Pataskeypet

Bearded Dragons:Bearded dragons come originally from Australia. The most common kind to be sold in pet stores is the inland Bearded Dragon.The inland bearded dragon is also sometimes called Central or yellow-headed Bearded Dragon.The Inland Bearded Dragon lives in the arid woodlands and deserts of central Australia. It spends much of its waking hours in bushes and trees, and is also found basking on rocks. When it is extremely hot, the bearded dragon will burrow underground. The bearded dragon is an omnivore.It forages for food such as insects, small lizards and mammals, fruit, flowers, and other plant material during the day time.

Habitat: You should have a snug snapping lid and smooth side to the enclosure because he/she might hurt their noses on the side of the tank. Never use a wire cage because it does not retain heat and might make them have foot and nose trauma. Cages should be simple in design to help with cleaning (You will have to clean all the time). Aquariums can be used to house a bearded dragon/multiple bearded dragons, babies can be housed in 10-15 gallon aquariums and adults should be housed at the minimum 45-50 gallon aquariums. Substrate is the stuff that lines the bottom of the enclosure, the substrate should be something easy to clean, digestible if swallowed, absorbent, and inexpensive. Some kind of substrate are news paper, brown wrapping paper, indoor-outdoor carpet, and AstroTurf. Do not use sedar shavings,gravel, crushed corn cob, kitty litter,wood shavings, or potting soil.that may contain pesticides,vermiculite, fertilizer,or wetting agents. Branches for climbing and basking under the secondary heat source should be secure. These branches should be of various sizes and not ooze pitch or have a sticky sap; oak works very well. The branches should be as wide as the width of the Bearded Dragon. Boards covered with indoor/outdoor carpet also make good climbing posts. Flat-bottomed, smooth rocks are a good addition to the habitat, and can help wear down the toenails, which in captivity, must be clipped often. Reptiles like a place where they can hide. This could be an empty cardboard box, cardboard tube, or flower pot. The hiding place should provide a snug fit and should be high in the enclosure. If your Bearded Dragon does not use its hiding place, try a different one or move it to a different location. Appropriate plants in the enclosure can provide humidity, shade, and a sense of security. They also add an aesthetic quality to the enclosure. Be sure they are nontoxic. Dracaena, Ficus benjamina, and hibiscus are good choices. Be sure the plants have not been treated with pesticides and the potting soil does not contain vermiculite, pesticides, fertilizer, or wetting agents. Washing the plant with a water spray and watering it thoroughly several times to the point where water runs out of the bottom of the pot, should help remove toxic chemicals, which may have been used. Keeping purchased plants in a different part of the house for a while before putting them in the enclosure will also be helpful. Temperature: Bearded Dragons are cold-blooded animals from arid woodlands and desert environments, and require supplamental het for digestion. They prefer 78-88°F during the day and temperatures in the 70's at night. If a reptile is cold, it cannot properly digest its food and is more likely to become ill. Lizards like a temperature gradient so if they are cold, they can move to a warmer part of the cage and vice versa. Place a good quality thermometer in the cage at the level the Bearded Dragon spends most of its time so you canmonitor the temperature. Water and humidity: Although Bearded Dragons receive most of their water requirement from the food they eat, fresh drinking water should be available at all times in a shallow bowl that cannot be tipped over. Proper humidity is necessary for proper shedding. Especially during the winter months when the humidity is low, mist the Bearded Dragon with water several times a week. Some Bearded Dragons appear to enjoy soaking in a tub of water. Be sure the Bearded Dragon is able to get in and out of the container easily. You will need to clean the container and replace the water regularly, since the dragon may urinate or defecate in the water. In fact, water usually stimulates them to eliminate, so immersing them in water is a part of the treatment for constipation.