How to Care for Bearded Dragons is an informative article regarding a very popular and charming lizard. It’s difficult for some people to understand that it is quite possible to form a close emotional bond with lizards. There are personality differences in almost every species of creature, right down to a pet tarantula, but this is highly evident in the endearing bearded dragon. It is for this very reason, its wonderful personality, that the bearded dragon is widely considered the most popular pet lizard in the world.http://www.dachiu.com/ There are other reasons, of course.

Bearded dragons remain a very manageable size, rarely exceeding 10 inches in body length. They are docile, easy to handle, curious, fun, and exceedingly fond of their owners when handled properly and with frequency. This is a sturdy little lizard, with a thicker skin than a Chameleon or Gecko, making it ideal for a “starter” lizard, particularly with children. They won’t fetch a ball, but you can actually play with a bearded dragon, if you do so gently. They thrive on attention.http://ezinearticles.com/

In this page, How to Care for Bearded Dragons, you will learn:

1. How to Select your Pet Bearded Dragon from Babyhood
2. How to House your Bearded Dragon
3. How to Feed your Bearded Dragon
4. How to Properly Care for your Bearded Dragon

In general, you will learn what to expect from this wonderful creature. Do some research with Lizard books and on the Internet before you bring home the baby, but raising your “Beardie” (the nickname for a bearded dragon)reptilepets.co.za: [1] from infancy is a bundle of fun, and all the better for your relationship with your pet. A bearded dragon can live a healthy life up to about 8 years.

It’s a good idea to have the Bearded Dragon Habitat set up and the food source readily available before you select and purchase your bearded dragon. This not a difficult process, nor a lengthy one, but your bearded dragon will settle in far more readily if it is immediately comfortable in its home and surroundings. You can keep the habitat very simple, or have some fun with purchased (not gathered) Reptile Decorassociatedcontent.com: [2], which will enhance the bearded dragon’s existence and contribute to its health. They are intelligent creatures, and a few extra items in the habitat increase its decorative appeal and make for a much happier lizard.

If at all possible, purchase your Bearded Dragon from a Reptile Breeder or a pet store that specializes in Reptiles and Alternative Pets. Here's what to look for. Just like a kitten, a bearded dragon purchased too young is not going to do well. Try to determine that the baby is at least 8 weeks old.beardeddragoncare.net: [http://www.beardeddragoncare.net/buying-a-baby-bearded-dragon/ Look at its behavior. It should be lively, but not frantic. From time to time, it might stop and cock its head. This is a good trait. It is the nature of the creature to be curious, to look and listen. Perky is good. Listless is bad. Look at its limbs, especially where they meet the body. They will be very thin, but not so thin that the baby isn't moving well. This is a sign of malnourishment.

Be sure to hold the lizard you intend to buy.petplace.com: [1] With help from the reptile handler at the store, hold it in the palms of your hands at eye level. Be careful. They are fearless jumpers. It should be bright eyed and unafraid of you. If it is lackluster, it is probably not healthy. If it is comfortable in your warm hands, it means that it is used to humans and will swiftly adjust to life at your house, as a contented member of your family.

The ideal habitat for your bearded dragon is a Glass Aquarium tank with a Mesh Cage Top that locks tight.drsfostersmith.com: [1] They are champion climbers, and can easily escape if the lid is not secure. A 40-gallon Aquarium is the minimum size you will need for an adult bearded dragon, so you can start out with one that large, or start with a 20-gallon Tank and go bigger as the lizard grows. Glass is best because it is easy to clean. Plus, you can put a small amount of warm water in the bottom of the tank after cleaning, for a baby bearded dragon bath. This is essential to the health of your pet. It will wiggle in the warm water, which helps it to clean off shed skin and to hydrate.

In the bottom of the tank, place a layer of "Substrate" or bedding. For very young dragons, folded newspaper or paper towling is best, to avoid any nibbling or choking on other types of bedding. Many bearded dragon owners stick with the layers of newspaper throughout the lizard's life, without a problem. Other forms of substrate can be used when the lizard is older. There are many to choose from, including Fine Gravel, Desert Sand, and more.dogbreedinfo.com: [2] Be careful not to choose something in which crickets can hide.

Give your beardie something to climb on, especially when it is little. When it hatches, a baby bearded dragon's instinct is to climb as high and as fast as it can in the wild, to avoid predators, to the top of the forest canopy. There they consume small insects until it is safe to descend to the forest floor. A Reptile Hammockclassylizard.com: [3] with suction cups that stick to the sides of the glass tank is perfect. Just make sure it is low enough that the baby can hop on without a problem.

