Below is a list of the major areas involved
in keeping healthy bearded dragons. If you have any
questions please direct them to the following email address:
john@beardeddragons.biz
HOUSING
Hatchlings can be kept in as small as a 20 gallon aquarium.
Soon they will outgrow that and move to a larger aquarium
or cage. Adult bearded dragons must have a minimum of a 40
gallon cage, preferable 50 gallon or larger. Remember bearded
dragons must be able to thermo regulate. That means they alter
their temperature by going from the basking spot at the hot
end of the cage to the cool side of the cage. This allows
them to properly digest their food and also cool off when
necessary.
Lighting and Temperature
Bearded dragons need a full spectrum (UVB) light as well as
a basking light. You can use a Zoo Med 10.0 UVB reptile bulb
for a full spectrum light. For the basking site you need a
basking lamp available at pet stores. The important thing
with the basking lamp is that directly under it at the basking
site the temperature reaches 100-110 F within an hour.
Place a reptile thermometer directly on the rock or stick
they will be perching on to bask. If the temp is too low get
a larger wattage lamp or lower the lamp an inch or two and
try again. If the temperature is too high then get a lower
wattage lamp or raise the light an inch or two from the basking
site. Now you need to make sure that the cool side of the
cage is around 80-85 F. If your bearded dragon can't cool
off they can dehydrate and die, it is essential that your
temperatures are set correctly. Get a timer and set it for
12-14 hours of lighting. Night time temps can safely drop
into the sixties.
Feeding
NO MEAL WORMS! Bearded dragons need the correct size crickets
for the size dragon you have. The crickets can't be longer
than the width between the eyes of your dragon. Too large
of prey can harm your dragon. Hatchlings eat crickets
3-4 times per day starting an hour after the lights come on.
Juvenile dragons eat 1-2 times per day, and adults eat once
per day. Every day dust the crickets with rep-cal calcium
supplement and use herpavite once a week. Also offer a variety
of finely chopped greens for hatchlings once a day, i.e..
mustard greens, collard greens, romaine lettice, leaf lettice.
For juvenile to adult bearded dragons chop into 1/4 inch pieces
and you can add frozen vegetables, or fresh fruit chopped
into bite-size peaces mixed in with their greens. Remember
that only a little vegetables or fruit mixed with the greens.
Water
To keep your dragon hydrated give them a bath 1-2 times
per week. You can use a rubbermaid container, fill with
luke warm water up the the dragons shoulders, or only up to
their knees for babies. Also you can mist your dragon on the
head once per day. Mist and then wait a few seconds. Then
mist again and until they drink, mist until they stop licking.
It is extremely important to keep your bearded dragons hydrated
to insure their health. If you have any question email below
and I will be happy to answer them for you!
