The Beginner’s Guide To Caring For A Pet Bearded Dragon

Did you know there’s a very friendly pet similar to man’s best friend? Just replace fur with scales and you got yourself the canine of reptiles, an animal native to Australia, the Bearded Dragon! Arguably one of the easiest to take care of, Bearded Dragons are friendly and peace-loving, unlike other reptiles.

This is the main purpose of our article, to teach new owners of these gentle animals the right way to care for them. Just as you would treat a faithful dog—with utmost love and care— so should you give the same treatment to beardies. They’re a great companion to have for years and years to come.

All About Bearded Dragons

These animals are affectionately nicknamed beardies and should be protected by both civilians and animal advocates, as they are mostly helpless against bigger predators. Just as you would read about unfamiliar and non-traditional pets (like spiders or snakes) should you educate yourself further about these reptiles. This is to ensure their safety and your readiness to take them under your wing.

To describe them, they have a triangular head and a flat body, and they’re all scaled from their bodies to their toes. The male tends to be relatively larger than the female, and the former can grow as large as 24 inches.

Bearded Dragons can be found in desert habitats in Australia. They’re part of the Agamidae family, where it falls into the genus Pogona. The family contains 300 other iguana lizard species, and the genus has over 8 categories. Most of the genus can and have been kept as pets by Australians and other people all over the globe.

Caring For A Pet Bearded Dragon

Necessary Materials For Their Care

  • Tank- Some purchase a glass tank, while others prefer melamine or PVC. It should initially be at least 30 gallons, but as your pet grows, so should your tank size. For 10-16 inches, you’ll need more than 40 gallons, 16-20 inches should have 75 gallons, and finally, 20 inches and above should be provided with a 120-gallon tank at most.
  • Wire Mesh Screen Top
  • Full-spectrum Light – as Beardies were previously living in desert habitats, it’s important to imitate the environment, especially the lights.
  • Heat Lamp or Heat Pad
  • Two Thermometers – There should be two thermometers to measure two sides of your tank, a warmer (93 degrees Fahrenheit) and a cooler (80-90 degrees Fahrenheit). Note that baby or slightly younger than adult beardies have different temperature needs.
  • Substrate
  • Food and Freshwater sources
  • Perches (like rocks or wood)
  • Hides (like large rocks) – this will provide your pet with a shade to hide from the light if it ever needs a break from the heat

Why Get A Bearded Dragon As A Pet?

Reason #1: They’re Docile and Calm

As mentioned before, beardies are a joy to have as a pet because of their playful yet submissive nature. They’re hostile in extremely rare cases, and they enjoy your presence as much as you do theirs. They even enjoy being picked up albeit be gentle and follow some of his/her cues (closing eyes as you gently pet them is a very positive sign) before picking them up with much care.

Don’t pick them up from above, but slowly scoop them up with the palm of your hand and let them stay balanced on top of it. If your pet bearded dragon feels a lot cooler than before you picked him up, it’s time to place him back inside his tank.

Reason #2: They’re Aesthetically-Pleasing

Beardies aren’t the cutest (such as kittens and rabbits), but they have a dinosaur-like appearance many adore. Many choose this reptile due to its almost ancient, old appearance. According to a National Geographic bearded dragons changes colors in different parts of their body. They also change the color of their beards as a means of communication.

Reason #3: They’re Easy To Maintain

When it comes to special maintenance, beardies have none except for the temperature. Other than that, their diet and habitat are easy to conjure and require no specific straying far from the usual lizard diet. Just make sure they are given fresh water every day and have them changed every several hours or so, or when necessary.

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