While in the wild in their natural habitat, this species of Lizard tends to be aggressive towards one another. If several live in the same area, they will create a social structure with one dominant reptile. They may fight, chase, or even ride each other. The dominant lizard will be the most social one of the groups and will often challenge others.
Perhaps the most popular pet lizard, bearded dragons are originally from the deserts of central Australia. "Bearded" refers to the extendable flap of skin under their chin that turns black when they are stressed, displaying dominance or being territorial. They are usually even-tempered, docile, easy to tame, bond closely with their caretakers and are generally hardy when cared for properly.
What are Bearded Dragons Eating? Bearded Dragons eat vegetables as their main diet. Vegetables are a good source of vitamins and minerals. You should be careful what you give your beardie. Oxalates can lead to calcium binding, and spinach is one example. Oranges can also cause stomach upsets as they are very citric. You can safely feed your beardie carrots. However, you need to be careful about the carrot green tops. Zucchini, while safe, is not as nutritiously dense as spinach.
Before the bearded Dragon can be brought home, it is necessary to set up his habitat. The bearded Dragon must have heat, food, and UV light. It is crucial to inspect equipment, especially the basking pad. It is crucial to maintain constant temperatures throughout the day. However, humidity should be kept low.
Bearded dragons can display a variety of morphs. These morphs are mainly based on body types, but can also be derived from selective breeding.
When you’re looking for a bearded dragon, it’s important to understand the different morphs. A morph is a genetic mutation that results in certain traits. The most common are color variations. You can see a wide range of colors in beardies, including beiges, browns, and muted tans.
There are other morphs that result from genetics, such as visual morphs. These are inherited traits that are passed down from parents. They’re often the most unique beardie varieties. Some of them are translucent, meaning they have a transparent appearance. Others, such as hypomelanistic, lack melanin, which makes their skin lighter.
Bearded dragons like many other reptiles have specific lighting requirements that can be really confusing, especially for new owners that don’t have previous experience.
Because of that reason, having a good understanding when it comes to lighting the space of your bearded dragon is very important.
You should know there are plenty of options when it comes to lighting for bearded dragons and choosing the wrong setup can be harmful to your pet. However, if you carefully read our guide you will get plenty of information about setting up proper lighting for your pet.
Relatively easy to care for, they enjoy eating leafy vegetables and insects. In captivity, you will either see them enjoying the shade or basking themselves in the light. They are very tolerant to handling and are one of the most popular reptile companions.
Some vegetables should be kept apart from their meat and bones. The leafy green watercress is rich in vitamins and calcium. It also contains some iron and manganese. It also contains antioxidants, which prevent inflammation. It is best to be careful with its intake of oxalates as well as other chemicals that can reduce absorption. Bearded dragons with calcium deficiencies should not be fed it.
Males tend to have deeper coloration and more distinct markings than females. They also tend to have a wider tail base. A Bearded Dragon is between 15 to 20 inches long. This may sound big to beginner herpetologists, however, without their tail, their snout to vent size is only 10 inches! An adult will be between 230g and 520g and should reach this weight within 18-24 months.
You can also determine the gender of a bearded dragon by looking at its hemipenal bulges. Males have two bulges in this area, while females have just one in that location. This method is most effective for identifying a beardie at about five months old.
We are unable to take him to a vet as yet because the closest exotic one is almost three hours round trip. Since he is still acclimating, we feel that such a rigorous excursion would be quite detrimental as we are trying to settle him into his new enclosure conditions. To put you in the picture, we do use a moderate amount of Repashy Grub Pie or Beardie Buffet daily along with a hearty salad in the morning and then about two dozen medium to large feeder insects later in the afternoon. This is a schedule that he seems to depend upon right now. Since we are using Repashy meal replacements, as well as proper UVB T5 tube lighting, is a full calcium supplement needed. If so, — which one — how much — & how often?
They vary from brown to orange depending on the species and morph. Sandfire morphs are closer to a red color, while pastel lizards have a silute pigmentation. Some are also known to come in yellow.
Newspapers and paper towels are safer options and are also much easier to clean and dispose of. This substrate should be cleaned regularly or if it shows any signs of bacterial growth.
What Do Bearded Dragons Like to Eat? Bearded Dragons prefer vegetables for their main meal. Vegetables can be a great source for calcium and other vital nutrients. Beardies should be aware of some things to avoid. Oxalates are found in spinach, which can cause calcium binding. Oranges are high-citric, and can cause stomach problems. Carrots can be safe for your beardie. But, it is important to watch out for the carrot green tips. Zucchini can also be safe, though it isn't as nutritionally dense than spinach.
It's important to add accessories to your beardy's vivarium, such as rocks and branches to climb on. You can also help your beardy feel secure by making sure they have some good hiding areas. Bearded dragons need a vivarium that ranges from a hotter (38 to 42°C) bright end, to a cooler (22 to 26°C) shaded end. As well as this, you'll need to provide a 10 to 12 per cent fluorescent UV tube at the hot end, to stop your beardy from getting metabolic bone disease. It's also essential to keep humidity low - use a hygrometer to measure this at the cool end.
The information on this Care Sheet is not a substitute for veterinary care. If you need additional information, please contact your veterinarian as appropriate. By signing up, you consent to receive updates, special offers, program communications and other information via email from Petco.
Since bearded dragons are naturally solitary creatures, they do not get lonely if placed alone in a cage or left for some time away from their keeper. They much prefer having their food and heat to themselves rather than sharing it with another bearded dragon.
Bearded Dragons – 12 Fun Facts
Bearded dragons require minimal veterinary care when appropriately managed with the correct lighting, temperature, supplements, and diet.
Turtles, tortoises, bearded dragons, iguanas, and chameleons are some common examples of reptiles that need UVB light. This helps prevent animals from developing hypocalcemia (or lack of calcium). UVB lights should be kept on during the day and turned off at night and should be used along with calcium supplements.