The bearded dragon is a member of the reptile family and also a popular pet among reptile enthusiasts is a sensitive animal and that is the reason it is never suggested for a beginner to pet a bearded dragon.
Before keeping a bearded dragon a pet you need to keep know everything about them so that you do not face any sort of problem while you are taking care of them because they are completely dependent upon you for everything that they need inside the captivity. So in this article, we will discuss the bearded dragon husbandry so that we can know about them in a more informed manner.
Contents
Housing
The beaded dragon are recommended to be housed alone because of their domination and aggressive nature. The tank in which they are kept should be around 10 to 20 gallons for a juvenile bearded dragon and for an adult around 15 to 20 gallons but only if they are kept alone.
There should be apt space inside the tank for the bearded dragon so that they can easily roam inside the tank due to enough available space and another reason is that they should not feel suffocated in a small tank. In the small tank, the bearded dragons feel stressed which is not a good thing and this can lead to an unhealthy lifestyle for them.
Substrate
Another important aspect inside the tank of the bearded dragon is the substrate. The substrate that should be used inside the tank should be safe, non-irritant on their skin, non-toxic, retains humidity, hygienic, and also that is easy to clean and maintain.
The substrate should have all these features so that they can stay safely and comfortably inside their tank. You can use substrates like newspapers, paper towels, vinyl tile, etc. that are safe for your bearded dragon as they do not cause any sort of problem to them. You need to clean or replace the substrate every 1 or 2 days so that you can maintain proper hygiene inside the tank and your bearded dragon is not having any sort of problem.
Temperature
The temperature is a very important factor for your bearded dragon to live a happy and healthy life inside the captivity. So you need to maintain a proper temperature that is apt for them only then they will be able to survive otherwise they fall ill and this can also further lead to their fatal death.
The daytime temperature should be around 85 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit on the warmer side and 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit on the cooler side. But during the night the temperature should be around 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the enclosure. These apt temperatures should be maintained inside the enclosure of the bearded dragon so that they can dwell comfortably inside the tank that is kept under captivity.
Health problems
The health problems that can occur to your bearded dragon due to various reasons and you can observe that when the bearded dragon starts acting abnormally.
The bearded dragon can suffer from diarrhea, loss of appetite, loss of energy, swelling of limbs, lethargic behavior, etc. you can notice such symptoms in your pet, and in such conditions when you cannot do anything it is recommended to take your bearded dragon to the vet and provide them with immediate medical attention so that they can live a happy and healthy life and the vet can give them the right type of diagnosis.
Nutrition
The bearded dragons can be fed with a variety of items in their diet. The bearded dragon should be fed vegetables on a regular basis because of the high nutrition content in it. You can feed them on veggies like mustard greens, dandelion greens, collard greens, etc. as these are the healthy choices of veggies for the bearded dragon. These veggies should be chopped into small pieces or mashed properly so that they are easy to digest for the bearded dragon and then they should be fed to them.
Giving them insects like crickets are also recommended so that they can get a good amount of proteins and vitamins and these insects should be small in size and you can also dust the vitamin and mineral supplements on them so that you can provide them with all sorts of nutrients.
Worms can also be fed to them but not on a daily basis but as a treat, because worms have lots of fats and do not have high nutrition content so it is recommended to feed them with worms as a treat once or twice a month. Vegetables like green beans, sweet potato, squash, etc. should also be given to them occasionally because on regular basis even they do not hold much nutritive value.
Water
Water is essential for the bearded dragon and the bearded dragon acquire most of their water from their food. But it is also necessary to provide a bowl of water inside their enclosure but make sure it is clean and fresh. Refill the water bowl every day even if it is not used change the water.
Sometimes the bearded dragon may drink from that water bowl. Also, another reason for having the water bowl inside the captivity is that it helps in marinating the proper amount of humidity inside their enclosure so that they can love comfortably inside their captivity. You can use water dripper inside the bearded dragon tank.
Conclusion:
The bearded dragon is an animal and a sensitive one too and that is the reason we need to take care of them and handle them with care.
We need to know them properly first before keeping them as a pet so that we can give them a right type and a comfortable lifestyle so that they do not have to face any problem inside the captivity. You need to understand them nicely and provide them with everything they need and in this manner, you will observe that your bearded dragon is living a happy and healthy life inside the enclosure without any sort of problem.
