Most pet owners regulate their ambient temperature for their pets around a single point. But that’s not the case with bearded dragon dens. Vivariums need to have a graded heating system for bearded dragons to thrive. It should have a warm spot, a cool location, and a medium heat area. And there’s different bearded dragon basking temp requirements for babies, juveniles and adults.

In the next sections, we’ll get into more detail about bearded dragon basking temp, and how to set up an awesome habitat to keep it healthy and happy.

Cold Blooded Animals

Bearded dragons belong to a category of mammals commonly known as cold-blooded animals. This name often gives people the idea that lizards, snakes, and other reptiles must be terribly cold on the inside. This couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Science was a bit more accurate in describing cold-blood animals, and they are aptly referred to as ectothermic animals. They can’t use food for energy, so they reverse the process. They get heat energy from their environment, and they use it to digest food, move, and stay alive.

In contrast, we have warm-blooded or endothermic animals, like cats and dogs. These guys eat the food and get loads of energy out of it. They use it to keep themselves warm, and for all their living activities. And if they feel hot, they just sweat it off.

Ectothermic animals could become too hot. If they bask in the sun longer than they should, then they’d need to lower their temperature. But they can’t sweat or pant to cool off, so they have to physically move to the shade.

At night, most animals need a cool temperature to unwind and sleep. Bearded dragons seek a place far away from the heat to do that. By sunrise the next day, it would be so cold that it would rush off to its favorite basking spot and soak up the heat.

Bearded Dragon Basking Temp

Bearded dragons spend the best part of the day basking in the sun. While some people assumed that they’re just being lazy, we already know that’s not the case at all.

Basking in the sun has an essential biological function for these lizards. The surroundings of the bearded dragon should reach a certain temperature for its metabolism to work properly. Otherwise, it would be lethargic and cranky.

Interestingly, baby and juvenile bearded dragons favour a different basking temperature than the adults. They need a slightly higher temperature to feel good.

Here’s a more detailed listing of the preferred temperatures for young and older bearded dragons. Including the basking spot, the warm side, and the cool side temperatures.

Basking Lamps

The basking lamp is one of the most important components of the bearded dragon’s vivarium. It should imitate the sunny, bright, hot, and dry desert that lizards prefer. Several types of lamps could be used to recreate this climate.

The most important thing is to get their power right. A small terrarium needs a heat bulb of around 50 watts, while a large one could use a 150 watts bulb.

These lamps should provide UVA and UVB, which are two distinct types of ultraviolet light. And some of them come with internal reflectors to focus the basking heat on a specific spot.

Incandescent Light Bulbs

These are versatile light bulbs that come in various shapes, with a broad range of powers. They are often used as basking lamps, and so they’re mounted on a fixture on one end of the terrarium.

If you have a higher basking ground in the terrarium, you should measure the bearded dragon basking temp on that spot, and make sure it’s not too high for your pet. The spots closer to the lamp are usually hotter than the ones further away.

It’s best to install them without a mesh, as this would filter out the UVA necessary for bearded dragon growth and wellbeing.

Halogen Light Bulbs

These lamps use less electricity than incandescent lamps. At the same time, they’re capable of emitting more heat. This higher tech often comes at a higher price, but many people still favor them as they last for a long time.

Ceramic Heat Emitters

These emitters look a lot like a flattened light bulb. They use a similar technology as the basking lamps to emit heat, but without the light.

Ceramic heat emitters are used mainly as a source of heat during the night. To make sure that the temperature wouldn’t drop below 65 degrees.

Mercury Vapour Globes and Heat Mats

Mercury vapour lamps are highly efficient, and they produce plenty of light and heat. That’s why it’s preferable to place them in larger terrariums than smaller ones. Also, make sure to measure the temperature around it. Overheating any zone isn’t good for the bearded dragon.

Heat mats are used to warm up the substrate part of the terrarium. They’re often taped to the bottom, on one side only.

Daytime vs. Nighttime Temperature

By day, a bearded dragon wants to soak up heat to sort of recharge his batteries. This is how he gets the necessary energy to digest its food, move about, and play. When the day is done and it needs to unwind, then the heat should be disposed of.

That’s why bearded dragons head to a cool place of about 75 degrees. But what if your house is colder than that? Below 65 degrees a bearded dragon could go into a hibernation state called brumation. It could even get sick.

