Feeding and Housing a Bearded Dragon

Have you ever thought about having a Bearded Dragon as a pet? There are pros and cons to keeping these lizards as pets, as there are for any pet that you may chose to be a member of your family.

Bearded Dragons are easy to train, and are very sociable as pets go. They do however have special needs in regards to their nutrition and the environment in which they live. By about two years of age they will have grown to 18 -24 inches, so a good sized tank is required to house them in. With good nutrition the Bearded Dragon should live between 4-10 years.

Housing the Bearded Dragon

A 55 gallon tank is a good size, make sure there is a secure top to the tank. Papers or carpeting with no loose threads can be used for young lizards. Don't put anything in the tank that they can ingest, or choke on. For adults washed play sand available at hardware stores is ideal. The cage or tank should be washed several times a year.

Use a selection of study rocks, branches, and logs in the tank as these pets like to perch and climb. They also like somewhere to hide within their home, chose some leafy silk plants, but not too many as the insects which they feed on may be able to hide in the plants. Water should be provided in a shallow dish.

It is very important to have UVA and UVB lighting across the length of the tank. The Bearded Dragon should be able to get within 6-8 inches of the lighting. The amount of UV light decreases over time therefore, the bulbs will need to be changed according to the manufacturers guidelines. Mercury vapor bulbs contain both types of lighting and can also be used as a heating source.

Lizards are temperature sensitive creatures, the tank must remain at a certain temperature. One area should be warmer than another area of your tank. For temperature details ask the previous owner, local pet store, or a vet for advice. They also required a consistent light and dark period, a UV light can be used for this and is best put on a timer to ensure 12-14 hours of light is emitted each day.

Feeding the Bearded Dragon

These lizards are omnivores, which means they eat a mixture of insects and small animals, as well as plants. Crickets should not be too large in size especially for baby Bearded Dragons. Once they become adults, they can be offered a bigger range of insects. Include butterworms, mealworms, and earthworms in their diet. Crickets should be still making up the bulk of their diet with all other insects used as treats. Also, Pinkle mice can be offered to adults as treats too.

Feed when the tank is heated up in the morning, or just before it cools down at night, as heat aids ingestion. As for greens and vegetables these can be available all the time. Some insects are toxic to the Bearded Dragon, and these include fireflies and boxelder bugs. It is also best not give wild bugs, but to buy them instead, as wild bugs may contain pesticides. Give a mixture of vegetables such as, squash, carrots, green beans, turnip greens, and parsley. Fruits to give are grapes, apples, berries, mango, papaya, and others.