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General
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When deciding to purchase a Bearded Dragon, whether from a breeder or
pet store, look it over very carefully. Some things you should notice
right away is how alert and active the Dragon is, you don't want a
specimen that cannot lift it's head or one that appears lethargic.
Bearded Dragons have broad triangular heads and flattened bodies, with
adults reaching approximately 20 inches (50 cm) head-to-tail.
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Housing
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Initially, hatchlings can be housed in a 10 gallon tank. Juveniles
should be transitioned to adult quarters when they reach about 6 months old.
Adults, while much smaller than iguanas, need significantly more space with
a 40 gallon tank being a minimum and 55 gallons or more needed for a pair.
A minimal decorating scheme will work, with one elevated basking area, a
hiding area, and paper towels as a substrate. Put the basking area closer
to the heat source. A proper heat gradient is from 100 degrees F down to the
mid 70s. Bearded Dragons require UVB lighting. Without it they will
die of Metabolic Bone Disease. The UVB is what allows them to metabolize
calcium in their diet. There are several ways to provide UVB such as unfiltered
sunlight, florescent UV tubes, and mercury vapor bulbs.
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Diet
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Bearded Dragons are omniverous, are are not completely carniverous as some
would have you think, nor are they vegetarians by any stretch of the imagination.
They eat a wide variety of things both in the wild and in captivity. Bearded Dragons
will eat mostly insects if you let them, however, is not the best diet for them. The
best thing you can do for a juvenile or baby Dragon is to make them eat their veggies
every day BEFORE you put in the live insects. Crickets and superworms should be the
main food source. When they are really hungry they will eat the greens and other
veggies. If you should feed the insects first they will surely fill up on them and eat
hardly any vegetable material.
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Cleaning
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Remove any feces and wash out the water bowl daily. Paper towels or newspaper
should be changed every few days or as needed. Washable floor coverings should
be soaked weekly in a water/bleach solution, then thoroughly rinsed and dried.
For convinience, buy two pieces of floor covering and rotate them.
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Health
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Should your Dragon be found bleeding from a wound or internally (bloody vomit, or
blood in the feces or urine), paralyzed, or has abnormal swellings on any part
of its body, get it to a herp vet right away.
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Warnings
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Bearded Dragons MUST HAVE CONTINUAL ACCESS TO UVB LIGHTING! Without UVB light
they WILL DIE! Also, NEVER feed your Dragon iceberg or head lettuce! It is
mostly water and has nearly no nutrients. Romaine lettuce can be used
occasionally or in a pinch but should not be a main source of food.
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Fertility
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Adults become sexually mature as early as 8 months. Dragons have active courtship
rituals and reproduce very well in captivity.
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Thanks to Eric W. from Stone Mountain, GA for submitting this caresheet.
Click Here To Submit A Caresheet
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