That’s why it’s essential to provide extra heating for the vivarium in the cold season. And it shouldn’t be done by using a hot light. As that would interrupt the bearded dragon’s sleep cycle. It could be set up by using a ceramic heater.

Temperate Gradients

Bearded dragons aren’t finicky eaters, but they are quite picky when it comes to their optimal ambient temperatures.

They need a graded heat profile that starts from the hot zone, which is the basking spot. Moving on to a warm area, then eventually a cool zone. Lizards are incapable of regulating their own temperatures. So they count on nature, or us, to provide a temperature gradient.

Maintenance

Clearly, the temperature in various parts of the vivarium needs to be accurately regulated. This requires a dependable setup of lamps, heaters, and thermometers. It’s also best to provide high ground near the basking lamp and a few shaded hiding places.

Bearded lizards are quite sensitive to heat changes. If their basking lamp becomes ineffective or stops working they’ll be negatively affected until a new one is installed. That’s why it’s best to have a standby lamp in stock.

An accurate thermometer would let you ensure that the right bearded dragon basking temp is delivered. Actually, you’d need several of them to monitor the various heat zones. And you can vary the power of a lamp to suit the material and size of the vivarium.

Conclusion

As a final note, make sure to also monitor and regulate the humidity of the habitat. Keeping a bearded dragon happy isn’t hard at all. Just a few fixtures to setup a nice bearded dragon basking temp, and it’ll blissfully bask in its vivarium.

The post Bearded Dragon Basking Temp appeared first on My Pet Lizard.

To put it in the simplest way possible, impaction is the buildup of food inside the guts or intestines of the bearded dragon, which can cause blockage of the bowels with solid and semi-solid mass.

Read on if you want to know more about the condition, including, symptoms, causes, and treatment.

Signs and Symptoms of Bearded Dragon Impaction

There are some signs that your bearded dragon will show if it’s suffering from impaction, such as:

• Marked change in their mobility behaviors (dragging of the hind limbs with subtle shakiness)
• It’ll seem exhausted and sluggish all the times
• Spits consumed food out, which causes noticeable weight loss
• It may develop a tiny protrusion around the spine
• Resting inside their water bowls

What Causes Bearded Dragon Impaction?

Impaction can happen due to a wide variety of reasons. It’s extremely important to keep an eye for all of these factors to avoid this problematic condition.

The Poor Choice of Substrates

One of the most popular reasons that causes bearded dragon impaction is swallowing the substrates you add for them in their habitat.

A lot of people tend to use sand as a substrate. The problem is, beardies, especially the younger ones, can accidentally eat the loose substrate, leading to a serious case of impaction.

The best candidates for bearded dragons substrates are:

• Ceramic tiles
• Newspaper
• Reptile carpets

Improper Habitat Temperature

Temperatures outside the optimal range for bearded dragons slow down their bowel movements, which can cause impaction.

Make sure that you use problem UV lamps and thermometers to closely monitor the temperature in their habitat.

Large Food Bits

Not paying attention to the size of the bearded dragon’s food bits is a recipe for disaster. Always peel the fruits and get rid of hard to digest bits, such as seeds and rinds before giving them food.

Also, always make sure that your bearded dragon’s food bits are never larger than the distance between their eyes. This way, it won’t block their intestines and cause bearded dragon impaction.

The Hard Exoskeletons of Some Insect Species

The hard shell and exoskeletons on some of the live insects you give to your beardie can also be extremely hard to digest.

Large crickets, mealworms, and their larger versions (superworms) all have hard outer skin and shells, so they should only be fed to adults only and never frequently.

Constipation vs. Bearded Dragon Impaction and How to Differentiate Between Them?

Constipation occurs when the stool becomes difficult to pass. It occasionally happens due to dehydration or when the basking spot is too cool for them. Constipation is a much simpler issue and usually subsides easily with little help on your side.

On the other hand, bearded dragon impaction affects the digestive tract itself and obstructs the bowels. It’s a much more serious issue that won’t go away without treatment. Keep in mind that impaction can also be a complication of long term constipation.

To differentiate between them, check the obvious behavioral changes and weird patterns that the beardie has. The shakiness and bulges at the impaction spots are the best ways to tell the difference.

How to Treat Bearded Dragon Impaction

Here are some methods that you can try to treat impaction in a bearded dragon.

