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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.
These resources for bearded dragon owners are loaded with the best information available on raising a bearded dragon, and we highly recommend you add them to your resources as well.
Gotcha. What would you say is the proper day/night cycle in terms of how long lights be on for and at what times? I would not recommend giving your dragon a day/night cycle that differ from local rhythms so significantly. You should be fine to just offer salad first thing in the morning before you go to work. Bugs can also be offered in a dish first thing in the morning, or via a slow feeder like the Exo Terra “Termite Mound” cricket feeder. However, if you have to offer the bugs after you get home from work, that’s pretty late, but not the end of the world.
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.
If you have a larger beardie, you may also want to add a space heater or a room thermostat. Make sure to have a fire alarm as well. A thermometer is also necessary for monitoring the temperature. You can purchase one for a few dollars at an online store.
Are heated rocks good for bearded dragons? Is there any brand or feature which in particular is good? This would be for a full grown lizard. Heated rocks can burn the belly of the bearded dragon because they will not move off it even if it hurts, according to my vet. If you must have a heated rock, be sure to only have it on for just a few minutes everyday at a low temperature.
Live food for Bearded Dragons includes mealworms and crickets. Depending on their age, a grown bearded dragon should eat about twenty insects a day. Mealworms are not a good choice for juvenile bearded dragons, as the chitin in them can stunt their growth. A better choice is superworms.
Bearded Dragons (Complete Pet owner's Guide) offers step-by-step guidance on proper care of bearded drakes. The guide also contains helpful sidebars and includes beautiful, full-color photos. This guide is a definitive guide that will assist the novice bearded Dragon owner in becoming an expert.
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.
During cooler seasons, it's normal for bearded dragons to slow down, sleep more and eat less. It's a bit like hibernation, but for lizards, it's called brumation. They shouldn't lose weight or stop eating entirely, so keep a close eye on them and get in touch with your vet if they're losing weight.
Vegetables should not be mixed with meat or bones. The leafy green watercress, for example, is rich in calcium and other vitamins. It also has a small amount iron and manganese. It contains antioxidants to prevent inflammation. It should be kept in check because it contains oxalates, which can affect absorption. It should be avoided if the bearded dragon has a calcium deficiency.
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.