Taking care of a bearded dragon is an exciting yet often underestimated responsibility, causing many new owners to be misinformed. From using undersized tanks to improper feeding practices, the beardies in these situations are fated for misery as soon as they’re adopted. However, this article offers a clear summary to help you provide the necessary care ensuring a fulfilling experience for both you and your new pet.
Bearded dragons require appropriate housing, proper nourishment, and engagement to thrive. As an owner, you can care for your beardie by replicating its ideal environment to ensure it lives a long and healthy life.
Without further ado, let’s get the details over with.
9 Essential Care Tips for Your Bearded Dragon: Everything You Need to Know
Caring for a bearded dragon involves several important precautions. Here are the 9 key points summarized for your convenience:
1. Get An Appropriately Sized Terrarium
Choosing a suitable tank is the first step in creating the ideal setup for your bearded dragon. If you’re starting with a hatchling, a 50 to 70-gallon tank may suffice temporarily, but it’ll eventually need a larger enclosure.
Adult bearded dragons require at least a 120-gallon tank to thrive, as cramped or poorly enriched spaces can stress them and negatively impact their health. Besides, it’s more efficient and cost-effective to invest in the correct tank size from the beginning rather than starting small and upgrading later as your bearded dragon grows.
2. Provide a Suitable Diet
Bearded dragons have a distinct diet that differs from typical pets like cats or dogs. Their protein primarily comes from insects such as dubia roaches, superworms, mealworms, and crickets. Meanwhile, complementary but crucial nutrients like carbs, vitamins, and minerals are provided by staple veggies like collard, mustard, and dandelion greens. If you’ve read my article on the bearded dragon diet, you’ll know exactly what to feed your pet to ensure a healthy, happy lifestyle, and importantly, what to avoid as some foods can be harmful.
3. Ensure Proper Food Rations
Bearded dragons require specific ratios of greens and proteins depending on their stages of development. Each stage comprises a different type of metabolism and thus different nutrient prerequisites. Baby bearded dragons have a fast metabolism, and require more protein than other stages to aid growth and development. Contrarily, adult beardies need more vegetables since they are already fully developed and have a slow metabolism.
The table below provides a visual description of your pet dragon’s dietary needs:
| AGE | Fraction in Percent (Bugs & Veggies) | Number of Insects |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 3 months (Baby dragon) | 70/30 | 25 – 50/day |
| 3 to 6 months (Juvenile) | 70/30 | 25 – 50/day |
| 6 to 9 months (Pre-Adult) | 60/40 | 20/day |
| 9+ months (Adult) | 30/70 | 10/day |
4. Implement the Correct Lighting and Temperature
Light and heat are crucial aspects of bearded dragon care. Bearded dragons require UVB lamps (view on Amazon) for vitamin D synthesis and utilization, which enables proper growth. Heat lamps (view on Amazon), on the other hand, provide the necessary warmth for digestion and temperature regulation. Though similar, UVB and heat lamps have different properties and benefits for your beardie and must be used simultaneously.
Without proper lighting or heating, your bearded dragon can suffer from serious health issues, such as life-threatening impaction, respiratory infections, or skeletal deformities. While heat lamps are responsible for raising the temperature inside the tank, you might also need a ceramic heat emitter if you live in cold areas to maintain a proper temperature gradient.
This gradient entails a basking area of 104° to 107° Fahrenheit and a shaded area measuring between 71° and 73° Fahrenheit allowing your pet to bask underneath the heat lamp and move to the shaded area to cool off as needed.
5. Regulate and Monitor The Tank’s Humidity
Bearded dragons thrive in arid or well-ventilated environments. Hence, maintaining humidity levels between 30% and 40% is crucial to prevent illnesses.
If the tank remains humid despite proper ventilation, remove the water bowl (if present) and replace it with a sock filled with raw rice. The rice will absorb excess moisture from the air, helping to keep the tank dry. However, be cautious; excessively low humidity can make shedding difficult for your bearded dragon.
