Loki The Lizard Of Oz

Our dragon was rescued through Archie’s Angels, based in Green Bay. When our beardie arrived at Archie’s Angels, he had a respiratory infection and Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). He overcame his respiratory infection, though it left him with scar tissue that sometimes causes him to make a raspy croaking sound when he breathes. His MBD, on the other hand, will always be with him. It causes his mouth to hang open sometimes, giving the rather sweet illusion that he is smiling. He loves to eat. He has salad every day, and his favorite proteins are live crickets and roaches. While we don’t know exactly how old he is, a veterinarian estimates he is about 3 or 4 years old. 

The bearded dragon is native to Australia. They live in woodlands, savannahs, and deserts. They are semiarboreal, meaning they spend some of their time in trees and some on the ground. You can find them basking in branches, on stumps, or on rocks. Bearded dragons were first brought to the United States in the 1990s and have since become popular pets.

The bearded dragon’s scientific name is Pogona Vitticeps. They are sometimes called Beardies for short.

Bearded dragons have spikes and scales around their head that look like a beard when puffed out. When they feel threatened or excited, they puff out their “beard,” flatten their belly, and open their mouth to make themselves look bigger.

Bearded dragons make great pets! They are easy-going and relaxed. They are one of the most popular pet lizards in the world. Bearded dragons enjoy being handled and pet. They can walk on a leash and will even let you dress them in clothing. Beardies can recognize their owners and show love. They communicate by bobbing their head, waving, or changing color.

Bearded dragons can live 10-12 years if they are well taken care of.

Bearded dragons are medium-sized lizards that can grow from 12-14 inches long from head to tail. Their tail is approximately half the length of their body.

Baby beardies are very small when freshly hatched—typically only three or four inches and only weigh two grams—as much as five paperclips.

Male bearded dragons have a wider head and darker beard than that of the female. Females have a thinner and longer tail in contrast to males. The most accurate way to determine your bearded dragon’s sex is by looking at its underside to see if you can recognize any gender-specific body parts.

Bearded dragons are omnivores—they eat fruits, vegetables, and insects. They get most of their water from the plants and vegetables they eat, soaking in water, and from misting.

Bearded dragons are diurnal—they are awake during the day and sleep at night.

• Bearded dragons have very good sight from their eyes on the side of their head. They see full color but have bad depth perception. They also have a third “eye” on the top of their head that senses light and shadows.
• The two holes on the side of their head are their ears. They have excellent hearing and can even recognize their owner’s voice.
• Bearded dragons have a Jacobsen’s Organ on the roof of their mouth that allows them to smell through their mouth using their tongue.
• They also have a good sense of touch that allows them to feel vibrations from the ground.

• In the wild, they can run on two legs to escape predators. They can run up to nine miles per hour.
• They are cold-blooded or exothermic which means that they rely on an external heat source to keep their body temperature where it should be.
• They love basking under UV lights or in the sun. Some bearded dragons will spend eight hours a day basking.
• Their legs and tails will not grow back like other types of lizards do.
• Their teeth fall out and grow back.
• They enjoy baths. They can absorb water through a hole called a vent on their underside.
• They can sleep standing up by locking their legs.
• Their spikes are made of skin and are soft and rubbery. They get prickly and stiff if they are stressed.
• Females can lay around 20 eggs in a clutch (collection of eggs). They can lay up to nine clutches a year.
• They can change color to regulate their body temperature and to hide from predators.
• They “wave” by raising their front foot. This “greeting” says “I am here” and “I’m friendly, please don’t hurt me.”
• Their tails curl when they are excited or warm.
• They can secrete venomous toxins through mouth glands. The toxin can kill their prey but is harmless to humans.