| Bearded Dragons - Basic care | | | | get out again! Some people use large ceramic dog |
| Bearded dragons can make wonderful pet lizards, | | | | bowls, which are easy to clean. You can also |
| with fantastic and fascinating behaviours they are | | | | purchase resin bowls, which are also easy to clean |
| often sold as the perfect 'beginner' lizard. However | | | | and tend to be moulded to look like rocks, enhancing |
| much care and thought should be put into buying one | | | | the enclosure's look. It is again, down to personal |
| as a pet. As with all lizards, they are a long-term | | | | preference. The positioning of the bowl is important. |
| commitment and have specialist requirements, which | | | | It needs to be positioned at the coolest end of the |
| need to be understood. | | | | vivarium, to ensure the gradient is maintained. You |
| Bearded dragons originate from Australia; although | | | | may also want to purchase feeding bowls, in order to |
| many of the Bearded Dragons sold are captive bred, | | | | contain insects and other foods stuffs. |
| meaning they are generally healthier specimens. The | | | | Another essential is a hiding spot for your beardie. |
| lifespan of a Beardie is usually around 7 years, which | | | | This can be anything from pieces of cork bark and |
| is why careful consideration must be put into owning | | | | mopani/bogwood carefully and securely stacked, to |
| one! Due to their natural habitats they are terrestrial | | | | shaped hides, made from resin, wood or similar |
| creatures that like to occasionally climb. They are | | | | materials. This, again, needs to be put at the coolest |
| generally docile creatures that show a lot of | | | | end of the vivarium as most lizards when hiding |
| expression through body language, so they can be | | | | prefer to be cool and temperatures inside the hide |
| fascinating to watch. They are also one of the few | | | | will rise if put too close to the basking lamp. |
| lizards that will tame nicely and some can become | | | | Additional decor isn't needed, but will make the |
| quite friendly toward their owners, however you | | | | enclosure a lot nicer for both you and your pet. |
| should still keep in mind that they usually prefer their | | | | Things such as plastic plants, branches, slate and |
| own space. | | | | rocks can be placed to provide areas for climbing, |
| Housing a Beardie | | | | basking and hiding. Be careful not to put live plants in, |
| Bearded dragons are endothermic, like all lizards, | | | | as they may be harmful. You should also try to buy |
| meaning they take their heat from their surroundings. | | | | wooden branches, as they will be free from pests. |
| With this in mind their enclosure needs to have | | | | When placing decor keep in mind that Beardies are |
| adequate space and placement to allow them to | | | | can be heavy and so items should be secure and no |
| regulate their temperature. The vivarium itself should | | | | sharp edges present. |
| be around 36 Inches to 42 inches long and of no less | | | | Cleaning your Beardies Enclosure |
| than 18 to 24 Inches widthways. The height should | | | | Having a clean enclosure is very important, dirty |
| be adequate to place decor and allow the Beardie to | | | | conditions will lead to disease and general discomfort |
| climb, so a height of around 18 to 24 Inches should | | | | for your pet as well as putting you at risk. |
| be available. | | | | It is important you spot clean. When you see |
| There are several types of vivarium available, from | | | | 'deposits' or loose skin from shedding you should |
| the usual ply board and sliding glass door type to the | | | | safely remove it and any affected bedding. If any of |
| all glass type. Either is sufficient, however the | | | | the decor becomes soiled you should clean it with a |
| wooden types tend to keep heat in more effectively | | | | lizard safe disinfectant and rinse with water. |
| and reduce stress as the wooden sides don't create | | | | Food and water bowls should be cleaned daily with |
| reflection like glass vivariums and create secluded | | | | lizard safe disinfectant and rinsed thoroughly. |
| corners for your pet to retreat to. However some | | | | You should completely clean the vivarium at least |
| glass vivariums come with metal mesh on the top | | | | every three months, completely changing the |
| and ventilation on the doors, allowing for better air | | | | substrate, cleaning the decor and vivarium with |
| movement than the wooden types. | | | | disinfectant and rinsing with water. |
