Bearded Dragons

Bearded Dragons can make interesting pets. They stare at you with their beady eyes and make you wonder if they are going to move. A friend of mine would walk around with hers on her shoulder. It would blend in with clothes and I wouldn't notice it until it moved. While that is pretty cool, beardies have specific care needs that are important to their health. Here is a brief overview of their unique needs.

* You will need space for at least a 55 gallon aquarium for full grown bearded dragons. Screened lids should be used to allow for air circulation and illumination from a light source.

* Slate tile works best as it absorbs heat quickly and stays warm. It is also easy to clean. Juvenile dragons should never have a loose substrate. They can easily pick up and eat loose substrate which then gets stuck in the intestines causing illness and even death. Flat, not shredded, newspaper is best for hatchlings.

* Light, light and more light. Bearded Dragons are native to Australia and require full spectrum light for 12 to 14 hours a day. Make sure you have a place in your house that you won't mind the light being on a lot. Be sure to buy a light specifically made for reptiles.

* You will also need a heat light or basking light. Bearded Dragons are heliothermic meaning they lay out in the sun to get warm. Keep two thermometers in your tank, one on either end to regulate the temperature. The basking spot should be about 105 degrees Fahrenheit while the coolest part of the tank should not get lower than 75 degrees Fahrenheit during the 14 hour day. At bedtime the temperature can go down to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, but should you heat up the tank again the next morning.

* Bearded Dragons actually can eat a wide variety of foods. They are omnivorous eating plants and animals. Crickets will be their main diet. You will need to buy them as insects taken from the backyard can have unknown parasites. Avoid fireflies as they are toxic to beardies.

* Many green leafy vegetables are great for these lizards. However, avoid spinach and carrots. Too much Vitamin A can cause toxicity. You will also want to add a multivitamin and calcium supplement to your bearded dragon's diet.

* They are generally calm tempered and friendly toward people.

* They live on average 5 - 8 years, some have lived to 10 years.

* Like the beta fish, beardies are territorial and should be kept in separate tanks. If you want more than one, you will need a big house!

* Pogona vitticeps is the most widely captive-bred dragon and can reach on average a length between 18 to 22 inches.