Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all, this weekend i took some photos of my friends bearded dragons. I have always liked them but after spending some time with these cool lizards i think i want one. or two Please feel free to comment on the photos. I'm new to brearded dragons but i think the yellow one looks really nice. What do i know, i breed boas

Christian

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christian@redwoodreptiles.com
www.redwoodreptiles.com

welcome to the world of beardies. they are addicting, just a warning.

well first of all they take much more time and care than snakes. unlike a snake dragons need to be fed 3-4 times a day depending on age. a single baby dragon can eat up to and sometimes more than 75 crickets a day. adults a bit less since they are fed mostly greens when 12-14 months. live prey should be no bigger than the space between your dragons eyes. crickets and roaches, hornworms, are best. waxworms are ok as a treat. super worms, mealworms are also good as treats but for older dragons as their shell is too hard for babies to properly digest. insects and greens should be dusted 3-5 times a week with calcium powder that is phosphorus free, or minimum amount. also a multivitamin should be put on veggies or insects as well.

housing:
an adult bearded dragon needs a cage from 3 feet long minimum, 4 feet recommended. bigger is better. depth 2 feet, height 20-24 inches. glass cages are often used but not recommended. i house my own in white melamine cages i build myself, as do most breeders. if you do use glass cages, line the back and 2 sides with white contact paper, i used adhesive shelf liner when i had glass. dragons also need a basking platform on one side of the cage where the heat lamp will be. drift wood, or flat rock can be used. rocks however do heat up and can burn your dragons belly, so id use drift wood personally. make sure you disinfect everything you use in your dragons cage. 1 part bleach 10 parts water can be used as a disinfectant. baking your drift wood at 100 degrees in the oven works too, just make sure it doesnt burn

lighting:
first of all you need a UVB source. this is a MUST to prevent MBD *metabolic bone disease* i used zoo med reptisun 10.0 UVB bulbs. these come in compact florescents and regular florescents. i prefer the regular to run the entire length of the cage, recommended.
you will also need a basking heat lamp. dont waste your money in a pet shop on the expensive fixures and bulbs. get a clamp lamp dome light from walmart, home depot, lowes, etc that can use up to 250 watt bulbs. then use a basic house bulb or flood light. temps on basking spot need to be 110-115 for baby beardies, and 110 for adults. if they feel too hot they will gape their mouths or move away. they also need a cool spot in the cage, around 80-85 degrees. run all of these lights for about 12-14 hours a day, turn off at night. a timer works well in this situation.

for more information, read any of the care sheets on kingsnake and take a look around the forums. dont be afraid to ask questions. also check out the site i posted and read their nutrition and care sheets.

www.beautifuldragons.com
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Beach Beardies

3.4.11 bearded dragons
1.0.0 Turquoise x Sunburst Veiled Chameleon
1.1.0 Sugar Gliders
0.1.0 Miss Queen Athena (Cat)

oh yes i forgot water

dragons can be trained to drink out of a shallow dish at a young age. water should be provided once a day in a shallow dish, but does not need to be kept in the cage all of the time. misting your dragon with a spray bottle of water is a must at least 2 times a day. shedding dragons more often to soften the skin. they will lap up the water off their noses, and the sides of the cage. also bathing your dragon in warm water is always good and fun for your dragon. i do this once a week. they almost always poop in the bathtub so be sure to clean that out when it happens. also make sure to clean that up asap when they go in their cages. insects will eat it and then it gets back into your dragon.
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Beach Beardies

3.4.11 bearded dragons
1.0.0 Turquoise x Sunburst Veiled Chameleon
1.1.0 Sugar Gliders
0.1.0 Miss Queen Athena (Cat)