| Whatever type of vivarium you choose, placement in | | | | Feeding your Beardie |
| your home is important and should be carefully | | | | Careful consideration should go into your bearded |
| considered before buying. The vivarium should not be | | | | dragons diet, as it will largely determine the health of |
| placed in draughts or next to radiators, not should it | | | | you pet. Bearded dragons will eat a mixture of |
| be placed in direct sunlight. All these things will change | | | | vegetables and live insects. If you are not |
| the temperature of the enclosure and this can lead | | | | comfortable feeding insects, you should consider if a |
| to problems with your pet. It should also be placed | | | | lizard is the best choice for you as ultimately you |
| somewhere quiet, where there isn't a lot of 'traffic' | | | | need to think of it's health first. |
| or noise either from people or household appliances. | | | | If you are okay with feeding live insects, feeding |
| Lastly, careful consideration should be put into | | | | time can be a fun and rewarding experience. |
| whether the vivarium is accessible to other pets or | | | | Firstly you need to understand how much a bearded |
| younger children who may be overly inquisitive! This | | | | dragon likes to eat. They have high metabolisms and |
| also brings about the last point, always make sure | | | | therefore should have food available for the majority |
| the vivarium is secured, either with it's own locking | | | | of the time. This can come in the form of |
| system or a traditional 'viv lock'! | | | | mealworms, dried food and vegetables, with things |
| Heat and lighting | | | | such as crickets or locusts completing the diet. You |
| Beardies require a temperature gradient of around | | | | should never leave insects such as locusts or crickets |
| 30-35 degrees Celsius at the hottest end and 20-25 | | | | in the enclosure for a long time as they will nibble |
| degrees Celsius at the coolest end. A basking spot | | | | your pet, causing annoyance and pain. |
| reaching around 40 degrees Celsius is also needed. | | | | You also need to provide fresh water everyday. |
| Creating this gradient is the key to beardie success | | | | Although desert creatures, they need water. Some |
| as it governs all of their habits and workings. | | | | of this is obtained through food although they will |
| So how do you create the correct temperature | | | | enjoy the very occasional misting of water. |
| gradient for a Bearded Dragon? Well, it partly | | | | When feeding your dragon, it is best to give it no |
| depends on the type of vivarium you have. The main | | | | more food than can be consumed within 10 minutes, |
| tools of heating are a heat mat (regulated with a | | | | with the exception of vegetation, which can be left |
| thermostat) and a basking spotlight (in addition to UV | | | | in for the day. Insects should be removed after 10-15 |
| lighting). | | | | minutes and vegetation and dry foods removed at |
| The general method for creating this gradient means | | | | the end of the day. |
| putting a heat mat under the substrate at one end | | | | A young bearded dragon should be fed on small |
| of the vivarium, it should cover around half of the | | | | amounts of small brown crickets 2-3 times a day. |
| vivarium floor. The heat mat works on infrared and | | | | Mealworms should be excluded from their diet at this |
| will literally heat the substrate and therefore your | | | | stage. This is the same for young or 'sub' adult |
| lizard. A thermostat is usually required to control the | | | | beardies. When feeding crickets, they should be no |
| heat mats output, avoiding it from getting too hot, | | | | bigger than the size of the gap in between their |
| as the heat mat needs to stay on all of the time. | | | | eyes. |
| You should also place a thermometer at each end to | | | | Young Beardies can also be fed on commercial foods, |
| check the gradients. | | | | specially formulated for young bearded dragons. This |
| At the same end a basking light should be mounted. | | | | should be fed in accordance to the manufacturer's |
| This will provide your lizard the area of concentrated | | | | instructions. |
| heat it needs as well as heating the air in the | | | | An adult Beardie can be fed larger crickets, 2-3 times |
| vivarium, known as 'ambient heat. How you mount | | | | a day. They may also be willing to take locusts. New |
| the bulb will depend on the type of vivarium you | | | | foods can be introduced to the adult Beardie, |
| have. Glass vivariums presuming they have a mesh | | | | including mealworms, which can be left in a suitable |
