| #1 Set up your dragons tank BEFORE you bring him | | | | fall over etc and injure the little creature. |
| home | | | | The following items are essential in a tank: a food |
| This is most the important thing of all and I have no | | | | dish; something for your dragon to climb and perch |
| hesitation in repeating it again and again to those of | | | | on and a 'hide away box' (dragons, just like humans, |
| you who are planning to get a bearded dragon. Set | | | | like to hide away when they feel stressed!) |
| up your dragons tank BEFORE you bring it home | | | | #5 Bedding |
| from the pet shop or the breeder. Think about it. | | | | Your dragon will also need bedding a here again you |
| The little fella has just come from a nice warm | | | | can try and make its environment as natural as |
| secure home to WHAT? What are you going to do | | | | possible by using sand. Other alternatives are a reptile |
| with him if you have not yet built his home? | | | | carpet which can be pricey, or if your on a tight |
| #2 Tank size | | | | budget non-adhesive shelf liner or plain old newspaper |
| When setting up your bearded dragons home try to | | | | will do just as well. |
| make it as close as possible to his natural habitat. | | | | #6 Heating the tank |
| Remember your dragon needs space same as in the | | | | Remember the little critter originally comes from an |
| wild. The minimum space for an adult bearded dragon | | | | environment where he would depend on the sun to |
| should be 36'' x 18'' x 18''. But 42'' x 24'' x 20'' would | | | | heat his body. So a 'basking lamp' is essential. |
| be better. | | | | Also if the temperature in your home drops below |
| Also when choosing a tank or cage for your dragon | | | | 65F at night the dragon will need some additional |
| you should have the following in mind- It should be | | | | heating. This could be provided by a heater under the |
| both easy to maintain and and to keep clean and you | | | | tank. But remember you should not have the same |
| should be able to reach your dragon easily when you | | | | temperature through out the tank as your dragon |
| want to play with him. | | | | requires both hot (90-95F) and cool (75-85F) and |
| #3 Tank location | | | | basking (100F) heat so thermometers in the tank are |
| Think carefully about where you are going to locate | | | | essential. |
| the tank. Dragons like to see things happening around | | | | #7 Lighting the tank |
| them but too much coming and going can also cause | | | | Your bearded dragon is active during the day and |
| them stress. And you need to make sure the tank is | | | | needs both Ultra Violet-A and Ultra Violet-B rays for |
| located in a spot that is not too hot e.g. in direct | | | | his health. Ultra Violet-A rays are provided with the |
| sunlight, or not too cold e.g. beside an air conditioning | | | | 'basking lights'. and in his natural environment your |
| unit. | | | | dragon would get his Ultra Violet-B rays from the sun. |
| #4 'Furniture' | | | | So its a good idea to expose him to natural sunlight |
| When choosing 'furniture' for your bearded dragons | | | | from time to time. Lastly remember to check all lights |
| home try to make it as close as possible to his | | | | regularly so to prevent any malfunctioning. |
| natural habitat. But also bear in mind that any items | | | | So there you have it a comfortable home within your |
| should be easy to clean and maintain. Also make sure | | | | home for the little chap to settle into and hopefully |
| they are secure so that they cannot come loose or | | | | give you years of pleasure. |