Give your Lizard something to hide under. This is primarily for sleeping purposes. A "Half-round Log", available at the pet store or on the Internet, is perfect for sleeping under and for sitting on when the lizard is awake and basking.

Always provide a Basking Area.pet-lizards.com: [4] On one end of the tank, place a specialized light with proper UVA, UVB and heat rays for Reptiles. The reptile personnel at the pet store will be able to recommend options. Add a nice smooth rock to the basking area if you like, in addition to the rounded log. This is a big favorite with bearded dragons.

When lights are on or off, the tank needs to be warm. a Stick-On Reptile Heating Pad placed UNDER the glass is ideal. Not within the Vivarium, or it will be too hot. 2 Stick-On Thermometers will help you maintain an ambient temperature of about 80 degrees on the cool end, and about 105 degrees on the basking end.uk.answers.yahoo.com: [5]

Provide two shallow small dishes. One is for water, and should be kept clean and full at all times. The other is for food, and can be removed when no food is present. Then it is associated with food when introduced, which may encourage healthy eating. This is usually not a problem with bearded dragons. They are very good eaters.

Keep the habitat clean at all times. Your pet's health is at stake. reptileknowledge.com: [6]

Bearded dragons are Omnivores, meaning they need protein and vegetation. They should be given small prey animals such as Crickets and Meal Worms. This is a critical piece of information — never feed a dragon a cricket that, end to end, is wider than the baby's mouth. It will choke.draconian.com: [1] Start with Small Crickets and work up to medium and large as the lizard grows. "Dusting" the crickets with Reptile Calcium Powder provides this essential nutrient to your pet. Read the directions on the product, or ask the reptile personnel to recommend a technique. There are several, including Cricket Dusters. Give the beardie as many crickets as it will readily consume in about 15 minutes. Remove excess crickets.

Small meal worms are popular with baby bearded dragons, and they will work their way all the way up to Super Worms as adults. Some owners feed their adult lizards newborn "Pinky Mice", although many opt not to and still have a perfectly healthy pet.

Fresh food is essential. Daily, provide produce for your pet. When it is a baby, place small bits or lettuce or other easily edible fruits or vegetables in the feeding dish. Keep the lettuce to a minimum. There is a lot of water content in it which is good, but may cause diarrhea. Never feed iceberg or "head lettuce" which is useless. Romaine is the best lettuce to use. Try collard greens, dandelion greens, figs, papaya, strawberries, grated squash or bits of banana. Mix it up from day to day. All of these foods have high concentrations of vitamins and nutrients, so a varied diet is best. Remove any uneaten produce at the end of the day, and be particularly careful to remove any uneaten crickets, dead or alive. They attract ants. dachiu.com: [2]

If you want something nice to look at, buy a fish. If a bearded dragon is isolated or ignored, it will become surly and quickly revert to wild behavior. Gently hold your baby dragon daily. Work with placing it on your shoulder which may become its favorite spot. Some owners take their beardies with them. Be careful. Buy a properly sized Reptile Harness and make sure it is secure before venturing out.anapsid.org: [1] Bearded dragons are very gregarious and love people, so they enjoy visiting if the environment is safe.

Never expose your bearded dragon to Direct Sunlight for any prolonged period of time if it is in a container, like its aquarium. It may enjoy a sunbath with you, but make sure it does not cook under too much sun. Many adult bearded dragons like to sunbathe on logs while their habitats are being cleaned.answersingenesis.org: [2]

Especially if you have two or more females, multiple bearded dragons can coexist peacefully and happily throughout their lives.essortment.com: [3] Don't show favoritism. Give each lizard equal time. When you are not available, they will have one another for company, which is important. Again, to keep your bearded dragon tame and happy, human or other beardie contact is essential. Isolation and neglect will ruin this animal.

Mist the habitat to maintain a low level of humidity. Use a Mister or standard spray bottle set to "fine spray." This is especially important with the babies, who begin by licking the water drops off the sides of the glass of their aquarium before they learn to drink from a dish.

If you want to get artistic with the habitat, there are "Aquarium Backdrops" available at most pet stores. Since bearded dragons are indigenous to Inland New South Wales, Australia, a Desert Scene Backdrop is best and will make your pet feel right at home. A rain forest scene may prove frustrating, because the lizard may want to climb the "trees" it sees.

Have fun with your bearded dragon. The more you hold and pet it, the better you both will be.