Dave Dixon, world traveler and founder of Bearded Dragons UK has recently updated his Beardie care booklet. If you are already a lover of Bearded Dragons or just now thinking of adopting one, then this information is crucial. It will also help you decide if a Dragon is right for you. Even the most experienced reptile owners will tell you that you never stop learning and what better way to learn than by information provided by an expert. Dave Dixon is not only an expert but cares, having Beardies of his own. Below is Jiggy, a happy Dragon indeed!
Never depend on information from pet stores or the pamphlets they provide. Although well meaning, you are often getting outdated information and at the very worst incorrect information for the sole purpose of making a sale. As is my personal philosophy which has served me well over the years, “Our best resource for keeping out pets happy and healthy is each other.”
General Description: The Inland, or Central Bearded Dragon Lizard originates from Australia and is native to many regions, various habitats and environments. They are known as Pogona which are a group of lizards containing seven species, and are more often known by the popular name bearded dragons or beardies which derives its name from the way they can enlarge or puff out a fold of skin under their lower jaw when angry, disturbed or displaying for breeding purposes. Aside from puffing their beard out, they may also darken the beard to almost black to create a bearded display. They thrive in arid deserts, grasslands and woodlands, in both unpopulated and populated areas and are fascinating to watch. They are excellent climbers, spending time on branches and in large shrubs or bushes, and can even be found on fence posts when living close to human habitation. They will normally be seen basking on rocks and exposed branches in the mornings and afternoons enjoying the maximum heat and UVB rays from the sun. Their temperament is extremely docile trusting and calm, and can normally be easily handled without any fuss and rarely bite thus making them an excellent pet even for supervised children and novices. Adults can reach up to approximately 2ft in length, with the average being nearer 16 – 20 inches. The hatchlings are normally about 3 to 4 inches in length when born (head to tail) and should be 5-6 inches by the end of their first month if cared for correctly under ideal conditions. By eight weeks, they should be at least 6-7 inches in length with considerable more body weight. If the proper care and attention is given, dragons can reach 8 or 9 inches within 2 months, with the average normally being around 8 inches. From 2 – 6 months of age, the average growth rate can be rapid and along with their appetite they increase in length by as much as 1/2 inch a week, with some weeks being possibly as much as 1 inch or more! Bearded dragons have no actual teeth as such, but they have ridged gums with serrated tooth-like projections that are part of the jaw itself to chew and help break down their food, which work just as well. They also have a long field of vision but a poor depth perception and will sometimes be seen to bump into things.
Basic Information & Requirements: Bearded dragons in captivity can live to be 10-16 years if well cared for properly . Some have reported dragons growing even older. They have a very good temperament as long as they are cared for and handled correctly. When you bring a baby dragon home. It may be quite stressful for him/her until they get used to their new home. They may not eat properly for the first few days or possibly even longer sometimes two weeks or more. They may also not enjoy being handled at first and may even shy away if you try to approach them, or at worst hiss or flair their beard and struggle if you try to pick them up. But given time they will normally settle down with patience and a calm approach.
Be sure your beardie’s enclosure is well prepared prior to bringing it home, and that the temperatures are correct in a suitable sized vivarium with an advised non loose substrate.. Regularly clean the vivarium and ensure faeces are removed as soon as possible to reduce the risks of infections and disease. Clean up by spot cleaning when needed. Clean & sanitize the entire tank every 10-14 days. A good cleaning solution is a 10% bleach solution and rinse well. There are cleaners also available suitable for dragon enclosures at most pet stores. Its a good idea when setting up your vivarium to provide climbing accessories, Rocks and branches to bask and to warm up whilst under the basking heat light, and lower branches or platforms to come down and cool off to control body temperature.
Most importantly of all, do research and read as much information as you can so that you care for your dragon correctly as sadly many get mistreated due to lack of knowledge and fatalities do occur from time to time due to negligence.
For the complete care guide click here https://docs.com/LY8L
