The bearded dragon species of reptiles are native to Australia, and are found in the central and inland locations of Australia. Beardies that are sold in pet stores are generally bred in captivity, in contrast to being captured in the wild as they are only found in Australia. Understanding the natural habitat for the lizards is important in providing the proper care for them, and the housing structure for the dragons should recreate their natural habitat.
They are naturally found in arid areas that are either semi-desert types or open woodland type, which produce high temperatures suitable for the bearded lizards. One should thoroughly research bearded dragon care before purchasing one as a pet, listed below is a complete overview of the basic care requirements that must be provided in order for the reptiles to be healthy.
Cage or Housing Structure
A standard reptile cage or vivarium will suffice for containing the bearded dragon, though adequate space must be provided. For young dragons that are less than six inches in length, a twenty gallon aquarium will provide reasonable accommodations; where an adult will require twice the space as a young bearded lizard. Naturally, bearded dragons enjoy perching on rocks and high places to prove its dominance; which means the cage should provide room for it to move around and climb up to a considerable height to perch. The cage should be designed to create the look of the natural habitat, and provide the proper living conditions. A substrate should be placed in the bottom of the cage, and certain guidelines apply to the substances placed in the cage.
Substrate Composition
The substrate is material placed in the cage that the bearded dragon will live on; an example of substrate is carpet, as humans walk on it in their home. There are many options for the type of substrate to use, though certain considerations should be taken into account when making a selection.
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Sand: One of the most controversial substrates, as it is not commonly used for beardies. The sand is said to cause impaction in the young as they ingest the sand while feeding, which makes sand a bad choice for young dragons; though some have been known to use sand without it causing any harm, it is not recommended.
Newspaper: The cheapest substrate to use and it is also the most available for consistent use. The newspaper substrate is easily maintained and inexpensive to dispose of and replace. The only drawback is the appearance of the newspaper, which also reduces the similarity to the natural habitat.
Ceramic Tiles: Ceramic tiles may be used as a substrate, and they are easily cleaned and maintained. The benefit of using ceramic tiles is the heating capability of the tiles, which would provide the optimum basking area for the dragon.
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Temperature & Lighting
A temperature gradient is required for a healthy, active bearded dragon; proper lighting and photoperiods are required as well. The bearded lizards are Thermoregulation reptiles, meaning they heat and cool their body to maintain the optimum temperatures. The dragon must be provided with a basking area that ranges from 90 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and a shaded are that ranges from 75 to 85 degrees. A constant temperature throughout the cage is unhealthy for bearded dragons, and temperatures that fall below 80 to 95 degrees will produce undesirable health effects.
Proper lighting is required to emit UV-A and UV-B rays of light, and should be timed to recreate the natural photoperiods the bearded dragons are accustomed to. This diurnal reptile requires light and dark periods depending on the season; the dragons are most active in spring and the photoperiod should be set for twelve hours of light and twelve hours of darkness. The photoperiod may be created by manually turning of the lights each day, or using an automated light control timer. Despite the quality of artificial lighting used, bearded dragons should still be occasionally exposed to sunlight because of the level of UV-B rays emitted from the sun.
Food & Feeding Guide
There are many commercially produced products that may be used to feed the bearded dragons, though they might be hesitant to eat it. The bearded dragons prefer live food, and live meals have been proven to be the best for the bearded dragons care. The proper amount of nutrients and vitamins must be consumed by the dragons, especially with young dragons. This makes crickets a popular choice for feeding, as they are small and may easily be gut loaded.
Gut loading, commonly accomplished with crickets, is the act of feeding insects vegetables that are high in vitamins and nutrients; the gut loaded insect is then fed to the dragon and the dragon receives the nutrients and vitamins that were gut loaded. When using crickets it is important to gut load them the night before the crickets are going to be fed to the dragons, as high levels of vitamins can easily kill crickets. The crickets are commonly used because they will eat anything, simplifying the gut loading process; they also provide fat and proteins that are essential for bearded dragons. Read more..
Source: http://EzineArticles.com
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There are selections of how that can be done to be able to extend the particular bearded dragon lifespan. By using the proper treatment as well as method, your own bearded dragon may stay lengthier but wholesome. The actual attentive bearded mythical beasts tend to be much healthier than these wild-caught bearded mythical beasts. They are able to reside lengthier when their particular proprietor can provide them with the appropriate take care of them to outlive.
ReplyDeleteBearded dragons communicate through body language, using special movements to relay a message to other dragons or predators. There are a few common movements that they make, as well as some other common activities that the reptile will do to display certain characteristics. Common behavior of bearded lizards is the same in the wild and in captivity, and the behaviors should be learned in order to properly care for a bearded dragon.bearded dragon care
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