| Bearded Dragons need a large enough habitat to | | | | refuse to eat for some days. To help them |
| allow for a variety of distances from the heat | | | | accommodate you should: |
| source. A glass aquarium is recommended for | | | | - Use the first weeks to only watch the dragon and |
| security, ease of maintenance, and pet viewing. To | | | | learn the behaviors and feeding habits. Read books |
| avoid the expense of multiple habitats as your pet | | | | on Beardies. Your children will want to play with their |
| grows to adulthood, consider using a partition that | | | | new friend. Do not allow anybody to pick up the |
| can be easily adjusted. This way, throughout the life | | | | dragon at this moment. |
| of the pet, you can use a single large aquarium, 55-70 | | | | - For a while you can cover the cage with some |
| gallons. | | | | milky white panes which won't let the Dragon see to |
| The white melamine is a material that keeps the | | | | many things outside. |
| cage very bright which is important for stimulating a | | | | Housing Young Beardies |
| dragon's appetite. The light (and the UVB) stays | | | | Babies and small juveniles can be temporally housed in |
| inside the cage rather than escaping through the | | | | a 10 - 20 gallon aquarium. Young Beardies less than 10 |
| glass sides of an aquarium. Glass fronts will allow the | | | | inches in length need to be housed in a 20 gal long |
| dragon to check out their world and interact with | | | | aquarium. This will last them for a few months only |
| you. | | | | though as they grow quickly. You can use Profile |
| Where to place the cage? | | | | Extended Storage Bins. The milky white sides of the |
| Find a place, on a stable stand or table, where you | | | | bins prevent the dragon from becoming terrified in |
| feel comfortable and where you can watch anytime | | | | new surroundings and not eating for the first few |
| your little fellow, against a wall. Try to house your | | | | days, which can become a serious problem. |
| dragon somewhere interesting for him or her, but | | | | It is important to judge the correct size of the |
| away from high traffic areas and out of direct | | | | enclosure. While the dragon is small, it's helpful to |
| sunlight. Do not hide the cage away in a seldom | | | | keep cage furniture to a minimum, so that they can |
| frequented place. Bearded Dragons have a big | | | | find their food easily. Crickets can hide in deeply |
| curiosity. They like to be somewhere where they can | | | | grooved logs or under the furniture making it difficult |
| watch anytime to their human fellow doing their | | | | for a baby dragon to locate food. The dragon won't |
| funny things. | | | | find them, so will not be able to eat, and the crickets |
| The cage need to be organized with a basking light | | | | will come out at night and nibble on beardies, who |
| at one end of the tank, another end should be kept | | | | sleep quite soundly, stressing them (this could be |
| as a cooling area; a hide area of branches and potted | | | | serious). |
| non-toxic plants, or a hide box in the tank is also | | | | On the other hand, a tank that is too small won't |
| necessary; a rock or log for the basking area. Try to | | | | afford the proper temperature gradients the dragon |
| improve the animal environment and remember that | | | | requires. |
| the more you do to arrange a Beardie's environment | | | | As the dragon grows they will need to be moved to |
| to provide security, the quicker the animal will adjust | | | | bigger cages. The dragon having a bigger size, a tank |
| to its new home and family. Animals that are housed | | | | too small won't afford the proper temperature |
| correctly and stress free will remain healthy, eat well, | | | | gradients the dragon requires, the dragon can no |
| be happier, remain active and alert. | | | | longer get away from the heat and it can cook and |
| The first days in his new habitat can cause a lot of | | | | die. |
| stress to the Dragon, and because of this they could | | | | |