Bearded Dragon Temperature, Heating, And Humidity: Full Guide

Bearded dragons are native to Australia’s warm, dry areas, where they first appeared. When caring for our Dragons, we must make every effort to replicate those dry conditions as closely as possible. 

A bearded dragon is a cold-blooded creature that naturally lives in caves. A cold-blooded mammal cannot control its body temperature. As a result, bearded dragons rely on external heat sources, such as the sun, to assist in maintaining body heat.

Wild-bearded dragons maintain their body temperature by exposing themselves to the sun’s heat and ultraviolet rays. A long day in the sun, rocks, and wood items can also give some radiant heat to keep them warm.

Baby bearded dragon temperature and humidity

Temperatures should be somewhat colder at the other end of the enclosure, ranging between 81 and 91 degrees Fahrenheit on the opposite side.

Humidity for bearded dragons

Bearded Dragon Temperature


Bearded dragons require humidity levels of approximately 30-40 percent to be happy and healthy. Anything greater than 50-60 percent is considered excessive.

What happens if the humidity level is too high for a bearded dragon to thrive in?

Because bearded dragons are desert inhabitants, they are adversely affected by high humidity levels. Respiratory infections, bacterial and fungal development on the skin and substrate, and other issues can occur when elevated humidity levels.

A Quick Word On Bearded Dragon Temperature Gradients

This is critical at every stage of life – from infancy to adulthood.

Bearded dragon temperature (Fahrenheit)

Temperature AreasIdeal Temperature Range
Basking Area96°F – 111°F
Cool-down Area81°F – 91°F

Bearded dragon temperature (Celsius)

Temperature AreasIdeal Temperature Range
Basking Area35.56°C – 43°C
Cool-down Area27.2°C – 37.7°C

Proper Temperatures for Juvenile Bearded Dragon

The temperature requirements of a juvenile bearded dragon are comparable to those of a newborn. The temperature in the basking region can be a little lower, ranging from 96 to 103 degrees Fahrenheit.

When working with juveniles, the colder environment should be between 82 and 92 degrees Fahrenheit.

Temperature AreasIdeal Temperature Range
Basking Area96°F – 103°F
Cool-down Area82°F – 92°F

Proper Temperatures for an Adult Bearded Dragon

In comparison to juveniles and infants, adult bearded dragons can tolerate somewhat colder basking locations. If you have an adult bearded dragon, the temperature in the basking area should be between 91 and 93 degrees Fahrenheit. Maintain a temperature range of 82 to 92 degrees Fahrenheit in the colder portion of the cage, just as you would with infants and juveniles.

Temperature AreasIdeal Temperature Range
Basking Area91°F – 93°F
Cool-down Area82°F – 92°F

Bearded dragon temperature at night

Bearded Dragon Temperature


To keep bearded dragons healthy, let the temperature in their terrarium drop to anywhere between 70 and 75 degrees F at night. 

Once the evening has arrived, turn off the basking light to allow the temperatures to drop and the bearded dragon to slumber comfortably. 

The repetition of this procedure aids in the establishment of essential light cycles for the bearded dragon, such as daylight and nighttime.

If temperatures in the terrarium dip below 70 degrees Fahrenheit at night, augment the heat with heat pads or ceramic heat emitters to keep the terrarium warm.

Cool Spot Temperature (Hide Spot)

Keep a piece of furniture (such as a rock or a box) on the other side of your tank, away from the basking place. Keeping your tank clean is essential. 

This will be the area where your bearded dragon will go to cool off or unwind after a long day of sunbathing. The temperature range for the cool/hide area should be between 70° and 85° degrees Fahrenheit (21° and 29° degrees Celsius).

Monitor The Proper Temperatures for a Bearded Dragon

Bearded dragon temperature control is necessary. Maintain consistent monitoring of the temperatures within the tank to determine the correct temps for the bearded dragon to be kept at.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to maintain the proper temperature?

The basking lamp is the best way to maintain the proper temperature for your Bearded Dragon. The lamp will supply the heat required for your dragon to be healthy, digest food, and perform other functions.

In essence, basking bulbs are halogen lamps, and you can quickly obtain them from hardware stores, pet supply stores, and the Internet. Depending on the size of the dragon’s tank, you should choose a power supply around the 90-watt range.

The tank must include a basking area where your Bearded Dragon may bask at the appropriate temperature according to its age, and you must supply that place. In the same vein, you will need to offer a fantastic area where your dragon may go to cool down if its body temperature rises over its ideal range.

Why is it essential for Bearded Dragons to be kept at the proper temperature?

Maintaining the proper temperature in your Bearded Dragon’s tank is critical to both the happiness and general health of your pet dragon. 

Because bearded dragons are cold-blooded reptiles, they must control their body temperature through the use of external heat sources to carry out daily biological functions such as the digestion of food.

In the wild, a Bearded Dragon would bask on a rock in the heat of the sun to maintain its optimal body temperature (as discussed above), but in captivity, artificial heat in the form of ‘heat lamps,’ also known as ‘basking lamps,’ is required to imitate the effects of the sun on the dragon.

In the absence of sufficient heat regularly, basic body activities like food digestion would become difficult, if not impossible, for a bearded dragon.

This may result in a variety of issues, including rotting food in the gut, which is extremely dangerous for your dragon, and impaction, in which they would essentially get constipated, among others. Because of the lack of nutrients, they will lose their hunger and become unwell due to the lack of food. 

It is challenging for a Bearded Dragon to be healthy if the proper temperatures are not maintained in its tank.

What is the significance of maintaining the proper temperature for baby bearded dragons?

Over the long term, this will have an impact on the development and overall health of your young Bearded Dragon as it begins to mature into an adult. 

Also, try to keep the bearded dragon temperature gauge at its proper functioning all the time. If the temperature gauge is broken or inaccurate, then it’s impossible to provide accurate temperature to your bearded dragon.

The basic line is that you need to constantly maintain the proper temperatures in your dragon’s tank to keep them healthy and happy regardless of their age. 

Bearded dragon basking temp too hot or too cold is not suitable for their proper care and maintenance.

What is the lowest temperature that a bearded dragon can withstand?

Temperatures as low as 63°F are not out of the question for a Bearded Dragon for a short time. Even though this is not beneficial for them in the long run, they can operate their physiological systems to a limited extent at this type of temperature for a short period. 

Your Bearded Dragon will most likely grow drowsy as it conserves energy for essential functions such as eating and breathing.

You will also note that they will not be hungry at their regular meal times. There are two primary causes for this. The first is that the lower temperature in the tank will result in undigested food from their previous meal still being in their stomach, resulting in them not being hungry. The second is that the lower temperature in the tank will result in them not being hungry.

When measuring humidity levels in a bearded dragon tank, what should you look for?

Even better would be to put another one in the middle of the tank as a secondary option.

Try to place hygrometers at the bottom and center of the tank on each side because humidity levels vary depending on the tank height.