Check the Habitat Temperature

The first and most overlooked cause of impaction is inadequate habitat temperature.

Ideally, the basking spot temperature of an adult beardie should be about 88 to 100 °F and between 105 to 110 °F for juvenile ones.

You can consistently check the basking spot temperature using a Digital Infrared Thermometer.

Reduce Their Insects Intake

One of the most notable causes of impaction is ingesting live insects and feeders that have hard exoskeletons.

If you suspect that your bearded dragon is impacted, giving them more insects will only make the problem worse.

Instead, give your beardie a change of diet, with more soft fruits added to their daily meals.

These fruits can soften the impaction and make it easier to pass. You may also add diluted juices (1:3) and baby applesauce to their daily diet.

Try Giving Them a Bath

Warm water, ideally around 100 °F, stimulates the bearded dragon and encourages them to poop.

They also prefer to poop in the water, and it’s much easier cleanup for you, so it’s a win-win situation!

Keep a nice habit of giving them a weekly warm bath. Not only will it help stay clean and healthy, but it’ll also make them eliminate any mild impaction before it becomes a serious issue.

Give Them a Gentle Massage

While giving your beardies a massage, you can also massage their body to help their bowel movements to pass the impaction.

Start with gentle strokes from head to tail on the belly region but never press too hard, so you don’t harm their skeleton or spine.

Apply Some Home Remedies

There are some common home remedies that can help in passing mild impaction. For example, you can try using olive oil (not vegetable oil) by dropping a few drops on the bearded dragon nose, so they lick it.

The greasy nature of the olive oil has a natural laxative effect that can both soften the impaction and make it easier to pass through the bowels.

When to Seek Vet’s Help?

You may try the previous treatments for as long as a week. However, if the impaction persists or worsens after all these remedies, it’s most likely a more serious case that only a reptile-specific vet can help.

The vet will assess the impaction severity and spot by performing a full-body X-ray. After that, they’ll prescribe treatment depending on their imaging findings, ranging from prescription laxatives and enemas all the way to surgery.

How Much Does an Impaction Surgery Cost?

The price of the surgery will vary greatly depending on the area you’re living in and the level of your vet’s expertise.

However, most bearded dragon impaction surgery would cost anywhere between $300 to $1,200.

Wrap Up

Bearded Dragon impaction is a serious issue that you should always keep in mind if you have a bearded dragon. With that guide, you’ll be able to help your beardie get through the mild ones.

Remember to check the parameters of your bearded dragon’s habitat and make sure that it’s not too cold for them to avoid slowing down their bowel movements.

The post Bearded Dragon Impaction appeared first on My Pet Lizard.

Top 12 Bearded Dragon Facts for Kids

Here a list of the most interesting bearded dragon facts for kids.

1. Are They Really Dragons?

They are certainly not. Actually, bearded dragon lizards are very nice pets, but they do have a tough appearance.

In science, the species of bearded dragons is known as the pogona genus, which contains eight types of similar lizards. They belong to the Agamidae family which is the iguanian type of reptiles. That’s how we know they’re not dragons.

2. Bearded Dragons Look Different in the Wild

Did you know that bearded dragons don’t change their colors as often as chameleons do? And they rarely change their scales into the reds and blues that a chameleon would. Mainly because their natural habitat doesn’t require that high level of camouflage.

The basic beige and tan colors of the bearded dragon are often sufficient for desert life. They do change color however, for a different reason. When these lizards are in a fight or chased by a predator, their beards turn a couple of shades darker.

Their color also changes when it’s too hot or too cold. These natural events aren’t normal for pet bearded dragons. Also, the ones in captivity experience a lot of in-breeding.

That’s why you’d notice a clear color variation for pet bearded lizards if you compare them to the ones in the wild. The domesticated lizards often have yellow, beige, or orange hues. While the wild types are golden brown, dark brown, and black.

3. They’re Not Picky Eaters

Bearded dragon lizards will eat pretty much whatever comes under its powerful mouth. It seems to favor large insects like cockroaches and grasshoppers, but it’ll gladly eat small insects just as well. Worms and little rodents aren’t off the menu either.

Watching this lizard’s voracious appetite for insects and small animals, one might think that it is a dedicated meat-eater or carnivore. But that’s not the case. Bearded dragons are omnivores that also eat flowers, leaves, and fruits. Check out our Bearded Dragon feeding list.

