Native to Australia’s deserts, savannahs, and scrublands, bearded dragons are social, calm, docile, and friendly pets. Many prospective and experienced reptile owners consider them rewarding and wonderful companions.
If you’re here, you probably love bearded dragons, or you’re a future beardie owner. Have you noticed there are different types of bearded dragons with various colors and patterns apart from the typical brown/tan beardie you’re used to seeing everywhere?
No? Then stick around because you’re about to get your mind blown.
With the help of this article, you’ll learn about the eight species of bearded dragons and their color varieties, including red, black, orange, yellow, and blue.
Types of bearded dragons
There are eight species of bearded dragon. Each species varies in habitat, size, range, and appearance.
| Species | Adult size | Color | Location |
| Pogona Vitticeps | 24 inches | Yellow or brown | Central Australia |
| Pogona Barbata | 24 inches | Gray or red | Eastern Australia |
| Pogona Henrylawsoni | 12 inches | Tan or yellow | Central and Western |
| Pogona Microlepidota | 4 to 6 inches | Tan or red | Northern Australia |
| Pogona Minor Minor | 14 to 18 inches | Tan or brown | Western and Central Australia |
| Pogona Minor Minima | 12 inches | Tan or brown | Western Australia |
| Pogona Minor Mitchell | 18 inches | Tan or red | Northwestern Australia |
| Pogona Nullarbor | 14 inches | Tan or brown | Southern Australia |
Pogona vitticeps, or the central bearded dragons, are the most popular species to keep as pets. They are gentle, friendly, docile, and have a long lifespan.
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Different-colored bearded dragons
Even though brown and tan are the most common colors, bearded dragons come in other colors as well. Some are common, while others are rare to find, such as blue and purple.
Some people often confuse color and morph to mean the same thing. But they’re two different things. Morphs are bearded dragons that are bred to look a certain way. Most of the different colors are a result of morph breeding. Along with body type, pattern, and scales, color can be one of the morph’s characteristics.
Now let’s discuss the different colored bearded dragons you’re likely to encounter.
Red bearded dragons
These bearded dragons are visually appealing and highly sought after by collectors. As the name implies, their bodies have red highlights and markings. Finding red beardies in the wild is almost impossible because they are bred in captivity.
They come in multiple shades of red, including blood red, ruby red, and sandfire red. In some cases, you might find them in almost a pink color.
Since they are popular among collectors, they’re costly. Their prices can range anywhere from $200 to $300. The darker the red shade, the higher the price.
Yellow bearded dragons
The shades of yellow bearded dragons can range from soft pastels to bright yellow. Like red bearded dragons, yellow beardies are visually striking as well.
There are four types of yellow variants.
- Citrus
- Green
- Lemon fire
- Sandfire gold
While lemon fire variants are rare, citrus variants are the most common among yellow bearded dragons.
As hatchlings, yellow beardies can appear as olive or green. Some of them retain the green color into adulthood. They are called green bearded dragons.
The cost of yellow beardies can range between $100 and $300. You can purchase them from private breeders.
Orange bearded dragons
Orange dragons are produced by breeding yellow and red bearded dragons. They are quite popular and easy to find.
There are four variations in the orange color.
- Orange
- Tangerine
- Sunburst
- Sandfire orange
The purchase price for orange bearded dragons ranges between $100 and $200.
White bearded dragons
White bearded dragons (zero morphs) are very rare and expensive. Sometimes, they are mistaken for albino beardies.
These zero morphs lack pattern and color. Sometimes the color can change depending on the temperature. They can be white in hotter temperatures and gray in cooler environments.
Zero morphs can sometimes be called snow bearded dragons. Since they are rare, they can be a bit pricey and cost between $300 and $900.
Albino bearded dragons
Albino beardies cannot produce any melanin, a natural skin pigment. They have white scales with red or pink eyes. Albinos are extremely rare; even the most experienced collectors have never seen one.
Unfortunately, albinos have been reported to survive only a few weeks because they have trouble absorbing UVB rays and they can’t process calcium effectively.
