The German giant bearded dragon is a type of bearded dragon that many lizard owners may have heard of. There will obviously also be quite a few who have not as well.
In this article I will be talking about everything you could possibly want to know about this awesome species. By the end of it you will know exactly what a giant bearded dragon is and everything in between!
German giant bearded dragon.
I think I should start this off by answering the main question. If you would like to know more about this amazing breed keep reading along.
So what is a German giant bearded dragon? The German giant bearded dragon is a morph of a standard bearded dragon. Through generations of selective breeding it has meant that this species is around 50% larger than the average size of a standard bearded dragon.
There has been quite a bit of talk lately of the German giant bearded dragon becoming extinct. However this is not the case, it is just that finding breeders of this unique species is hard as they are far and few between.
It certainly is harder than it used to be to find this rare breaded dragon morph.
What is a bearded dragon morph?
A morph is the term used when talking about lizards that have been bred in certain ways to make different varieties.
Usually it is done to create certain coloured lizards. In the case of the German giant bearded dragon though, it is used to selectively breed two large adults. After a few generations the baby bearded dragons will start to become larger than average.
Much like if two taller than average humans breed their children will more than likely grow up to be taller than average.
German giant bearded dragon vs normal bearded dragon.
I think for you to see the true difference in size between a standard bearded dragon and a German giant bearded dragon I need to show you a photo. Only then will you be able to fully appreciate how big these beasts are in comparison!
So below is a photo showing the difference in size between the two.
This is what a giant bearded dragon looks like next to a standard sized one.
German giant bearded dragon size.
Because a photo does not really give you the actual sizes the table below is packed with minimum and maximum sizes for a German giant bearded dragon and also a standard beardie.
| Standard bearded dragon | German giant bearded dragon | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum length | 16 inches (41cm) | 25 inches (63cm |
| Maximum length | 22 inches (56cm) | 32 inches (81cm) |
German giant bearded dragon health problems.
German giant bearded dragons do not suffer from any extra health conditions over a standard one.
As with all bearded dragons they are prone to getting some of the below health conditions.
- Parasites.
- Nutritional disorders, see this link for more information.
- Kidney disease.
- Respiratory infections.
- Stress and anxiety.
- Shedding issues which can lead to eye bulging.
What do German giant bearded dragons eat?
When it comes to feeding a giant bearded dragon you can treat it exactly the same as a normal bearded dragon. The only difference being the portion sizes!
Remember they can be around 50% larger than standard so they are going to require more food to sustain a happy and healthy life.
I wrote a full and ultimate guide to feeding bearded dragons so if you would like to have a read check out this article.
Do German bearded dragons bite?
The simple answer to this is yes, they can and will bite. Also because they are bigger than normal they have more power in their jaws.
There are many ways that you can stop this unwanted behaviour and I actually wrote a really useful guide to this. If you would like to read the guide to biting bearded dragons check out this link.
Fortunately it is quite a rare occurrence and with a good handling strategy, biting incidents can be pretty much stopped.
Where can you buy a German giant bearded dragon?
Now this is the hard part! There are not many breeders left of the German giant bearded dragon and those that do often keep them to themselves and their friends.
With that being said there is still a chance that you may find the odd one if you look around the right places. Below are some of the places where you may find a German giant bearded dragon for sale.
- Lizard breeding Facebook groups.
- Online reptile forums.
- Pet exhibitions and meet ups.
- Local classified adverts.
- Contacts through your local pet centres.
Personally I think it is a case of being persistent and checking through all of the above channels. Eventually you should find a giant bearded for sale but it will not be easy.
Conclusion.
German giant bearded dragons are real and they do exist. They came about through selective breeding which in the lizard world is known as a morph.
If you would like one of these elusive creatures you will need to search hard but if you are persistent you should eventually find one.
Once you have found one for sale it is just a case of treating it like a standard bearded dragon. With obviously extra large food portions!
Related questions.
Are German giant bearded dragons extinct? There has been a rumour circulating that German giant bearded dragons are actually now extinct. Well this just is not true and is founded by the people who have searched unsuccessfully for one for sale. They are not extinct It is just very hard to find genuine ones that are for sale.
