Bearded Dragon Care

Today while watching television it was nice to see a bearded dragon featuring in an advertisement. This little reptile actually looked cute licking its lips!

Bearded Dragons

Bearded dragons are lizards that are found in arid and rocky regions of Australia. These dragons have flat bodies, large triangular heads and are adept climbers.

Why should I consider getting a bearded dragon as a pet?

These lizards make good pets because they do not get too large and eat a variety of foods. Apart from that they are gentle animals that are active during the day. Bearded dragons also have limited requirements that are readily available.

How do I choose a bearded dragon?

It is advisable to look at the bearded dragon carefully to ensure that it has bright and alert eyes. Also remember to check its length and make sure that it does not have any sores, deformities or burns.

How do I care for my bearded dragon?

Here are things to consider while caring for your bearded dragon:

• Its Housing
  The enclosures for bearded dragons should be large with the minimum size for an adult being a 50-gallon terrarium. When housing a group of adult dragons, ensure that they are housed in large enclosure and it is provided with plenty of logs for basking. You could use glass because this material allows for optimum brightness as well as vision. Take care not to house young females and males together as they might mate and then run into complications concerned with egg binding.
• Its Cage Decor
  You can use wheat bran for bearded dragons that are above 6 months of age. To prevent problems with impaction, use newspaper or paper towels. Of course while using this, replace the old paper every night to remove hidden crickets as they can harm young dragons. You could also opt for basking logs to allow your precious dragon to feel secure and thermoregulate. You can also add just the right amount of color and decoration using fake plants and decorative rocks!
• Its Food
  Since bearded dragons are omnivorous they can be feed proteins as well as vegetation. Remember not to feed your dragon with too large of a prey item. Crickets, mealworms and superworms that are ½ to ¾ the size of the space between your dragon’s eyes should suffice.
  Bearded dragons also require a variety of greens, so you could feed them with collard greens, red leaf lettuce, green leaf lettuce, mustard greens, turnip greens and dandelion greens. Apart from the greens mentioned above you could also feed your dragon carrots, squash, peas, corn and sweet potatoes.
  If you are planning to feed it crickets, remember to check that they are clean. If you have a female bearded dragon, try feeding it pinky rats/mice during the breeding season.
• Its Supplements
  Some of the supplements that a bearded dragon requires are Calcium, D3 and Vitamins. It is important to remember that the supplementation depends on the bulbs you use, the amount of natural light it receives and what you feed it. Keeping all this in mind, it is advisable to meet your vet to find a schedule that suits the needs of your dragon.
• The Heating and Lighting
  While setting the temperature, ensure that the enclosure is provided with a temperature gradient which moves from a hot basking zone to one that is cooler. Keep the basking temperature to over 100 degrees and the cooler zone temperature around 85 degrees. Dragons love bright light, so use active UV/heat or mercury vapour bulbs. Apart from UV light, you can also take your dragon outside in an outdoor basking enclosure as the more natural light they have access to, the less supplements they will require. Do not take your young dragon outside because they might become stressed, it is noteworthy to wait till they are older.
• Its Water Intake
  Provide your bearded dragon water in a shallow bowl that has been disinfected once a week. If your precious dragon does not like drinking from the bowl, allow the water to drip slowly into its snout. You could also try wiggling your finger in the water to catch its attention as this lizard loves things that move.
• Its Bathing Routine
  It is advisable to bathe your bearded dragon once a week as this not only keeps it clean but also helps in keeping them hydrated and helps them in shedding. Ensure that the bath water you use is just warm and only as deep as your dragon’s chest. While bathing your bearded dragon, remember to always be present and never leave it unattended.

How do I disinfect my bearded dragon’s cage, accessories and bathing tub?

To disinfect the following, you could use a ¼ cup of bleach mixed with a gallon of water in an old and clean milk container. After you have mixed the contents, transfer it to a spray bottle and cover the entire surface you plan to clean until it is soaked. Once that is done, let it sit for 15 minutes and then scrub the surface with a rag ensuring that all feces and old food is removed. Once that is done, rinse the surface many times until the smell of bleach is no longer present.

How do I maintain hygiene?

To take care of hygiene, wash your hands before and after you have handled your bearded dragon. Washing your hands before handling it ensures that you do not pass anything on to it, while washing it after that reduces the risk of you contracting salmonella, though the risk of getting it are pretty slim it is better to be safe than sorry!