Bearded Dragon Care and Feeding
Taking care of a Bearded Dragon is easy if you have some knowledge about them. These docile lizards get their name from the spiny scaled space that covers their throat, which males puff up as a sign of dominance and defense. They are a great choice for first-time reptile owners and families with young children looking for a pet. Beardies grow to be medium-sized reptiles, reaching 18-24 inches in length. They are omnivorous, but in captivity, they often do better on a vegetarian diet.
Their diet should consist mainly of calcium-coated crickets, superworms, other insects, earthworms, pinky mice, dark leafy greens such as romaine, collard greens, kale, escarole, and red-leaf lettuce, and fruits & veggies such as strawberries and beans. When feeding your Bearded Dragon, make sure the food items presented are no bigger than the space between their eyes.
Bearded Dragons are native to central Australia and are basically desert-dwelling lizards. Their color varies from a dull brown or gray to straw/yellow to fiery orange-red. They are very popular pets and are extremely adaptable to different habitats, such as woodland, scrubland, and grasslands.
Bearded Dragons are ideal pets for adults or kids and are often used in schools as class pets. They take up less space than dogs or cats and are much cleaner. Bearded Dragons are not prone to bad health, but they can get worms or mites. If your pet is bleeding from a wound or internally, paralyzed, has abnormal swellings on any part of its body, has a broken bone, or has ingested a potentially toxic substance, take it to the vet right away.
Bearded Dragons have long facial hair, which makes them unique among reptiles. They are primarily desert dwellers but spend the hottest part of the day in relatively cool areas. The temperature in their enclosure during the day should range from 76 F (24 C) on the cool side to 86 F (30 C) on the warm side, with their basking area ranging from 90-100 F (32-37.7 C).