Sandfire™ Dragon Ranch

'Bearded Dragon' is the common name for lizards of the genus Pogona, in the family Agamidae. The name is derived from the fact that many members of the genus display a beardlike extension of the throat, usually when feeling threatened or during courtship. All bearded dragons are indigenous to Australia, and are further classified by their native habitat.

There are several recognized species of bearded dragon, including Inland Bearded Dragons, Pogona vitticeps; Coastal Bearded Dragons, Pogona barbata; Lawson's Dragon, also known as Rankin Dragons, Pogona henry-lawsonii or sometimes referred to as Pogona brevis; Dwarf Bearded Dragons, Pogona minor; Western Bearded Dragons, Pogona minima; Mitchell's Bearded Dragons, Pogona mitchelli; Banded Bearded Dragons, Pogona nullarbor and Small-scaled or Drydale River Bearded Dragons, Pogona microlepidota. In addition to these species there may be others that have yet to be described. At Sandfire Dragon Ranch we currently work with three species of dragon: vitticeps, henry-lawsonii, and mitchelli.

Due to their docile disposition, hardiness, and moderate size, the inland bearded dragon has become one of the most popular lizards in the pet trade. Dragons are one of the most successfully bred animals in herpetoculture. Hatchling size is approximately 3.75 inches and adults can reach nearly two feet.

By far our most extensive work has occurred with Pogona vitticeps, or Inland Bearded Dragons. Inland Bearded dragons hail from central Australia (Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales). They inhabit a variety of terrain including desert, scrubland and dry temperate forest. Patterns and colors vary significantly both between and within terrains, which has afforded us the opportunity to selectively breed for specific color morphs. By holding back large numbers of animals each year, we have been able to amass a large and varied stock of potential breeders and now breed for various qualities, including color.

Since we first began working with the red or red/gold color morph of P. Vitticeps we have been intrigued by the color variation exhibited by these animals. Some of them, such as the Sandfire™, have been spectacular. Unfortunately, in most instances we have been unable to tell from the appearance of the hatchlings what the ultimate adult coloration will be. Coloration develops as a bearded dragon grows, generally increasing in vibrancy as the animal grows to adulthood. We classify the hatchling bearded dragons into different groups not by the color they exhibit, but by the coloration of their parents. While we try to breed for certain colors or patterns, there is an incredible amount of variation even within a single clutch and we simply can't tell what the ultimate coloration of an individual will be. Many people are looking for very specific colors or patterns, but those traits depend upon many factors in addition to parentage, including but not limited to; mood, temperature, time of day, and most significantly, lighting. Given the multitude of variables contributing to coloration, it is impossible for anyone to promise any certain appearance. That being said, we do carefully mark the parentage of each group of babies and try to pick out the most colorful animals for our customers on a first come, first serve basis.

Rankin's Dragons, also known as Lawson's Dragon, (Pogona henry-lawsonii or Pogona brevis) come from central and western Queensland in northeastern Australia. Rankin's dragons are a smaller variety of dragon than P. vitticeps, achieving a maximum length of 10-12 inches, making them the ideal bearded dragon for those with limited space. We have been breeding Rankin's since 1982, and in 1995, we imported new breeding stock of three different bloodlines from Europe to ensure robust offspring.

Mitchell's Bearded Dragons or Pogona mitchelli, live in north-western Australia in the provinces of Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Within their range, Mitchell's dragons inhabit a great variety of habitats from semi-tropical woodlands to sandy deserts.

*Please note: all dragon hatchlings are raised outdoors in natural sunlight for at least one month prior to sale unless otherwise specified. They are guaranteed to be healthy for one month after purchase and will be replaced during that period if you are not fully satisfied. We are not able to guarantee gender, nor do we guarantee any certain coloration in hatchling bearded dragons.