The temperature inside a bearded dragon’s cage should be maintained between 80-90 degrees Fahrenheit (27-32 degrees Celsius) during the day and no lower than 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) at night. It’s also important to provide a basking spot with a temperature range of 95-105 degrees Fahrenheit (35-40 degrees Celsius) for the dragon to regulate its body temperature. A temperature gradient is necessary for a healthy bearded dragon, allowing it to choose the temperature that suits its needs.
What You'll Learn
What Are the Benefits of Proper Temperatures?
Proper temperatures are essential for the wellbeing of a bearded dragon. The temperature of the environment in which they live must be carefully managed, as fluctuations in temperature can cause distress and even lead to death. There are several benefits of maintaining proper temperatures in a bearded dragons cage.
Temperature Regulation
The most important benefit of proper temperatures in a bearded dragons cage is temperature regulation.
A bearded dragon’s body temperature needs to remain within certain ranges in order for it to remain healthy and active. If the temperature is too high or too low, the bearded dragon can become stressed, lethargic, and even comatose. B
y ensuring that the temperature is kept within the correct range, you can reduce the risk of health issues for your pet.
Stress Reduction
When their environment is too hot or too cold, it can be stressful for a bearded dragon and can lead to them becoming anxious and unresponsive. By maintaining the correct temperatures, you can help keep your pet relaxed and contented.
Habitat Quality
A properly heated environment will allow your pet to explore their habitat more comfortably and with increased confidence, leading to better overall health and wellbeing. This will also encourage natural behaviors such as basking and burrowing which will further improve your pet’s quality of life.
Improved Appetite and Digestion
Bearded dragons need warm temperatures to properly digest their food. When the temperature is just right, they can digest their food properly and get the necessary nutrients from it.
If the temperature is too low, they won’t be able to digest their food properly and may become malnourished or sick.
Keeping the temperature of their cage at optimal levels will help them maintain a healthy appetite and digestion.
Better Mental and Physical Health
Maintaining proper temperatures in a bearded dragon’s cage helps keep it physically healthy.
The correct temperature helps the dragon regulate its metabolism, which in turn helps it grow and stay healthy. In addition, maintaining the right temperature can also help keep the dragon mentally healthy by helping it stay alert and active.
More Natural Behavior’s
Bearded dragons kept in cages with proper temperatures will exhibit more natural behavior’s than those kept in cages with inadequate temperatures.
When the temperature is just right, they will be more active, explore their environment more, and interact with their owners more often.
Keeping optimal temperatures in their cage will help ensure that they’re getting all of the stimulation they need to thrive emotionally and physically.
Strong Immunity
The right temperatures help to strengthen a bearded dragon’s immune system by allowing them to fight off illnesses and diseases more efficiently.
An environment that is too hot or too cold can lead to a weakened immune system and an increased susceptibility to illness and disease.
What Are The Risks of Improper Temperature?
When keeping a bearded dragon, it’s essential to maintain the correct temperature in their habitat. If the temperature is too low, it can lead to health problems and even death. There are several risks associated with maintaining improper temperature in a bearded dragon’s tank.
Hypothermia
If a bearded dragons environment is too cold, the can suffer from hypothermia. Symptoms of hypothermia include lethargy, weakness, lowered immune system, and respiratory problems. If your pet’s temperature falls below 70 degrees Fahrenheit, they are at risk.
Dehydration
In addition to regulating their body temperature, proper temperatures help bearded dragons stay hydrated.
When the environment is too hot or too cold, they may have trouble drinking enough water or maintaining adequate hydration levels. This can lead to dehydration which can cause severe health complications including organ failure and even death.
Stress
An improper temperature can also cause stress in your pet. High levels of stress can weaken the immune system and lead to other health complications such as respiratory infections and digestive problems.
Do You Need to Provide a Temperature Gradient?
A temperature gradient is essential for a bearded dragon’s tank. It allows them to regulate their body temperature and forage for food in different temperatures. Setting up a temperature gradient in a bearded dragon’s tank can be done with the help of some reptile-safe materials and a few basic principles.
Here are three tips on how to set up a temperature gradient in a bearded dragon’s tank:
Use a Thermometer or Heat Lamp to Monitor Temperatures
A good way to ensure your bearded dragon’s tank has an appropriate temperature gradient is to monitor it with a thermometer or heat lamp. This will allow you to easily adjust the temperatures if needed.
Create Different Zones with Cooler and Warmer Areas
Beardies like to have different areas of their tanks that offer different temperatures, so be sure to create both cooler and warmer zones in the tank. This will give your pet the ability to move between different temperatures as needed.
Provide Appropriate Lighting
Proper lighting is also important for creating an appropriate temperature gradient in your bearded dragon’s tank. UVB lighting helps regulate your pet’s body temperature, so make sure there is enough light for them to bask in when needed.
Should Temperature Be Different at Night?
The temperature in a bearded dragon’s tank should be slightly lower at night. Not only will this give your pet the most comfortable sleeping conditions, but there are also some specific benefits to maintaining a cooler temperature in your dragon’s cage at night.
Stress Reduction
A cooler temperature at night helps to reduce stress for your bearded dragon. A consistent environment helps to promote healthy behavior and improves the overall wellbeing of your pet.
Improved Digestion
A cooler temperature can also help improve digestion in your bearded dragon. This is because when the temperature drops, it triggers their digestive system which helps them process their food more efficiently.
Better Sleep
Finally, a cooler temperature can help improve sleep for your bearded dragon. When temperatures drop, it signals to their body that it is time to rest which allows them to get better quality sleep each night. This is essential for their overall health and wellbeing.
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What You’ve Learned
- Bearded dragons’ cage should maintain temperatures between 80-90°F (27-32°C) during the day and no lower than 70°F (21°C) at night, and a basking spot between 95-105°F (35-40°C).
- Proper temperature is vital for the wellbeing of bearded dragons; it helps them regulate their body temperature, reduce stress, improve their habitat quality, digestion, and physical and mental health.
- Improper temperature can cause health problems and death; hypothermia, dehydration, and stress are risks associated with it.
- Temperature gradient is necessary for a bearded dragon’s tank; it allows them to regulate their body temperature and forage for food in different temperatures.
- Providing a thermometer or heat lamp, creating different zones with cooler and warmer areas, and providing appropriate lighting are ways to set up a temperature gradient in a bearded dragon’s tank. At night, the temperature should be slightly lower for comfortable sleeping conditions.
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Hi! My name is Bryan, I am the “one behind the words” here are BeardieAnswers.com. I believe that providing quality care and nutrition is the best way to ensure the health of your pet. Every beardie is special and deserves the best care and attention. If you have questions about your bearded dragon, please don’t hesitate to ask! View My Full Author Page
