Bearded dragons are accustomed to a warm environment in the wild. In captivity, they should enjoy the same temperature. This is a real challenge when the power goes out.
When there is no electricity, there is no means of giving them enough heat. If you are a new bearded dragon owner, this can be stressful. You don’t know what will happen next if the power will be out for hours or worse days.
But the real question is that can reptiles survive in a cold environment? Unfortunately, reptiles like bearded dragons are not built to withstand cold temperatures for too long.
So, how long can bearded dragons go without heat?
Bearded dragons are capable of surviving within 24 hours without heat as long as the temperature is not too cold for them. Below 65 degrees Fahrenheit, it could cause them a problem. The urgent move is necessary to prevent the temperature from dropping rapidly in their enclosure.
As mentioned, beardies are accustomed to a warm environment in the desert. This is also the reason why they need heat in captivity. Their bodies adapted to the high temperatures thus function well in that setting.
Table of Contents
Why Bearded Dragons Need Heat to Survive?
Bearded dragons need heat partly because they come from desert areas. However, the main reason is that bearded dragons are cold-blooded reptiles. This means that their bodies cannot produce heat to regulate their internal temperature in response to the external environment.
Unlike humans, bearded dragons rely solely on the environment to generate heat in their bodies. In the absence of an external heat source, they won’t be able to survive too long.
Heat is very important for beardies not only for their body temperature regulation but also for digestion. In the absence of heat, beardies’ digestive systems won’t be able to digest the food they consumed.
The other potential tendency when the temperature slightly drops for a considerable long time is forced brumation.
Brumation is a type of hibernation that happens in bearded dragons. This is a natural phenomenon in beardies. But this only happens at a certain time of the year.
If brumation happens due to cool temperature, that means it is not normal and a forced one which in turn causes another health problem.
What Is the Perfect Temperature for Bearded Dragons?
Well, if you are caring beardies for a while now, you might already know that there is no single perfect temperature for your reptile. Not one but four sets of temperatures for four different locations in their habitat.
The different temperature requirements on each part of the setup have specific functions. The following should be considered:
Basking Area Temperature
In their enclosure, there is a baking spot. This area is right below the heat lamp. This is the perfect location for beardies to take a rest and absorb the energy they need.
The temperature in this area should be around 100-110 degrees Fahrenheit for baby and juvenile beardies. For adult bearded dragons, the temperature should be around 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
Overall Temperature
The temperature of the whole enclosure should be around 90 degrees Fahrenheit both for young and adult beardies.
Cool Spot Temperature
This area is where the beardies hide. Thus, it is also known as the hiding spot. This is on the opposite side of the enclosure from the heat lamp.
Beardies stay in their cool area to relax and lessen their stress. Therefore, the temperature is a lot cooler compared to other areas in the enclosure. It should be around 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Night Temperature
Because beardies do not need light in the night, the heat lamp should be turned off. This will eventually make the temperature in the enclosure slowly decrease.
However, you need to make sure that the temperature will not drop below 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit. I suggest that you wake up in the middle of the night and check the temperature to make sure that everything is fine.
And one more thing, use a good thermometer to get an accurate temperature measurement. Choose the thermometers that do the job well. There are thermometers especially the inexpensive ones that will only give you a wrong temperature reading.
What to Do When Power Goes Out?
As mentioned at the beginning of this post, power interruption can be a real challenge for bearded dragon owners. Unfortunately, it is inevitable.
If you are new to this, it is a really stressful situation. You’ll be worrying about your reptiles. Anytime the whole enclosure will become colder making it unsuitable for beardies.
So, as an owner, what can you do to save your pets?
Well, the first thing you can do is to calm down. Have a present mind and don’t allow the situation scares you. Just remember that your beardies can survive in 24 hours without heat.
Now, the next thing you can do is to cover the enclosure with a cloth preferably a thick blanket to trap the heat inside. This way the enclosure will remain warm for a long period of time.
Hopefully, the power will come back soon. If not, then you should have a contingency plan. One of the quickest solutions is to place a hot water bottle in the enclosure. It will help warm the place.
There are other alternatives you can try. You can use the fireplace to heat up the enclosure.
The key here is resourcefulness. Think as many ways as you can to give your beardies heat. But be careful and keep them safe.
What is the Lowest Temperature Do Bearded Dragons Survive?
Beardies need heat to survive for a long time. Without heat, they can only last up to 24 hours. If they are exposed to a cold enclosure, they may develop health problems.
But what is the lowest temperature they can survive? Well, the lowest temperature for them is 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Below that will be detrimental to beardies.
If your beardy is exposed in a cold environment, pay attention to his/her behavior afterward. Any changes you notice may be indicative of health issues.
If this happens, do not hesitate to take your lizard to a licensed vet. There is a high chance that something bad is going on.
Can Bearded Dragons Go Without UV Light?
Yes, but not for long. Without UV light, bearded dragons can survive for about 1-2 days. Longer than this time period, beardies will start to become malnourished.
Remember that these reptiles were abundant in direct sunlight in their natural habitat. They get the appropriate amount of light as the main source of Vitamin D necessary for calcium absorption.
There are only two options to get the UV rays. It is either exposing beardies in direct sunlight or in a UB bulb.
During power interruption, the only option left is the direct sunlight. In this case, you can bring your beardies outside. Make sure that it is pure sunlight. UB rays do not penetrate through glass.
You can also use a flashlight that uses a UB bulb. The UB flashlight that I recommend is the Exo Terra Repti-Glo (click here to check this flashlight on Amazon). It can provide high UVB that your beardies need.
Final Thoughts on How Long Can Bearded Dragons Go Without Heat
Bearded dragons are native to desert habitat. Meaning they are accustomed to a warm environment. They get a natural source of heat.
In captivity, they need the same heat. You can provide it with artificial lighting systems. In the absence of heat, beardies can only last for 24 hours.
Fortunately, there are available ways you can do to keep your bearded dragons when a power outage happens. You can use the techniques mentioned above.
I hope that this post will help you in finding ways to save your beardies all the time.
Thank you for reading.