6. Maintain Proper Sanitation
Keep your bearded dragon’s enclosure clean at all times to prevent illnesses. Practice daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning routines to avoid the growth of bacteria or mold. Here are the basic cleaning practices to follow:
Daily:
Remove leftover food, poop, and urate from the tank and wipe off the stains left behind. Use vinegar and water solutions to spot-clean these areas. Baby wipes are effective for spot cleaning, too.
Weekly:
Clean inside the tank every week using vinegar and water solution or a safe reptile terrarium cleaner (view on Amazon) to properly disinfect the tank, especially if you’re housing juvenile dragons who are generally messier.
Monthly:
Clean and sanitize frequently used accessories, such as feeding bowls. For substrates and flooring like tiles or paper, wipe them down or replace them to prevent the buildup of bacteria. If you use soil mixtures, consider replacing some of the soil with fresh material, especially if your bearded dragon frequently defecates in its tank.
7. Handle Your Bearded Dragon With Care
Proper handling is crucial for your bearded dragon’s well-being. Unlike many other pets, bearded dragons can experience significant stress, which can weaken their immune system. Always pick up your bearded dragon by supporting its belly rather than its tail, neck, or limbs to minimize stress during handling,
Handling your pet with care fosters trust and helps ensure that it thrives in a healthy and happy environment. To help you bond better with your pet, I’ve written an article that explains friendship tips for you and your bearded dragon. Remember, patience and gentleness are key to building a strong bond with your bearded dragon.
8. Pay Frequent Visits to The Vet
Regular veterinary visits are essential to ensure your pet is not suffering from any hidden health issues. Schedule appointments with a reptile specialist at least once a month, especially if you notice any unusual behavior in your pet.
Common signs of illness in bearded dragons are:
- Lethargy
- Stress marks (darkening of the beard, belly, and tail)
- Loss of appetite
- Impaction
- Frequent bobbing
- Hand waving
- Sudden aggression
- Hiding habit
- Droopy eyelids
- Star gazing (head sticking upward accompanied by a weird arching pose)
- Pale skin
- Heavy breathing
- Strange walking steps
- Bumps or contortions around limbs, back, or tail
9. Keep Your Bearded Dragon Stimulated
Bearded dragons can become bored due to repetitive routines and understimulation leading to lethargy, obesity, and unusual behaviors. To prevent boredom, engage your pet in mentally stimulating activities by providing toys or creating an interesting enclosure with colorful accessories.
You can also take your bearded dragon for walks using a leash or a carrier. Beardies are curious and intelligent, and they enjoy exploring new environments. However, limit outdoor time to a maximum of three hours as your pet may need to bask in its enclosure to rejuvenate. This balance will help keep your bearded dragon healthy and happy.
How Do I Care for My Baby Bearded Dragon?
Baby beardies are voracious eaters that require frequent and daily feeding. Hatchlings also prefer minimal handling, as they are still fragile and quite skittish. For detailed guidance on feeding your juvenile beardie, please refer to the feeding table provided earlier in this article. Beyond this advice, all other aspects of caring for your baby lizard have been thoroughly covered in our discussion and other bearded dragon care articles published on our website.
How Do I Care for My Pregnant Bearded Dragon?
Pregnant beardies need a diet rich in nutritious vegetables and treats to replenish the nutrients used to develop their eggs. It’s also essential to provide dietary supplements to keep her healthy and strong.
As her pregnancy progresses, provide a separate lay box where she can bury her eggs. Do not use her enclosure as a lay box as this can become uncomfortable for her.
After laying her eggs, if your beardie shows unusual behavior, such as lethargy or difficulty moving, take her to the vet immediately, as she may be experiencing egg binding. Egg binding is a serious and potentially fatal condition where the eggs cannot be laid, leading to severe complications.
How Do I Care for My Senior Bearded Dragon?
Senior beardies are generally less active than those in earlier life stages. During this phase, they need plenty of rest and should be handled less often. It’s important to provide them with a healthy and nutritious diet to keep them strong and support their immune system. Regular veterinary check-ups are essential to monitor their health and detect any potential issues.
