The German giant bearded dragon is a rare morph that grows to a much larger size than most bearded dragons. While you’re unlikely to pick up one of these animals on a quick trip to the pet store, the German giant is an excellent morph with personality to spare.
German Giant Bearded Dragon Price
German Giant bearded dragons are rare, and you can expect to pay $300-$500 for a single animal. Many factors affect the price, including the animal’s age, where you buy your German giant, and how many people are breeding German giants. If you buy your baby bearded dragon at the right time, you can pay as little as $150.
Where to Buy German Giant Bearded Dragons
Since German giant bearded dragons are less common than some other morphs, it’s not as easy to find one. Some of the places you can try include:
- Online Marketplaces: Online marketplaces like MorphMarket are one of the easiest ways to track down a German giant bearded dragon. These websites host breeders from around the country, and the reptile gets delivered to your door via courier. Sometimes, this allows you to get in touch with the breeder, who can give you detailed information about the animal’s background. You might also pick up some tips on how to care for your beardies.
- Buying Direct from Breeders: With rare animals like the German giant, buying directly from a breeder is often preferable. Always research the breeder to ensure that they’re trustworthy. It’s best to check a breeder’s reputation by using review sites and asking on forums.
- Reptile Conventions (Repticon) and Expos: Many reptile keepers prefer buying their animals in person at the nearest Repticon or expo.
These conventions feature breeders from across the United States, and the chances of finding a German giant beardie breeder are high. The people in charge of the convention or expo vet each breeder to ensure that they’re providing a quality service.
We DON’T recommend buying German giant bearded dragons from pet stores. You have no guarantee that the animals are labeled correctly, and you can’t ask questions about the beardie’s background.
German Giant Bearded Dragon vs Normal Bearded Dragon
German giant bearded dragons are a morph of the bearded dragon, so they have much in common with the regular bearded dragon. When comparing a German giant bearded dragon to a normal bearded dragon, these factors set them apart: Size – The German giant bearded dragon is much larger than a standard bearded dragon. Normal bearded dragons are much smaller than their Giant relatives.
The German giant bearded dragon is a unique morph. Price-wise, it’s more expensive than most standard morphs and has a price similar to rarer color morphs, but this only applies to rarer colored morphs.
Rarity is another aspect of the German giant. It is much less common than standard bearded dragons and compares well to other rare morphs. As a morph, German giants aren’t available in many colors. Color variations like red or albino aren’t common and usually come from crosses between the giant and colored morphs. The German giant bearded dragon can breed with other morphs to create larger versions of the standard color morphs. Image credit: u/EchoBrain22 (via Reddit.com) In terms of size, the German giant bearded dragon reaches lengths of up to 30 inches. Compared to the standard bearded dragon which only grows to around 24 inches, the German giant is a whopper. German giant bearded dragons grow to lengths of nearly 30 inches, much larger than regular bearded dragons. Thanks to its size, these animals need considerably larger enclosures than their standard counterparts. For enclosure setup, the German giant bearded dragon has all the same needs as an average bearded dragon. But with a 30-inch size to consider, German giants need much larger enclosures than a normal bearded dragon. While a hatchling can be housed in a 10-gallon enclosure, adult German giants need at least a 100-gallon enclosure. If you’re struggling to find an appropriate enclosure, Custom Reptile Habitats is a trusted brand that can build a custom-sized enclosure for you. Regarding substrate, your German giant will happily live on any substrate that works for regular bearded dragons. One main criterion for a bearded dragon substrate is that it shouldn’t cause an impaction when swallowed. Bearded dragons often swallow substrate by accident. You can try sand or newspaper for your German giant. While many keepers don’t suggest using sand as it can cause impactions, it’s a natural substrate for most beardies as they are desert animals. If you use sand, you can keep one-third of the enclosure clear of sand and use it as a feeding area to reduce the chance of impaction. Newspaper and paper pellet products are also a common substrate choice for German giant beardies as the bearded dragon has a low humidity requirement. It’s easy to spot clean this substrate and the dragon is unlikely to eat it.Some keepers like to use ceramic tiles as a substrate for German giants. They provide grip and can be taken out and washed. Unless dropped while cleaning the enclosure, they likely won’t need replacement.