4. They Need the Sun and Moon to Survive

Warm-blooded animals, including humans, digest their food to get energy and stay warm. While cold-blooded animals can’t do that. They need an external source of energy to keep their body temperatures warm. That’s why you’d see many types of reptiles lounging in the sun, soaking up its heat.

Once the lizards’ body temperature rises above a comfortable limit, they scramble off to the shade. And on a particularly hot day, they might open their mouths to let some of that extra heat escape.

By nightfall, bearded lizards and many other reptiles might want to lower their temperature a bit more. It helps them to sleep through the night. So they’ll just leave their warm caves and enjoy the night breeze.

By the time the morning comes, they’ll probably be so cold, and so they rush off again to their favorite sunny spot.

5. They Can Live Up to 14 Years

Bearded dragons usually live up to 12 lears. This is considered a long life in animal years. Of course it can’t be compared to the hundreds of years tortoises usually have.

AIn captivity, there are no natural predators to hunt the bearded dragons. The food is also largely available, and it’s generally well taken care of. That’s why it’s now common to see lizards living for 14 years or more.

6. Bearded Dragons Nod, Wave, and Hiss

Bearded dragons are very entertaining animals. One of my favorite bearded dragon facts for kids is that they often nod and wave.

Snakes, tarantulas, and many types of fish, have a reputation of being extremely unresponsive pets. In a sharp contrast to that, bearded dragons are quite communicative. Especially to other lizards.

When they want to assert their authority, they’ll puff up, nod, and hiss. As for the waving thing, it’s actually quite charming. Young bearded dragons wave in reverence to older ones, females to nice males, and it’s generally a sign of friendliness.

7. Why Do Females Stop Eating and Start Digging?

When females are about to lay eggs, they show a unique behavior. They gradually stop eating, and they seem to focus completely on digging little holes. That’s probably in preparation for having her bearded lizard babies.

8. They Don’t Like Having Roommates

Bearded lizards are such sweet pets. But they don’t extend that same generosity to other members of their species. They’re known to fight with male lizards over territory. And even when they have a female lizard around, they don’t always welcome that newcomer to their terrarium.

9. Australia Doesn’t Sell Bearded Dragons as Pets

In 1960, Australia issued a law that banned selling wild animals as pets. Bearded dragons were hunted before that time, and sold in many parts of the world as exotic animals. While they’re still abundant in the Australian deserts, it’s illegal to try and get one form there.

10. Bearded Dragons Are Clever Climbers

The spines and backward-facing scales on the bearded dragon’s skin help it a lot in climbing. When it goes up the rocks, these spines and scales help it to cling. And as the scales are directed to the back, they keep the lizard from slipping downwards.

They’re also highly coordinated, even though this doesn’t show too well in their wiggly walk. But as climbers, they exhibit plenty of agility.

11. They’re Close Relatives of Iguanas

Bearded dragons come from the same family of iguanas. And it certainly shows in the general appearance of both.

They do live in very different habitats though, so this is bound to leave some marks on their behaviors and lifestyles. Mainly, bearded dragons are more docile, smaller in size, and eat anything. Iguanas are aggressive, large, and purely herbivorous.

12. Bearded Dragons Do Some Brumation in Winter

This is our last bearded dragon facts for kids. When the temperature drops in winter, and the days become much shorter, bearded dragons go into brumation.

This is a state very close to hibernation, but they don’t sleep off the whole season the way frogs and squirrels do. They stop eating, and only drink water from time to time. But they remain awake in a way. This is something they’d do in the wild more often.

Bearded Dragon Facts for Kids: Before We Go

These were some fun bearded dragon facts for kids. But these docile lizards that look so much like mythical dragons are still full of surprises.

The best way to know an animal is by studying where it comes from, and who are its closest relatives. You might also be interested in finding out how it evolved in the last few millions of years. Evolutionary biology is a hugely interesting way to know why things are the way they are today.

The post Bearded Dragon Facts for Kids appeared first on My Pet Lizard.

In today’s article, we’ll walk you through all the information you need to know regarding this topic whether they’re adults or juvenile!

Adult Bearded Dragon Diet

Bearded dragons in general are omnivores, so they can eat fruits, vegetables, insects, and even small animals.

Adult domesticated bearded dragons can easily suffer from obesity due to the lack of movement when compared to their cousins in the wild.

