When you are considering the type of lizard to get as a pet, make sure you consider the Bearded Dragon! A native of Australia, the Bearded Dragon lizard can be a fantastic pet for a long time. They are easy to care for and have a striking appearance that you’ll enjoy admiring.
When you first get your Bearded Dragon lizard, you are going to want to make sure it has a proper home to live in. Lizards need specific habitats that maintain proper temperature for their cold-blooded bodies, limbs to play with and hide under, and appropriate bedding (substrate) for the habitat that will keep them comfortable and safe. You’re going to want at least a 40 gallon tank, but if you can afford larger your lizard will thank you for it. A 55 gallon or larger tank is most ideal. Once exception to the large tank sizes is that a baby bearded dragon will want a smaller enclosure so they aren’t overwhelmed. It also helps them to more easily catch their crickets at feeding time. The tank should have a lid on it that will secure, protecting your lizard.
For baby Dragon’s using paper (butcher paper, newspaper, paper towels, etc) is the safest way to go. It is safe for the lizard, absorbent, and easy and cheap to replace when it gets messy. Indoor/outdoor carpeting can also be used and be easy to clean if preferred, and will save on paper waste. Baby and juvenile Beardies should always be placed on paper or paper towels. After your Bearded Dragon is 6 weeks old you can switch to sand. Make sure the sand is sanitized and strained. The packaging will tell you if it has been. Some people use a mix of wheat bran and sand. The sand absorbs the lizard’s waste and the wheat bran helps to suppress the smell. The sand and/or sand/wheat bran mix should be changed every month even though you spot clean the solid fecal and the clumped urine.
Once you have the proper habitat and substrate, you’re going to want to do some interior decorating. Bearded Dragons need a basking area that allows them to be closer to the heat source. For this purpose an appropriately sized rock or log works well. Half logs can do double duty both as a hide and as a basking spot. Make sure to keep fresh water available for your pet lizard at all times.
Bearded Dragons require UVA and UVB lighting
Since lizards are ectothermic and have to depend on outside heat sources to regulate their body temperature it is important that the owner keep an eye on it. You want to keep the temperature between 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit on the cool side, and 95-105 degrees Fahrenheit at their basking spot. As you probably don’t want to keep your room this hot, you can use an incandescent light or a ceramic heater. If you live in colder climates, you can use an under-tank heater at night if the room temperature drops too far.
Bearded Dragons like to eat insects and plants, making for a varied diet. Juveniles should be fed more frequently than adults, averaging around twice a day, while adults only need to be fed once a day. Never feed more than they can eat in about ten minutes, and make sure to clean out the cage of any that aren’t eaten. Also, take care not to feed too many “crunchy” bugs as the exoskeletons can lead to impaction. Dust your insects with vitamin D and calcium before feeding your lizard to ensure the most nutritious meal possible.
Bearded Dragons make fantastic pets and, with a little time and experience, they are very easy to care for. Suitable for beginning or advanced lizard owners, Bearded Dragons are a top choice for a long-term pet and friend.
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