| top can simply have the bulb and lighting unit stood | | | | bowl in the enclosure. Wax worms can also make a |
| on top of the vivarium. Some vivariums have special | | | | delicious treat for your Beardie, however they should |
| units that can clip onto the top. If your vivarium is | | | | be given in moderation, both to stop selective eating |
| wooden you can use a standard light fitment and | | | | and weight gain! |
| affix the bulb to the wood, inside the enclosure. | | | | Adult bearded dragons will also love to eat |
| Sometimes the wooden type vivariums have these | | | | vegetables; spring greens are a particular favourite. |
| prefitted. If you have this type of vivarium you need | | | | Make sure you wash any vegetables you provide, |
| to also purchase a light guard that can fit onto the | | | | ensuring any pesticides or preservatives have been |
| bulb fitment ensuring your beardie doesn't climb onto | | | | removed. |
| the light, burning itself. | | | | You can also feed manufactured dry foods |
| The wattage of the light also needs to be carefully | | | | formulated especially for adult beardies and always in |
| considered. Generally smaller enclosures require a | | | | accordance with the manufacturers instructions. |
| smaller wattage, 50, 75 and 100 watts are good | | | | Shedding in Beardies |
| standards although larger cages may need 150w. It is | | | | As your Bearded Dragon grows, it will shed its skin. |
| also important to remember glass will not insulate the | | | | During this time it may be less inclined to be 'active' |
| enclosure as well as wooden sided vivariums, | | | | and may dislike being held. It is important that you |
| therefore may require a higher wattage. The best | | | | don't pull or try to 'help' you pet shed. It is quite |
| thing to do is to ask your local pet store on the | | | | capable of rubbing it off on decor items within its |
| specifics of your tank, going from there you can | | | | enclosure. Unlike snakes, the skin will fall off in parts, |
| experiment until you are satisfied. This also | | | | so don't be alarmed! If you think it's having trouble |
| emphasizes the need to set up your vivarium and | | | | shedding you can give it a light mist with some |
| running it for a bit to see what needs changing and | | | | lukewarm water. |
| so on. | | | | Problems you may encounter |
| Lastly, UV lighting is needed for Beardies. Without | | | | Beardies rarely encounter problems if kept properly, |
| proper lighting your beardie cannot manufacture the | | | | however if your beardie does become ill this will help |
| vitamins he needs from food. This can cause serious | | | | you to know what to do next! |
| implications for your Beardie. Usually a UV light strip, | | | | Impaction |
| manufactured especially for use in vivariums, is put at | | | | This comes from the beardie eating too much or |
| the centre toward the top back of the vivarium, | | | | eating fine substrates or other foreign objects, such |
| allowing even light dispersal. The light is usually | | | | as sand, plastic plants, small pebbles and so on. Signs |
| powered by a starter unit, which allows you to | | | | include loss of appetite, sluggish behaviour, bloated or |
| power the light as well as mount it. Some vivariums | | | | discoloured abdomen, hiding away and not passing |
| come with them already fitted and some, such as | | | | stools. It can, in early stages, be solved by firstly |
| glass vivariums can have special units that fit on the | | | | removing any possible causes, reducing food and |
| top of the mesh. | | | | bathing for 10-15 mins in warm (not hot) water |
| The light itself should be around 10.00 UV level, if you | | | | everyday to encourage the lizard to pass stools and |
| are unsure when buying it is best to ask! The light | | | | the blockage. |
| should be replaced around every six months to | | | | If symptoms persist you should seek veterinary |
| ensure its UV output is still at optimum levels. To | | | | treatment. |
| replicate the environment that a beardie is naturally in | | | | Mites |
| you should keep both the basking lamp and | | | | Caused by unsanitary conditions, infection from |
| fluorescent light on for no more than 14 hours. In the | | | | external causes or contact with other infected |
| winter months this should be decreased to around 12 | | | | animals or objects. It is more common on wild caught |
| hours. After this 'day' period you should turn off the | | | | specimens. Signs include the beardie rubbing on items, |
| fluorescent light and either dim or turn off the | | | | scales looking 'lifted' and small brown, white, tan or |