For that reason, their diets should usually be around 25 to 30% of insects and 70 to 75% of fruits and vegetables. This means that feeding them insects once a day is probably enough.

Juvenile Bearded Dragon Diet

Juvenile bearded dragons are still building their body, so they’ll need a lot more protein than the adult ones.

Ideally, juvenile bearded dragons should get a diet of 50% to 60% insects and 40 to 50% fruits and vegetables.

They can eat up to 60 insects a day on a day, so you’ll need to feed juvenile bearded dragons insects about 3 times a day.

As they get older, you’ll gradually shift them to an adult diet by reducing insect intake, so they don’t get fat.

Food List for Bearded Dragons

Now that you know what both adult and juvenile bearded dragons’ diets should be made of, let’s find out what kind of food is ideal for them.

Most of the following food is ideal for both adult and baby bearded dragons. Make sure you optimize their proportion depending on the bearded dragon’s age.

What Vegetables Can Bearded Dragons Eat?

• Green beans
• Kale
• Celery
• Cabbage
• Turnip greens
• Sweet potato
• Ocra
• Peas
• Asparagus
• Broccoli (small bits weekly)
• Acorn squash
• Yellow squash
• Okra

What Fruits Can Bearded Dragons Eat?

Larger fruits that are peeled and cut to bite-friendly sizes are also allowed occasionally, such as:

• Bananas
• Grapes
• Carrots
• Cucumbers
• Tomatoes
• Figs
• Melon
• Apricots
• Peaches
• Mangos
• Dates
• Papaya
• Apples
• Plums
• Blueberries
• Bell peppers
• Apricots
• Kiwi
• Strawberries
• Guava
• Pears
• Grapes
• Raisins

Insects

Here’s a list of some of the best live foods for Bearded Dragons to eat:

• Dubia roaches and Cockroaches
• Earthworms
• Silkworms
• Small Locusts
• King worms
• Waxworms
• Butterworms
• Crickets

Some insects and worms with very hard exoskeletons are too hard to digest by juvenile bearded dragons.

For that reason, they’re all only fed to adult bearded dragons only, such as mealworms and their larger versions (super worms).

Larger cricket and species also may have hard shells, so they should be only fed to adult beardies only.

Foods to Avoid

While bearded dragons would eat a lot of food elements, there are some that should be avoided. Here’s a quick list of these foods and why you should avoid them:

• Rhubarb, Oak, Chestnut, Buttercup, Daffodils, and Ivy: All of them are extremely poisonous to beardies.
• Glowing Insects: insects that glow in the dark, such as fireflies, are known to be very toxic to almost all reptiles, including bearded dragons.
• Wild Insects: it’s always safer to rely on a trusted commercial source for your beardie’s insects. Wild insects might be riddled with parasites that can make your bearded dragons very ill.
• Fish and Seafood: not only do they provide lower nutritional value than insects to beardies, but they also contain parasites and enzymes that make them ill.
• Avocado: as innocent as an avocado might seem to use, even a small amount can make your bearded dragon seriously ill. Large doses, however, can be fatal.
• Iceberg Lettuce: relying on it as the main vegetable source is a bad idea because it’s mostly water with little nutritional value, leaving your beardie weak with time.
• Beets and Spinach: while they aren’t toxic, they’re better avoided altogether, as they contain elements that cause minerals deficiency.

About Supplements

A varied diet is recommended for bearded dragons to provide them with all the essential nutrients that promote their general health and growth.

However, even with a healthy diet, you might need to add some supplements to their diet to prevent the common calcium deficiency problems among domestic bearded dragons, which usually causes metabolic bone disease.

For that reason, you’ll need to buy calcium supplements and multivitamin supplements for your beardie. They’re sprinkled over the food that they eat.
Similar to regular feeding, a juvenile bearded dragon will need daily doses of these supplements while adult ones may need it a bit less frequently. For example:

• Under 6 months: once a day (try to separate the addition of calcium and vitamins within the same day)
• From 6 to 12 months: day in day out
• Over a year: about 2 to 3 times a week

How to Feed Bearded Dragons

Feeding bearded dragons should be a problem for a healthy one. You can leave fruits and vegetables for bearded dragons in their cage to munch on them freely.

As for insects, they’re added in the form of feeding periods, which would be about 10 to 20 minutes each.

