Overview
Habitat
Making A Home
Care
Habitat
Use a well– ventilated, 40 gl or larger glass terrarium with a screened top.
Since your bearded dragon is from a desert climate, you will need to provide a heat source and monitor the humidity.
Day time temperature: 75-85 degrees F. Use a daytime UVA/UVB fluorescent bulb for approx. 12 hours of light per day.
Basking temperature: 100-110 degrees F by using a basking spot lamp
Night time temperature: 65-75 degrees F. You can use a ceramic heat emitter if necessary)
Humidity should be kept between 20-30%. Use a hygrometer to monitor.
Making A Home
Create a natural looking habitat for your bearded dragon by using 2-3″ of calcium sand (adult) or a reptile carpet as a bedding (juvenile/ adult).
Provide a little climbing exercise with wood branches and/ or rocks. These also allow your bearded dragon to get closer to the basking light if required.
Provide a shallow dish for food and water.
Clean your terrarium and decor once a month with a reptile cleaning spray like Exoterra’s Terrarium Decor Cleaner.
Care
Signs of a healthy pet:
Clear, alert eyes
Muscular tail
Shed regularly during growth (every 6-8 weeks)
Eats/ drinks normally
Breathes easily
Well formed droppings every 2-3 days
Things to watch for:
Runny droppings or red streaks for more than 2 days
Eating/ drinking less; weight loss
Swollen joints
Discharge from the eyes, nose or mouth
Shedding problems
Discoloured skin
Bearded dragons are very docile and curious creatures, and will love getting attention. You can pick up your bearded dragon by scooping them up from under the belly (belly resting on your palm). Many dragons like to walk around with you and snuggle once trained and used to you. A healthy bearded dragon can live up to 10 years.
Feeding your bearded dragon:
They are omnivores by nature, so you need to feed a mix of live insects and fruits& veggies. Juveniles can be fed once a day, and adults daily- every other day.
Crickets, mealworms and waxworms are great choices, and need to be dusted with calcium supplements twice a week.
Veggies should make up 25-50% of the diet depending on age. Dark leafy greans and carrots (shredded) are best.
Fruits should be no more than 5%. Apples, bananas, and melon will be loved by your pet.
Cleaning Your Pet’s Home:
You will need to spot clean at least once/ week, and completely change bedding once a month.You will also want to clean the terrarium and decor at least once a month. Always wash your hands before and after handling your pet.
