A bearded dragon regardless of their age will be able to survive for 24 hours without heat. However, the temperature must not go below 65° degrees Fahrenheit (18° C). Bearded dragons are native to the desert environment and they need warmth to survive, but how long can a bearded dragon go without heat?
While they need a warm temperature to survive, they can also handle colder temperatures, but not for too long. In this article, I will go more in-depth about the temperature that your bearded dragon needs and what to do when it gets too cold.
Why Do Bearded Dragons Need Heat?
Your bearded dragon’s native habitat is hot and dry. This means their bodies have adapted to function in hot temperatures.
Since bearded dragons are cold-blooded creatures, they are not able to regulate their body temperature on their own. Instead, they need the warmth from the sun to keep their body temperature at the optimal range.
If the bearded dragons go without heat for more than 24 hours, they will start to develop health issues.
Besides using heat to regulate their body temperature, heat is also needed for digestion.
What Temperature Should I Keep My Bearded Dragon Enclosure?
When keeping bearded dragons as a pet, one of the things is maintaining the right temperature for them. Too high or too low of the temperature can cause them health issues.
Basking Temperature
The basking temperature is the temperature that’s directly beneath the basking light or heat lamp.
The lamp is where the reptile basks to absorb the heat. Without the heat, the bearded dragon can become sick.
The temperature will differ depending on the age of the beardie.
For baby bearded dragons, the basking temperature should be between 100° – 110° degrees Fahrenheit (38° – 43° C).
For adult bearded dragons, the temperature should be around 105° degrees Fahrenheit (40° C).
Ambient Temperature
The temperature in their enclosure should be higher. Remember, bearded dragons come from a desert environment where it’s hot most of the year.
When they are kept in captivity, the temperature should be similar to their environment in the wild.
The recommended temperature should be around 90° degrees Fahrenheit (32° C). This applies to bearded dragons of all ages.
Since the temperature will fluctuate a lot especially during the day, it’s a good idea to put a thermometer away from the basking light. This will give you the correct temperature.
Hide Spot Temperature
When your bearded dragon gets too hot, they will retrieve to their hide spot. This will give them shelter from the hot basking light.
In addition, this is the place they will go when they are stressed or when they feel threatened.
The hide spot should be 70° – 85° degrees Fahrenheit (21° – 29° C).
Night Temperature
At night, the temperature will drop lower than during the day. You should always try to replicate the temperature in their natural environment.
This means turning off the heat lamp. Bearded dragons are able to adjust to colder temperatures.
However, if it’s during the winter, you may want to use low heat ceramic heat. A temperature that is too cold can cause health issues for your bearded dragons.
At night, the temperature should be 65° – 70° degrees Fahrenheit (18° – 21° C).
What To Do In Case Of A Power Outage/Bulb Shortage
Sometimes, the heat bulb may go out or you have a power outage. The first thing to do is don’t panic! Bearded dragons are able to handle a small difference in temperature change for a while.
If it’s the summer and it’s during the day, you can take your bearded dragon and place them outside. This is natural for them and they will bask in the sun for hours. Be sure to provide them some shade when they get hot.
During the night, you can place a thick blanket over their enclosure to retain the heat.
When it’s the winter month, it can be more challenging. During the day, you can move the enclosure next to the window and place a thick blanket over their cage.
At night, you can use a heated blanket or heat mat that’s battery-powered. Also, place a thick blanket around and on top of the enclosure to hold the heat in. Be sure to leave a small opening so they can get oxygen into the enclosure.
What Is The Lowest Temperature A Bearded Dragon Can Survive?
If you live in a cold climate, you may wonder what temperature is the lowest that the bearded dragon can handle. The lowest temperature for a bearded dragon is 65° degrees Fahrenheit (18° C). Anything colder than this will cause them health issues.
Also, if the temperature stays in that range for a long time, your bearded dragon may adapt by going into brumation.
If your bearded dragon has been exposed to a low temperature for longer than 24 hours, you may want to take them to the vet to see if they have any health complications.
Also, be sure to pay attention to their behavior. If they stop eating, staying in one location for a long time, or not defecating, you should seek medical attention for them immediately.
Bearded dragons are desert creatures and they have adapted to it. When they are exposed to low temperatures, it can cause health issues for them.
How Long Can A Bearded Dragon Go Without UV Light?
A bearded dragon can go without UV light for about 1-2 days. After that, they will start to get malnourished for vitamin D, which is crucial for absorbing calcium.
Bearded dragons are from the desert environment where it’s hot and dry. The desert also gets a lot of sunshine and so the beardie needs a lot of UV rays.
UV rays can only be from the sun or UV bulb. This is important to know when getting a heating lamp. Some of them come with UV light, while others don’t.
If your heating lamp doesn’t come with UV light, you’ll need to get another lamp setup that has UV light.
Bearded dragons should get about 10-14 hours of UV light every day.
Conclusion
Bearded dragons can go without heat for a while. If it’s been more than 24 hours, they will start to develop health issues. For that reason, it’s important that your beardie should be provided plenty of heat every day. This can be from the heat lamp or from the sun.