Bearded Dragon Size

[saden99]

Alright, I don't know why, but I'm a little worried about Rupert's size. He seems smaller than most bearded dragons, but then again I have no clue if it is indeed smaller than average. He is a male (I've checked several times to be sure) and at the moment he measures roughly 18" from snout to the tip of his tail.

The issue is that he doesn't seem to have a "full" beard so-to-speak. I've seen Beardies around the same age that just look much bigger.

He hasn't had health issues. He still chases down crickets like nobodies business and loves to interact with me and take baths. I feed him about 50 large crickets dusted with vitamins or calcium (I've got a calendar with days switched up). He also eats silkworms every now and then and mustard greens [he likes them dry...]. I'm even starting to grow my own mustard greens which should be ready in about 3 weeks for harvesting, but to be honest he seems to enjoy crickets just fine. I've tried other feeders and he eats one and just ignores others.

 

[AHBD]

Hi there ! Rupert is a fine looking boy, nothing visibly wrong at all, and his appetite sounds fine. How old is he ? They can continue to grow up to 2 years old, but very little growth rally occurs past the year + half mark. This may be his full size, but please keep in mind that beardies come in different sizes just like people do. For instance, is a 6 foot 7" 350 lb. man healthier than a 5,7", 150 lb. man ? The bigger guy might be a better football player, but in the long run be less healthy and may not live longer than the smaller man. An 18" beardie with decent weight is just as healthy [ and maybe moreso ] than a 22" beardie. And a fatter dragon is not a healthier dragon either, so Rupert's size looks great. You don't want a fat dragon, those are the ones that end up with joint/mobility problems and other health problems, just like humans. As for a full beard,if he has not been displaying it, then you wouldn't be able to gauge it's size, and even in the head structure [ including the beard ] the size can vary. Oh, and it's great that he likes mustard greens, have you tried collard , turnip, dandelion, cilantro or clover ? A variety would be great for him. So don't worry, he looks very healthy !

 

[Esther19]

How deep is Rupert's tank from front to back?