Bearded Dragon Care Sheet

This is a general overview of basic Bearded Dragon Care.  Alot of people do not realize how much care actually goes into maintaining a dragons health.  They need daily attention including food, misting, vitamins, water, cage cleaning, lighting, and heat.

To touch on a few of the key points, Lighting is an essential part of proper bearded dragon care.  Not any ordinary light will due. They require special lighting bulbs, both uvb and uva.  A heat bulb is required to allow a basking spot of 100 degrees.  At the same time they need to be able to cool down into the low 80’s.

Sand is a suitable substrate for adults however for proper bearded dragon care, babies should be kept on paper towels or newspaper.  This is because babies can eat sand while chasing crickets and injest it, often causing an impaction of sand in their digestive tracks resulting in death.  Ceramic tile cut to size has also been used with great success, and is easy to clean.  If rocks are used for climbing perches in your enclosure, make sure that they are secured and can not be easily knocked over. Bearded dragons are strong for their size and have been known to dig under rocks only to have them fall on them and crush them.

Cages should be cleaned daily by spot cleaning, but should be cleaned elaborately at least once a month.  Bearded dragons are very social animals and love your attention. Do not neglect them, 20 minutes daily should be plenty of interaction time.

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Buying  a from a bearded dragon breeder as aposed to a local petshop is the way to go.  Most pet stores buy in bulk from mass breeders looking to turn a quick buck.  Stay clear if at all possible from big chain pet stores for your animals.  I usually buy my supplies from the bigger chains and buy my animals from local breeders or the internet. The best advice when looking for a Bearded dragon breeder is to do your research.   I cannot stress that enough.  If at all possible find someone who will be vending at a local expo, research them, ask around, then atttend the show and ask the breeder any possible questions you can think of.  Feeding records are good, blood line records are good, age is good….etc. Dont be afraid to ask, if they cant tell you what you need to know, move on.

There are many online forums that host reputable breeders and many members will vouch for breeders who go above and beyond normal service.  Many breeders are willing to ship, but this is expensive and a big risk.  The bearded dragon breeder will usually overnight your beardie, and you must be present to sign for it.  Try to buy during the fall or spring when temperatures are not too hot or too cold.  Always quaranteen your new lizard for at least 2 weeks to check for signs of sickness, or mites.

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Choosing your first Pet Bearded dragon is just as fun picking your first puppy!  Bearded Dragons can be just as unique as a dog or cat.  Many people wonder, How do I take care of my Pet Bearded Dragon.

That is the purpose of this site, to get you the care info you need to house a healthy bearded dragon for years to come.  When choosing a new beardie, make sure you look for an alert, non lethargic, energetic, aware dragon.  Make sure you check them over for missing limbs, toes, eyes, tail, and check very closely for mites.

The average cost of a beardie has dropped dramatically due to the mass amount of people breeding them in captivity.  What used to cost over a 100 dollars just a few years ago, you can pick up at local reptile expos for 15-20 dollars.  However with so many people breeding dragons now, the amount of morphs being produced  is amazing.

Colors range from greens and whites to oranges and reds.  These awesome colors do not come cheap though they can put a hurting on your wallet.   That is a great reason to research, research, and research your breeders and local stores before purchasing a new pet beardie.

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When looking for bearded dragon cages, it is best to find a cage that will best fit your dragon for its size at the time of purchase.  Then as your dragon grows up scaling his new cage to fit his growing body will help keep stress levels low throughout your dragons life.  This can be expensive and most people prefer to buy bearded dragon cages that will last the life time of the dragon.

A 55 gallon aquarium seems to be the aquarium of choice for most bearded dragon owners, however 55 gallon fish aquariums are narrow and dont allow much room to let your sprawl out in all directions.  Most pet stores now carry reptile specific cages that are wider and not so tall allowing the owner to reach in easily to access the dragon, the waterdish and food bowl.

Custom built bearded dragon cages usually are the best choice as they can be made to specifically suit the needs of your dragon.  They can also double over as a nice peice of furniture in your house.  Custom built bearded dragon cages should be made so they can handle occasional misting and cleaning. Do not use treated lumber as it contains toxic chemicals that will kill your dragon.

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Bearded dragons are omnivors, which means they eat both meat and vegetable matter.   While beardies are young they tend to shy away from veggies and like the thrill of the hunt!  Meaning they love to chase down crickets, mealworms, and roaches.  As they start to mature adding the correct veggies and fruits to their diet will not only keep your bearded dragon healthy, but will also save you money.  You can buy actual bearded dragon food from your local pet stores, which is usually served best moistened with water.  Dont be suprised though if your beardie does not seem to like the store bought stuff. Most prefer the real, fresh fruits and veggies.

A young beardie will need a diet of 80% meat protiens and 20% veggies. As they mature this number will flip.  A good meat source of protein for bearded dragon food is crickets. They are easily accessable from your local pet store and usually cost about 1.00 a dozen.  They can also be orderd in bulk for about 15.00 per 1,000. As your beardie grows dont be afraid to feed the occasional mouse pinkie as most love them!

A good source of veggies and fruits for bearded dragon food are basic greens such as collard greens, mustard green, kale, carrots,  squash, etc.  They enjoy the occasional fruit for treats such as grapes, strawberries, bannanas, and apples.

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