Force-feeding a bearded dragon is possible but it’s done with the vet’s approval. If you notice that your beardie isn’t eating, check the temperature of their habitat. If it’s too cold or too hot for them, they might not eat.

How Much Water Do Bearded Dragons Need a Day?

Ideally, a bearded dragon needs about 10 to 30 ml of water per kg every day. This translates to about two teaspoons of water.

You can provide them with a fresh and shallow dish of clean water, so they remain hydrated. Keep in mind that some veggies have enough water in them to sustain the moisture they need.

If your bearded dragon doesn’t like drinking from a dish, misting the fruits and veggies with clean water should be enough for them.

Tips About Bearded Dragons Diet

Here are some feeding tips regarding bearded dragons’ diet:

• Avoid super soft and sugary fruits because they can easily ferment and cause dental problems to bearded dragons.
• Juvenile bearded dragons can accidentally ingest smaller substrates (like sand) while eating, which can cause impaction and blockage of their digestive tract. Always keep them in large substrates to avoid that.
• You can opt for commercially packaged food for lizards, which are a great way to add variety to the bearded dragon’s diet.
• Make sure that you peel and cut fruits and veggies to the ideal sizes that bearded dragons can bite into.

Wrap Up

There you have it. A complete guide with everything you need to know about bearded dragon diet.

Remember, a variety of food is the best way to keep your beardie healthy, so make sure that you give your friend new things to taste every now and then.

The post Bearded Dragon Diet appeared first on My Pet Lizard.

Brumation is a state that most cold-blooded animals, including bearded dragons, will need to adopt at a certain point in their lives.

A lot of first-time owners would freak out while experiencing this process and might think that something wrong is happening to their beardie.

However, it’s a completely natural phenomenon that bearded dragons, as well as other reptiles, have been doing for millions of years.

During the brumation process, your bearded dragon will enter a hibernation-like state where it slows down its movements and rests for long periods of time. It’ll also seek insulated spots, such as burrows and caves for shelter and comfort.

If you want to know more about bearded dragon brumation, you’re in the right place! In this article, we’ll provide you with a guide on what you should know and do about brumation, so you can help your beardie through this period. So without further ado, let’s dive in!

Why Do Bearded Dragons and Other Reptile Brumate?

Cold-blooded reptiles, such as bearded dragons, can’t increase their body temperature when the weather cools down, so they struggle to keep their warmth during these months.

Brumating is a survival tactic that makes the bearded dragons able to get through the cold months.

As the temperatures drop, sources of food become scarce, so they tend to hide away and move less to consume less energy.

It’s like a natural “battery saving mode” that they enter, even if they’re in captivity. It also encourages reproduction, where the process primes both males and female beardies to reproduce right after the brumation cycles end.

In fact, lizard breeders rely on cycles of brumation to help their lizards mate and reproduce successfully.

At What Age Do Bearded Dragons Do It?

A lot of experienced bearded dragon and exotic vets will say that beardies would brumate after they’re 10 to 12 months or older.

While they’re technically right, there’s something that you should know. Brumation is an instinct that’s embedded deep in the bearded dragon’s DNA.

In fact, they can do it at just about any age no matter how young they are provided that they’re:

• Exposed to the causative factors, such as survival in cold temperatures and reproduction.
• Have enough reserves in their fat and nutrition pads that they store in their body to get by this period.

Since juvenile bearded dragons are yet to have enough nutritional reserve for brumation, they rarely experience brumation under 10 months.

The best way to make sure that your bearded dragon is able to enter brumation is by taking it to the vet for checking.

How Long Does Brumation Last?

Typically brumation lasts depending on a lot of factors, so it’s hard to predict how long your bearded dragon will last in brumation.

However, brumation usually lasts anywhere between a few weeks all the way up to 4 months, depending on the external environment. However, bearded dragons are highly unpredictable when it comes to brumation.

Signs That Your Bearded Dragon is Brumating

You can easily tell that your beardie is brumating if they’re:

• Lose their appetite
• Sleep a lot more and earlier than usual
• Hiding and sheltering more often in dark places
• Rarely pooping

How to Care for Your Bearded Dragon While Brumating

One thing you should know about brumating is that you can help your bearded dragon through this time. Here’s how to care for your bearded dragon while it’s brumating.

Lighting & Heating

If you use a UV lamp to provide your bearded dragon with heat, you should tune down the light during the brumation period to simulate the burrow conditions in the wild.