Black bearded dragons
Most bearded dragons are black for a reason—they can change their standard color to black.
However, some exceptionally rare bearded dragons are naturally born black or almost black. They are also known as melanistic bearded dragons. They are melanistic because they have a high melanin content in their skin.
Oftentimes, they can lighten to a light gray color as they grow old.
Because they are so rare, it can be difficult to find a breeder. If you do, they can cost between $300 and $500. The darker the beardie, the higher the price tag. Some cost more than $3,000.
Blue bearded dragons
Blue dragons are also very rare. They are produced by breeding two translucent bearded dragons. Unfortunately, some of them do not seem to retain their color into adulthood.
It’s common to see bearded dragons with blue tints on their bellies, but real blue dragons have blue on their entire bodies.
They are highly sought after and can cost between $200 and $1000.
Purple bearded dragons
Purple beardies are in the same category as blue beardies. Similarly, they are produced by interbreeding translucent beardies.
Most purple beardies don’t retain their color as they grow older. But some of them do.
Since they’re rare, they can cost between $200 and $1000.
Tan or brown bearded dragons
These are the most common types of beardies. They are also called regular bearded dragons. Their sandy colors can range from light grey to brown, with some having a hint of yellow or orange.
Since you can find them in almost every pet store, they are quite affordable. Their purchase price can be between $40 and $75.
Translucent bearded dragons
As their name implies, translucent beardies are called translucent because you can see through their skin. These morphs are usually lighter in color.
While they’re babies, you can often see their blue bellies and backs. They have unique eyes- solid dark black eyes, which can change to yellow as they mature. As they grow into adulthood, the blue color can fade away. This is the reason why blue bearded dragons are rare to find.
Leatherback bearded dragons
Although leatherbacks are a bit different from regular beardies, they’re popular among breeders and collectors. The difference lies in scale size and spikes. While other beardies have spikes all over their backs, leatherbacks have smooth backs and they’re soft to the touch. But they still have spikes on their heads and sides.
Their lack of spikes makes their colors appear more vibrant. They are available in many colors, including red, orange, citrus, and more.
Leatherbacks’ prices range from $100 to $500.
Paradox bearded dragons
Paradox beardies are highly sought after and one of the rarest morphs in the bearded dragon world. They are produced by interbreeding different morphs and are usually bred for their distinctive patterns.
These beardies are born with one solid base color, but as they grow older, they begin to form unique markings on their skin without a discernible pattern. Hence the name, paradox.
As adults, paradox beardies look like works of art. They have patches of color that appear randomly on their bodies.
Because they are very rare, they are very expensive. For you to get one, you must be ready to part with several thousand. Sometimes, they are even considered collector’s items.
Can bearded dragons change their color?
Yes, to a certain extent, bearded dragons can change the color of their body parts. This color change can be attributed to the following factors:
- Thermoregulation: Bearded dragons can change color to regulate their body temperature. Darker colors absorb more heat. As a result, beardies can darken their color if they’re trying to warm up.
- Communication: Their beards can turn black if they’re angry, frightened, or territorial.
- Camouflage: Bearded dragons can change color to blend with their environment.
- Illness: When beardies are sick, they may change their colors mostly to darker colors.One common reason is lack of blood circulation in their bodies, which can lower body temperatures.
- Poor husbandry: Lack of proper care for a long time can make a change in color.
- Mating season: Male bearded dragons can be seen with a black beard during the mating period to attract mates.
- Shedding season: Bearded dragons may appear to be darker before shedding.
Wrapping up
Bearded dragons make great pets and are available in different colors and variations since breeders combine different colors to get unique patterns and combinations.
Some color options are common, while others are rare. As they age, some colors can change ( they can fade or become dull), while others become more pronounced.
In addition, some colors are budget-friendly, like the tan/brown beardies. On the other hand, extremely rare colors are super expensive, like the paradox beardie. The rarer the color, the more money you’re likely to spend.
It’s important to know that a bearded dragon can segment a section of its body into a different color, usually a darker color, for many different reasons. Some reasons are natural and healthy (e.g. when threatened), while others need to be addressed immediately.