Reptile carpet is one of the most popular substrates for a German giant or another bearded dragon. It’s washable and can be used repeatedly. It’s also affordable as it rarely needs replacement. A reptile carpet may look like fake grass or a simple brown mat. You don’t need to stick to only one substrate. You can mix and match to find a setup that works for your German giant. When heating large lizards like the German giant, there are many heating options. Heating pads or mats are excellent for warming tanks in cold regions and for evening heating. Most of the warmth reptiles get at night comes from the earth soaked in warmth, so it’s a natural option. These heaters can be hooked up to a thermostat to keep them in range. Basking lights are a natural option for heating lizards during the day. They warm the enclosure from above, as lizards would naturally get heat in the daytime. However, they produce heat and light, so they’re not suitable for use at night. The ceramic heat emitter, when used with a full-spectrum lighting system, is one of the best heating systems. It’s an aerial heating device that heats the lizard like the sun in the wild. It produces no light, so it can be used day and night. If hooked up to a timer, it will automatically change to a cooler temperature for evenings. Pro Tip: If using any type of heat lamp or ceramic emitter for heating, ensure the device has a guard to prevent your beardie from accidentally burning themselves on the light. Lighting plays a significant role in bearded dragon care. UVA and UVB lighting are good additions to an enclosure and can help prevent health issues. If using a heat lamp, you can use UV bulbs for heating and lighting. If using ceramic heat emitters or heating pads, extra lighting will be needed. Choose a full-spectrum system or one that focuses on UV rays to ensure your lizard gets everything it needs. UV bulbs need to be replaced every four to six months as they lose efficiency after that time. The UV rays diminish even if the light still works. The bearded dragon is a desert lizard with relatively high temperature requirements and low humidity requirements. Aim to maintain the following temperature zones: Hot spot – 120-130F, Cool end – 70-75F, Ambient temperature – 85F, Night-time temperatures – 60-70F. German giant beardies need a temperature gradient in their enclosures as lizards have no internal control over their body temperatures. This is easily achieved by warming one half of the enclosure and leaving the other at room temperature.Try to maintain a relative humidity of 35-40. In most places, this is simple if you use a large, shallow water bowl and mist the substrate daily. Installing a thermometer hygrometer combo on each side of the enclosure is the best way to monitor temperature and humidity. This allows you to monitor the temperature gradient and ensure humidity levels are in range.
For hides and decor, bearded dragons don’t need much decoration. But they’d appreciate a few things in addition to the substrate. The most important include hides. Every pet lizard needs places in its enclosure where it can feel safe. Your beardie needs at least two hides. Add a hide to each side of the enclosure so the bearded dragon can rest in the hide that best suits its current temperature needs. A humid hide filled with moist substrate is also a great idea. It has higher humidity than the surrounding enclosure and helps when the beardie sheds. A large, shallow water bowl is essential for any beardie enclosure. It helps maintain humidity levels and gives the beardie a place to drink and soak if needed. Food bowls help protect your dragon from impactions by keeping the food from the substrate and prevent insects from escaping into the substrate. Branches or other perches are also good choices. While beardies are mainly terrestrial, they’ll appreciate things they can climb on like driftwood, dry branches, or custom-made reptile furniture. German giant bearded dragons can eat the same foods as other bearded dragons. Baby German giants eat like regular beardies. Adult bearded dragons need a diet of 20% live foods and 80% vegetables. Baby bearded dragons need 80% live foods and 20% veg. Some fruit can be incorporated into their diets. It should make up no more than 5% of a baby bearded dragon diet and 15% of the adult meal plan. Vegetables for German giant bearded dragons include kale, carrots, bell peppers, green beans, mustard greens, broccoli, and cauliflower. Fruit feeding options include apples, papayas, peaches, and strawberries. Your German giant bearded dragon also needs live food like crickets, mealworms (but avoid as staple due to high fat content), earthworms, superworms, Turkistan roaches, and black soldier fly larvae. Waxworms are bad for bearded dragons for a similar reason. New options arrive on the market every couple of years. It’s also important to include a high-quality calcium supplement in their diet. While the German giant bearded dragon isn’t under threat of extinction, it is a rare bearded dragon morph.German giant bearded dragons are a rare and fascinating species of reptile. These creatures grow much faster than the standard bearded dragons.
Image credit: u/ScienceTute (via Reddit.com) Unlike their common counterparts, these German giants are much rarer, making them a prized possession among reptile enthusiasts. Despite their rarity, dedicated breeders ensure their survival and availability. Some breeders specialize in the German giant bearded dragon, ensuring that these unique reptiles won’t disappear completely. These rare animals can make wonderful pets. Despite their large size and relatively short lifespans, they offer a unique experience for those interested in reptile care. There are plenty of other bearded dragon morphs available for those who might not be sure if the German giant is the right choice for them. Exploring other reptile pets can be a great alternative. Would you consider buying a German giant bearded dragon if given the opportunity? Share your thoughts in the comment section. I’m Stacey, the owner of this website and a lifelong reptile lover, caretaker, and educator. Here, you will find comprehensive information on reptile care, from basic maintenance to advanced techniques for combating common reptile diseases and illnesses.
