Archive for March, 2010

You’re going to need a Bearded Dragon cage for your new pet and you’ll need to have it all set up before you bring him home with you. The size and type of enclosure you’ll need to buy or make depends on how many dragons you plan to get. A good rule of thumb is to have an enclosure that’s two to three times the size your dragon will be when fully grown. That tiny little juvenile is going to grow up and when it does, he doesn’t want cramped quarters.

Inside that Bearded Dragon cage, you’ll need to have substrate. The type of substrate you get can vary but make sure it’s not harmful to your new pet. Just like a small toddler learning to explore his surroundings, your Beardie might want at little taste of the substrate. Inexperienced owners can make a costly mistake by getting the wrong type. Since Beardies enjoy relaxing in the warmth of the sun in the wild, you’ll need to imitate that inside the enclosure. You can do that with a basking perch and a specific type of light suitable for lizards.

One of the most important items inside the Bearded Dragon cage must be a thermometer. Since the Beardie is not warm blooded, he cannot adjust his body temperature when his cage gets too hot or too cold. He relies on you to do that for him. No matter how fascinating he finds his new home, he’ll get tired of being watched so provide him with a shelter inside his cage so he can run inside it for some peace and quiet.

There are several differences between a Bearded Dragon Lizard and other species of lizards. Lizards can be great pets for owners who understand how to properly care for them but all should understand that keeping any exotic pet requires a higher level of commitment to care for than it would other pets. With any type lizard, you’ll want to make sure you get one that’s been raised in captivity versus one that was caught to avoid health issues and parasites.

A Bearded Dragon Lizard requires a fairly large enclosure compared to other lizards and they need precise monitoring of habitat temperature since temperatures that are too low or too high can prove deadly to the pet. Most Beardies are quite tame and can be handled even by children under an adult’s watchful eye. Other types of lizards like Iguanas can easily become aggressive especially as they age. If you’re new to caring for lizards, Iguanas are not the best choice if you have small children. Their size can grow to be larger and heavier than most owners are looking for in a lizard.

When you want an exotic pet that you can take out of the cage and handle, a Bearded Dragon Lizard is one of the best choices you can make. Many owners find that the most challenging part of owning one is not the actual lizard but rather getting everything set up. Beardies are quite gentle lizards and will adapt readily into your home if provided with the proper care and feeding.

It’s not cheap owning an exotic pet but instead of watching for a Bearded Dragon sale for all the supplies you need, you can practice the art of doing it yourself. Two of the biggest expenses you’re going to encounter when you own one or more of these beautiful creatures are housing and food supply. Your pet’s housing should be large enough to give him room to run.

You can build your own cage for the dragon by using material you find or purchase. Be sure that the material is free from any kind of residue that will adversely affect your pet. Design the enclosure to be suitable for the dragon’s needs-one that mimics his natural habitat. Be sure that you don’t make all four sides of the enclosure glass. This will leave your dragon feeling exposed, like he has no place he can run to when he needs to feel safe. Inside this enclosure, your pet is going to need a shelter box. Some of the material you can use for that are wood or rocks.

Instead of waiting for a Bearded Dragon sale on the food you need for your dragon, consider making your own food supply. Dragons need a wide variety of food-everything from insects to fruits to vegetables. If you’re not 100% sure what’s best to feed your dragon, don’t just play it by ear. There are certain plants and insects that are deadly for your pet so make sure you know exactly what to give him.

When you choose a Baby Bearded Dragon, you won’t know if you’re getting a him or a her until the dragon matures. The sex of the dragon matters because raising males is different from female Beardies as the males will get defensive against other males as they age. So you’ll want to keep a careful eye on them as they grow in order to quickly separate them when you notice typical behavior for the species but keeping them together is okay until they show certain signs.

With the Baby Bearded Dragon, you can keep them in a smaller tank until they’re around 10 inches long. After that, you’ll have to move them to a larger enclosure. You won’t have that option with an adult dragon. Adult Beardies need large space the second you bring them into your home. They don’t function very well in a small enclosures and if they don’t have the room they need, they’ll exhibit signs of stress. If the situation isn’t resolved, the stress can result in death to your pet.

Just like human babies, a Baby Bearded Dragon needs to eat between two and three times every day. Adult Beardies don’t have to eat as often. The younger dragons also need a higher percentage of protein in their diet than the adults do. They need at least 70% while an adult can subsist on 20%. Insects provide a good source of protein for your Beardie but keep in mind that not all insects are safe for your lizard.

You can find Bearded Dragons for sale at some pet shops, at reptile shops and through individual owners. But if you’ve never owned an exotic pet before, you need to know how to pick one out. You’ll want to make sure you select the right species as some aren’t as hardy as other species to keep as pets.

When you look through the selection, check to see if the Beardie is in good health. You’ll find the best way to check health is by watching the behavior of the Beardie. Is he acting lethargic? If the lizard is acting cowed or otherwise not interested in his surroundings that may be a sign he’s stressed and stress leads to ill health in a Beardie. When you check out the Bearded Dragons for sale, make sure you take a look at the weight. Is it bloated?

Check out what kind of circumstances the Beardie is currently living in. Is he in an overcrowded tank? That can lead to stress. Is he missing toes or does he have any noticeable sores on his skin? Also make sure when you’re choosing from among the Bearded Dragons for sale that if you’re a first timer, you don’t get a juvenile that’s too young. Trying to raise one that’s too young can be difficult as they’re not as hardy as an adult. If you decide to go with a young Beardie, make sure you know the exact age and don’t take one home that’s not at least 120 days old.