| basking light. It is generally better to dim the basking | | | | black specks embedded between scales. You may |
| light so there is still some heat being produced in the | | | | also see 'specks' running over the surface, particularly |
| basking area. You can buy a range of timers and | | | | near the vent, eyes, mouth and joints. Usually a |
| dimmers for this purpose although they are not | | | | pre-prepared solution, applied as directed gets rid of |
| necessary as you can just turn it off manually. | | | | the mites on the animal. You should also do a |
| Cage decor for the Beardie | | | | complete clean of the cage and bedding, making sure |
| Beardies require only the most basic decor, substrate, | | | | to soak decor in hot water and buy new bedding. |
| water bowl and somewhere to hide and climb. | | | | You should also try to find the source of the problem |
| However you may prefer to create a more | | | | and deal with it accordingly. |
| stimulating environment both for you and your | | | | Sometimes the problem can be more persistent, in |
| beardie! | | | | which case treatment from a vet may be required. |
| Substrate is the most important thing. It should be | | | | Injuries |
| carefully considered, there are many different | | | | Sometimes, through climbing or if kept together, |
| opinions on substrate types, so you should generally | | | | fighting, your pet may sustain an injury. A little iodine |
| use your good sense when choosing. It is important | | | | applied to minor injuries can ensure no infection |
| to remember the age of the beardie, fine substrates | | | | happens, although it is generally better to seek |
| can be swallowed easily and cause impaction in young | | | | veterinarian advice. You should always seek a vet's |
| lizards. You also need to keep in mind how clean the | | | | advice for breaks and larger injuries. |
| substrate will be, how easy will it be for you to spot | | | | Tail/Scale rot |
| clean? Also, substrate should not be more than an | | | | Caused by keeping the enclosure too wet or by |
| inch thick, as this will stop the heat mat from working | | | | keeping the lizard in unsanitary conditions. Symptoms |
| properly. | | | | include blackening of the area, softening of the skin |
| Generally people use sand for older beardies, it is | | | | and general unhealthy appearance. You should clean |
| easy to clean and looks natural. There are several | | | | the Beardies enclosure and make sure it is kept dry. |
| types of sand, from calcium sand to fine 'repti-sand'. | | | | Because this is an infection a vet's advice should be |
| Which one you use is up to you and how well your | | | | sought. |
| beardie responds to it. | | | | Coccidia |
| You can also consider shelf liner, reptile carpet or | | | | This is a intestinal parasite, rarely contracted by |
| newspaper, especially for younger Beardies as it | | | | captive bred Beardies, however in the case of your |
| reduces the risk of impaction. However it doesn't | | | | pet contracting it you will see sluggish behaviour, |
| look as nice and some people have disputed the | | | | diarrhoea, bloating of the abdomen and fluid loss |
| cleanliness of such materials, as they can be difficult | | | | (characterized by 'wrinkly' skin that sticks as wrinkles |
| to clean. | | | | and appears baggy) You should consult your vet if |
| Some people even use ceramic tiles or large slate | | | | this occurs. |
| pieces, although they don't look as good they are | | | | Metabolic bone disease (MBD) |
| easy to clean and heat up rather well under the | | | | Rare in well looked after specimens, this comes from |
| basking light. However it is important to keep in mind | | | | ongoing poor nutrition and inefficient lighting exposure |
| the change to temperature it may cause. As a | | | | (lack of UV) it will cause softening of bone tissue, |
| general rule you should do as much research on | | | | particularly in jaw tail and spine. It will cause bones to |
| substrate and try to decide what you feel is the | | | | break easily and slow the rate of growth. The only |
| best for you and your beardie. | | | | cure for this is usually prevention, which is why it is |
| After you have decided on substrate you need to | | | | important to give your pet the correct nutrition. If |
| now focus on other essentials, like water bowls. The | | | | you have acquired a specimen with MBD you should |
| water bowl should be big enough for your beardie to | | | | seek a vets advice. |
| get in but not deep enough for it to not be able to | | | | |