So if you’re giving them 10 to 12 hours of light and warmth daily, you may reduce it to 2 to 3 hours gradually right to the point where there’s no light or heating on at all.

Feeding

Offering your bearded dragon less to no food during the brumation period is part of the process.

During bearded dragon brumation, the digestive system is partially shut down, so you shouldn’t stuff their bellies with food anyway and let them use their natural reserves instead.

Water

Providing water during brumation is okay and recommended. However, you shouldn’t force your beardie to drink using a feeding syringe.

Instead, just keep the water around and they’ll drink whenever they have the need for it.

Handling

The best thing during brumation is to leave your bearded dragon to do its thing in peace.

Handling them every now and then for bathing and feeding is okay but it’s generally preferred to leave them in peace through the rest of the time because they’ll most likely be nesting or burrowing in for shelter for comfort.

Holding them means that they’ll have to readjust, which is a disturbing process and can even cause them health problems.

Bathing

One thing that a lot of experts recommend is to give your bearded dragon occasional baths during the brumation period.

These baths help them regain and improve their bowel movement, which is a good measure to take if they stop eating altogether and lose too much weight during brumation.

They’re also good alternatives for supplying them with water, as they can sometimes drink some water.

Remember that they’ll sluggish, so they’ll have to support their head to prevent them from drowning.

Tips for Bearded Dragon Brumation

Now that you know more about bearded dragon brumation, it’s time for some quick tips for an easier process:

• They’ll prefer nesting and digging burrows, so get them a dark spot for hiding
• Your beardie should lose so much weight during the process, so if they dramatically lose weight, check a vet that specializes in reptiles immediately.
• Always do a fecal and parasite test for your bearded dragon if it shows signs of brumation to eliminate the possibility of it being ill.
• Offer as little food as possible because it can rot in their stomach at that time.
• If you’re planning to breed your bearded dragons, the best chance for you is right after their brumation period ends

Wrap Up

With that said, you now have a better idea about bearded dragon brumation as well as everything you need to do in order to supply them with care.

Make sure to check with your vet if your beardie is too young to brumate or seems lethargic during this period.

The post Bearded Dragon Brumation appeared first on My Pet Lizard.

• Axel – Beverly Hills Cop
• Drew – as in comedian Drew Carey. What ever happened to him?
• Murf – as in murf gun -> pow!
• Larry – Just rolls off the tongue. Larry the Lizard
• Spike – is your lizard spikey?
• Tiberius – Roman emperor
• Aurelius – Roman emperor
• Dexter – TV show
• Lizzie – a lizard maybe?
• Bluey – I reckon about 1 in 10 Blue Tongue lizards are named Bluey.
• Blackbeard – the infamous pirate
• Pugwash – Captain Pugwash childrens book
• Freddie – as in Freddie Mercury
• Spartacus – Roman Gladiator
• Basil
• Butch – from the Sooty Show
• Velcro
• Puff Daddy – rapper
• Roger – as in Roger Federrer (famous tennis player)
• Rafael – as in Rafael Nadal (famous tennis player)
• Novak – as in Novak Djokovic (famous tennis player)
• Yoshi – Mario Brothers

• Falcor – Never Ending Story
• Rocky – as in Rocky Balboa
• Iggy – Iguanas
• Pascal – Chameleon best friend of Rapunzel from Disney’s Tangled
• Darwin – as in Charles Darwin the famous naturalist

• MacGyver – from the action-adventure drama TV show. There’s also famous Instagram lizard called MacGyver.
• Sellick – as in Tom Sellick
• Bella
• Cleopatra – Egyptian ruler
• Addidas – sportswear brand
• Beetlejuice – movie starring Michael Keaton
• Forrest – as in Forrest Gump the movie

The post Top Lizard Names appeared first on My Pet Lizard.

This article looks at the best Bearded Dragon enclosure with reviews to help you choose the right one for your needs. Our reviews are based on our own experience, hundreds of Amazon reviews, other blogs and numerous Youtube videos.

Here’s a few important things you should consider when choosing a Bearded Dragon enclosure:

• Tank dimensions. The ideal tank size is 48″ x 24″ x 24″. The absolute minimum size is 36″ x 18″ x18″. Vertical space helps to provide a better thermal gradient. Larger terrariums may require additional heating and lighting.
• Appearance & design
• Price
• Ventilation
• Quality of materials
• Ease of use for cleaning and feeding. Front doors are always easier to use rather than lifting off a lid.

