Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have just taken in an unwanted bearded dragon and I have some questions. Firstly Id like to know what her color morph is(if shes not a regular one) She has an orange and black "beard" and her body is pale orange grey and brown with some black. Secondly I really want to give her the best care I can and i was wonderin what and how is it best to feed her? I was told shes a sub adult and she was previously fed crickets twice a week and peas everyday. Should I feed her differently? Please help with any info that will make her happy and healthy!

I can't see the image.

Short course....assuming you have no experience with lizards...
The dragon needs exposure to UVB light either from direct sunlight or from a UVB linear/tube light in order to produce vitamin D3 so that it can use the calcium in its diet. The UVB should not pass through glass or plastic.

It also needs a basking light set up so that the temperature in the basking area is in the high 80's F. A regular incandescent household bulb in a hood is fine for this. The wattage is determined by what brings the basking temperature into the right range. Appropriate basking temperatures aid in food digestion and thus nutrient absorption.

Since most of the feeder insects used have a poor ratio of calcium to phosphorous, dusting the insects with a phos.-free calcium powder before feeding them to your dragon will help to make up for this.

I also dust twice a month with a vitamin powder that contains a beta carotene source of vitamin A. Beta carotene won't build up in the system like preformed vitamin A will. Excess preformed vitamin A can prevent the D3 from doing its job and lead to MBD.

If your dragon gets no direct sunlight, then it would be useful to dust with a phos.-free calcium/D3 powder twice a month too.
D3 from supplements can build up in the system too...so don't overdo it.

Its important to feed your insects a nutritious diet and gutload them before feeding them to your dragon. Crickets can be fed an assortment of greens (dandelion, kale, endive, collards, escarole, mustard greens, etc.) and veggies (carrots, sweet potato, sweet red peppers, zucchini, squash, etc.)

Your dragon can be fed the same assortment of greens and veggies...as well as a small amount of fruit (apple, pear, berries, melon, etc.)

Phos., calcium, D3 and vitamin A are important players in bone health and should be kept in balance. When looking at balancing them you need to look at what you feed the dragon, what you feed to the insects and the supplements you use.

Good luck!

The last post has a lot of good information but basking spot temperature should be about 105 with a hot side ambient temp. of 85 to low 90's. Cool side should be room temp.

Live food should be fed daily for about the first year and a half. I use RepCal for both calcium and multivitamin. I dust every live meal with calcium except one a week I dust with the multivitamin. Below is a good site for greens and vegs.

http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com/Nutrition.html

Here is a good care sheet.

http://www.dachiu.com/care/abeard.html

Ok thamks alot! Here is a link to the pic of her can anyone identify?

http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/photo.php?id=362058

Definitely an Inland bearded dragon...as for color morph...hard to say, maybe pastel.
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PHLdyPayne