The Bearded Dragon Secret Manual covers 37 of the biggest mistakes many new bearded dragon owners may make and how to avoid them. This handy book goes over habitat, diet, health care, and general husbandry issues many owners come across, and awesome tips for overcoming them. If you are new to keeping bearded dragons then this book is a must-have!
A calcium deficiency, or an excess of phosphorus, in their diet, or lack of a UVB source, could lead to metabolic bone disease (also called nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism). An indication of this disease is your dragon is dragging its legs, tail, or body instead of standing up strongly.
Reptiles Magazine is a magazine devoted to everything in the reptile world. You will get great information on how to set up a cool habitat, feeding information, breeding tactics and so much more. If you love reptiles then Reptiles Magazine is a fantastic resource that comes to your mailbox every month!
Perhaps the most popular pet lizard, bearded dragons are originally from the deserts of central Australia. "Bearded" refers to the extendable flap of skin under their chin that turns black when they are stressed, displaying dominance or being territorial. They are usually even-tempered, docile, easy to tame, bond closely with their caretakers and are generally hardy when cared for properly.
Bearded dragons can display a variety of morphs. These morphs are mainly based on body types, but can also be derived from selective breeding.
When you’re looking for a bearded dragon, it’s important to understand the different morphs. A morph is a genetic mutation that results in certain traits. The most common are color variations. You can see a wide range of colors in beardies, including beiges, browns, and muted tans.
There are other morphs that result from genetics, such as visual morphs. These are inherited traits that are passed down from parents. They’re often the most unique beardie varieties. Some of them are translucent, meaning they have a transparent appearance. Others, such as hypomelanistic, lack melanin, which makes their skin lighter.
Bearded dragons like many other reptiles have specific lighting requirements that can be really confusing, especially for new owners that don’t have previous experience.
Because of that reason, having a good understanding when it comes to lighting the space of your bearded dragon is very important.
You should know there are plenty of options when it comes to lighting for bearded dragons and choosing the wrong setup can be harmful to your pet. However, if you carefully read our guide you will get plenty of information about setting up proper lighting for your pet.
Beardies have round pupils, fleshy tongues, and lateral spines that travel down their sides to the base of their tail. Their heads are large and broad and have a triangular shape. They also have “beards” that distend and serve as a defense mechanism when they feel threatened.
I’m generally pretty generous with salads – provide as much as your dragon is capable of cleaning up in a day. For best results, offer food earlier in the day rather than later (before noon), regardless of what is being offered.
A bearded dragon's skin is very rough and may cause scratches if handled improperly. However, once acclimated, this reptile will become more docile and easy to handle. Wearing light gloves or long sleeved clothing when handling the beardie will help prevent minor cuts and scrapes. You should also keep in mind that all reptiles are vulnerable to Salmonella bacteria, which can cause severe illness if not treated.
What sets this site apart from the rest? Well, for one, ReptiFiles offers reptile care information that you can actually trust. And it’s all FREE, because I believe that good information should be accessible to all. The rest is explained here.
We have compiled our very own care sheet to provide helpful information in order to give you the best tools needed to care for your bearded dragon. The information included in our care sheet comes from over 15 years of bearded dragon husbandry experience.
The skin of a bearded dragon is extremely rough and can cause severe scratches if it is not handled properly. Once acclimatized, the reptile will be more friendly and easier to handle. To prevent minor scrapes and cuts, it is a good idea to wear long sleeves or light gloves when handling the beardie. Remember that all reptiles can be infected by Salmonella bacteria. This can lead to severe illness.
I know at Petsmart you can adopt one if it can’t be sold. My husband works there and they can get tail rot from shipping, and even if it’s completely cured and practically no damage was done they can’t sell them, but they do have to be treated and seen/released by a vet before given to the adoptee. Ours had tail rot, and only the very tip of its tail was damaged (so little you can’t even tell).
What Size Can Bearded Dragons Grow? Before you decide to bring a Bearded Dragon home, it's important to determine how large they can get. These reptiles may grow to be quite large or small, depending on the genetics. They should be kept at 55 gallons. A larger tank will allow for more hiding places, and they will be closer to their natural habitat. It is okay to start small. But, once your beardie becomes more mature, you should upgrade to a larger tank.
If the waste looks abnormal or if you see blood, this could be a sign of an endoparasitic infection and you should bring your dragon to the vet. Beardies live for between 7 and 12 years in captivity. They are relatively healthy lizards and most if any health issues arise from improper husbandry.
Bearded Dragons: A Complete Guide To Pogona Vitticeps is another favorite book for many bearded dragon owners, including myself. It is very easy to follow and understand, all while providing solid information for building a good foundation of knowledge. The book lay out is very pleasing to read, and provides full-color images with helpful facts and tips contained in the sidebars.
Bearded Dragons – 12 Fun Facts
Turtles, tortoises, bearded dragons, iguanas, and chameleons are some common examples of reptiles that need UVB light. This helps prevent animals from developing hypocalcemia (or lack of calcium). UVB lights should be kept on during the day and turned off at night and should be used along with calcium supplements.
Since bearded dragons are naturally solitary creatures, they do not get lonely if placed alone in a cage or left for some time away from their keeper. They much prefer having their food and heat to themselves rather than sharing it with another bearded dragon.
Many reptiles do cry, including bearded dragons, but they do this because the flow of tears helps to clean out and protect their eyes, not because they are unhappy.