| Bearded dragons are becoming the most popular | | | | is too low get a larger wattage lamp or lower the |
| exotic pet to have in the 21st century! They are | | | | lamp an inch or two and try again. If the temperature |
| very interactive and love attention from humans. | | | | is too high then get a lower wattage lamp or raise |
| Bearded dragons are great pets for adults or children, | | | | the light an inch or two from the basking site. Now |
| and are often used in schools as class pets. A | | | | you need to make sure that the cool side of the |
| Bearded dragon takes up much less space than a | | | | cage is around 80-85 Ferenheit or less. If your |
| dog or cat and is much less messy. I have composed | | | | bearded dragon can't cool off they can dehydrate |
| a basic care sheet covering the major areas involved | | | | and die. If it isn't warm enogh under the basking site, |
| with keeping a happy and healthy bearded dragon. | | | | your dragon can't properly digest their food. |
| Hatchlings can be kept in as small as a 20 gallon long | | | | Therefore it is essential that your temperatures are |
| aquarium. Soon they will outgrow that and move to a | | | | set correctly. NO MEAL WORMS! Bearded dragons |
| larger aquarium/cage. Adult bearded dragons must | | | | need the correct size crickets for the size dragon |
| have a minimum of a 40 gallon cage, preferably 50 | | | | you have. The crickets can't be longer than the width |
| gallon or larger. You can line the cage with new | | | | between the eyes of your dragon. Too large of prey |
| paper, paper towels, or reptile carpet. However we | | | | can harm or even kill your dragon. Hatchlings eat |
| prefer to use Wheat bran as a substrate instead. | | | | crickets 3-4 times per day starting an hour after the |
| Simply put an inch of wheat bran in the bottom of | | | | lights come on. Juvenile dragons eat 1-2 times per |
| the cage. The reason is that if you dragon | | | | day, and adults eat once per day. Every day dust the |
| accidentally injests some, it is easily digestable. Some | | | | crickets with rep-cal calcium supplement and use |
| people use washed play sand as a substrate, but this | | | | herpavite once a week. Also offer a variety of finely |
| can cause deadly intestinal impactions. For this reason | | | | chopped greens for hatchlings once a day, i.e.. |
| we don't suggest using play sand. Bearded dragons | | | | mustard greens, collard greens, romaine lettice, leaf |
| need a full spectrum (UVB) light as well as a basking | | | | lettice. For juvenile to adult bearded dragons chop |
| light. You can use a Zoo Med Reptisun 10.0 UVB | | | | into 1/4 inch pieces and you can add frozen |
| reptile bulb, or the exo-terra Reptiglo 8.0 for a full | | | | vegetables, or fresh fruit chopped into bite-size |
| spectrum light. For the basking site you need a | | | | peaces mixed in with their greens. Remember that |
| basking (UVA) lamp available at pet stores. You can | | | | only a little vegetables or fruit mixed with the greens. |
| keep track of when you UVB bulbs need to be | | | | To keep your dragon hydrated give them a bath 1-2 |
| replace with a UVB meter. This will save you money | | | | times per week. You can use a rubbermaid container, |
| by not replacing your bulbs early. Also this will make | | | | fill with luke warm water up to the the dragons |
| sure that you bulbs are still giving off enough life | | | | shoulders, or only up to their knees for babies. Also |
| sustaining UVB for your bearded dragon. Get a timer | | | | you can mist your dragon on the head once per day. |
| and set it for 12-14 hours of light. Both the basking | | | | Mist and then wait a few seconds. Then mist again |
| light and the UVB light need to be set to go on and | | | | and until they drink, mist until they stop licking. It is |
| off with the timer. Remember bearded dragons must | | | | extremely important to keep your bearded dragons |
| be able to thermo-regulate. That means they alter | | | | hydrated to insure their health. Follow these simple |
| their temperature by going from the basking spot at | | | | guidelines to keep your bearded dragon happy and |
| the hot end of the cage to the cool side of the cage. | | | | healthy for years to come. It is extremely important |
| This allows them to properly digest their food and | | | | to make sure your setup is correct before getting a |
| also cool off when necessary. Make sure that you | | | | bearded dragon. Check to see that your basking |
| place the basking site at one end of the cage, not in | | | | temperature is correct, and also that the cool end of |
| the middle. The important thing with the basking lamp | | | | the cage is cool enough. Keep your dragon hydrated |
| is that directly under it at the basking site the | | | | with weekly baths. Also make sure you feed the |
| temperature reaches 100-110 F within an hour. Place a | | | | correct sized crickets, and feed your dragon fresh |
| reptile thermometer directly on the rock or stick | | | | leafy greens daily. Thank you for take the best care |
| they will be perching on to bask. If the temperature | | | | possible of your bearded dragons. |