight
● There is discharge from her nose or mouth, or she can not keep food down
● She has trouble shedding, or there are bits of old skin remaining after the rest of the skin has shed.
● She appears impacted and is not defecating (first try a warm bath), or the faeces are runny or have red / blood in them. NB, Kayda normally (in non-brumation periods) only defecates once or twice a week. This often has a solid urate plug, which is white, and this should not be of concern.
Supplies & Reference
Here are the regular supplies list for our reptiles. Links are provided to 3rd party websites and are subject to change.
| Item | Where to buy |
|---|---|
| Heating & Lighting | |
| UVB Luminez T5 UVBulb (14%) (measure for accuracy before ordering) | Monkfield Reptile |
| Basking Heat Bulb | Monkfield Reptile |
| Substrate | |
| Desert Substrate | Monkfield Reptile |
| Food & Water | |
| Reptisafe water dechlorinator | Monkfield Reptile |
| Dubia Roaches | In House (bred at AiM) |
| Grass Hoppers | Pets at Home |
| Crickets | Pets at Home |
| Meal & Morio Worms | In House (bread at Aim) |
| Item | Reference Link |
|---|---|
| How to use the LumenIZE App | YouTube (Arcadia) |