Introduction
According to Matt Davies Harmony Communities, bearded dragons have become a very popular lizard species that are kept as pets across the country. While they originate in Australia, they can survive and even thrive several oceans and continents away in your cozy home. Let’s check out a few tips for caring for your bearded dragon.
Tips & Tricks
1. Don’t cheap out on the vivarium – Bearded dragons need a very specific environment to survive and be comfortable. That’s why it’s important to not cheap out on the vivarium where they would live. The minimum size vivarium recommended for housing an adult bearded dragon is 50 by 25 by 25 inches. You may choose a vivarium made of plastic or wood.
Plastic is recommended since it’s easier to clean and reflects light well inside the vivarium. Your vivarium needs to be ventilated properly, have a secured hot and cool end to mimic the natural environment of the bearded dragon, and also have bright and shaded areas. You also need to fill up the vivarium with several non-toxic accessories including wood.
2. Keep the lights off at night – It’s important to switch off the lamps at night so that your pet doesn’t confuse the daily cycle of night and day. However, you also need to keep your dragon warm after dark. To do that, you may invest in a ceramic heat emitter that emits only heat when the bulb is switched off. You’ll need to do a lot of tweaking by using a thermometer to check the temperature across various parts of the vivarium during the day and the night and adjust accordingly.
3. Feeding it a varied diet – Your bearded dragon’s diet should be varied to keep it healthy and happy. These reptiles are omnivores, and their diet mostly consists of insects and veggies. Brown crickets are a staple for these dragons since they are easy to digest. For treating your dragon to a lavish meal, you may feed it mealworms and waxworms from time to time. When it comes to veggies, bearded dragons love leafy greens like kale and colorful veggies like carrots and peppers.
4. Provide it with vitamins – Your bearded dragon should get most of its vitamins and minerals from its diet. However, to make sure that they fulfill their nutritional requirements, you can sprinkle vitamin powders and supplements into their food. Apart from adding supplements, you need a source of UVB light in the vivarium so that your pet can create vitamin D3 for efficiently absorbing calcium. This can be done with any decent UVB T5 lamp that has a range of around 25 inches and a lifespan of about 12 months.
Conclusion
Matt Davies Harmony Communities suggests that you use the above-mentioned tips to give your pet bearded dragon better care and a more suitable living environment. Bearded dragons can live for up to 15 years and that means it’s a long-term commitment when you decide to get one as a pet.
