Basic Bearded Dragon Care Guidelines

Reptiles make great pets for those with the proper mindset, and Bearded Dragons are among the most popular of those reptile pets. They are sturdy, just small enough, and eat simple, variant diets. With a lifespan of up to fifteen years, they can be a good long term pet, but only with the proper care and attention to the lifestyle and necessities of their diets.

Because they are desert creatures, Bearded Dragons are used to a substantial influx of sunlight. Without the vitamins and calcium acquired from that absorption, Bearded Dragons can become ill quickly. For that reason, keeping a UVA or UVB light on them for the sunlight hours of their day is vital. Often, vitamin supplements mixed into their diets are good as well. Diseases related to the bones’ weakening through Vitamin D, Calcium and Phosphorous deficiencies can include Metallic Bone disease and various other painful issues in your bearded dragon.

Keeping your bearded lizard’s enclosure clean is incredibly important. The possibility of parasites or diseases infiltrating their environment through food or enclosure additions is constant, and for that reason you should keep a close eye on your lizard for any signs of these diseases. Things like weight loss or unhealthy droppings can be directly attributed to a parasite introduced to their space. If you ignore the signs, the parasite could eventually cause the death of your bearded dragon, or at least extreme health problems. A veterinarian can offer quick and easy solutions for treating these issues.

The environment itself, while fairly stable most of the time can cause problem with your beard dragon’s respiratory system if not kept stable. As a cold blooded creature, low levels of heat and too much moisture can spell immediate health problems for your bearded dragon. These can include anything from clogged nostrils to raspy breathing. Immediate care with antibiotics and the adjustment of your tank’s conditions will repair such issues usually without further harm.

If you decide to breed your bearded dragons, or if your female merely happens to get pregnant, it is important to give her a good, comfortable nesting place. Without the nesting place, she could suffer from egg binding, mostly common the first time a female breeds. Besides nesting areas, it is important to ensure your female dragon is mature enough for mating. Immediately see a vet in this case, as egg binding most often leads to death.

A recent problem to arise in bearded dragons is adenovirus. Preying on smaller animals, adenovirus is hard to catch because of its similarity to other health problems. If problems persist after careful treatment, quickly see a vet. As a fatal disease, adenovirus is often not caught until the lizard has already passed.

When purchasing a bearded dragon, keep in mind that these wonderful pets are no different than most other pets in that they require careful attention to keep from becoming ill. With proper attention and care, a bearded dragon can be expected to live a long and healthy life.