Bearded Dragon Enclosure Comparisons

The following enclosures meet the minimum size requirements for an adult Bearded Dragon.

Name	Image	Price Range*	Tank Size	Description
Exo Terra Natural Large		Low $	36″ x 18″ x choose height 12″, 18″ 24″ or 36″	Large glass terrarium with front window ventilation, hinged doors and raised bottom.
Critter Condo		Medium $$	48″ x 24″ x 24″	Wide PVC and foam terrarium with in-built lights, thermometer, hydrometer and sliding doors.
Repti Zoo		Medium $$	Range of models and sizes	Wide glass terrarium with opening front doors and a raised bottom frame.
Carolina Custom Cages		High $$$	Range of models and sizes	Large custom glass terrariums with sliding or hinged front doors.

*Price Range (comparing similar dimensions):

• Low $ < $300 USD
• Medium $$ <= $ 500 USD
• High $$$ > $500 USD.

1. Exo Terra Natural Large

The Exo Terra Natural Large terrarium provides good value for money. It has some nice features like the 2 front doors which provide easy access to your Bearded Dragon. I also like the free rock background. The extra height options will allow your Bearded Dragon to climb.

There are some bad reports of the glass breaking and the enclosure falling apart. But these are rare instances and mostly resulting from poor packaging.

Dimensions: 36″ x 18″ x choose height 12″, 18″, 24″ or 36″

Pros:

• Front window ventilation (patented)
• Has a raised bottom for under tank heaters
• 2 front opening glass doors
• Holes to run cables inside
• Waterproof
• Range of height sizes available
• Includes rock background
• Stainless steel mesh cover

Cons:

• Plastic bars – Note these could melt with a ceramic heat source
• Lid can warp obver time from the heat lamps
• Reportedly glass cracks easily / enclosure falls apart

Check Price on Amazon

2. Critter Condo

The Condo Critter is a durable and high quality Bearded Dragon enclosure. It’s super lightweight to move around and comes in a cool black color. The design supports stacking enclosures. A light fixture is in-built which is a nice feature.

Dimensions: 48″ x 24″ x 24″

Pros:

• Supports stacking
• Ligthweight
• Includes light fixture (excludes bulb)
• In-built thermometer and hydrometer with external monitor
• Sliding doors
• Door lock with keys

Cons:

• Cannot use ceramic heat emitters
• Edges of PVC board appear rough
• Sides are reflective
• Door is not easy to open without a grip

Check Price on Amazon

3. Repti Zoo

The Repti Zoo glass terrarium is an aesthetic Bearded Dragon enclosure. It comes in two models, one taller than the other. The front door can only be closed with a lock which is inconvenient. A part from that, it’s a really solid design.

Dimesions: Range of sizes

Pros:

• Raised bottom frame for under tank / substrate heaters
• Front doors with anti-escaping safety lock
• Side window ventilation
• Closable inlets for wires & tubing
  Waterproof
• Removable mesh top
• Safety lock
• Can be stacked (need to buy separate stacker)

Cons:

• Does not come with a background
• Door must be locked to keep it closed which is inconvenient. Comes with only one key too.
• No handles on front door – can be tricky to open
• The mesh sides can misalign

Check Price on Amazon

4. Carolina Custom Cages

The Carolina Customer Cages terrarium is a beautiful and well built enclosure for Bearded Dragons. The materials and design are high quality and good value. There’s a lot of models and sizes to choose from. The lock is at the bottom. Be careful that sand substrate does not get into the locking mechanism.

Pros:

• Looks great
• Good quality materials
• Floor space fits most under tank heaters
• Comes with a strong lid

Cons:

• No door handles. There are suction cups though.
• Cannot shut doors without key. Key is tiny as well.

Check Price on Amazon

Conclusion

Bearded Dragon enclosures vary in materials, price, shape, size, and design. Glass terrariums are popular because they’re relatively inexpensive and aesthetic. PVC is lightweight, better insulated and professional. Choosing the right tank for your Bearded Dragon depends on your individual needs.

Our Top Ticks

Here’s our top picks from the best Bearded Dragon enclosure for different categories:

• Best Value For Money: Repti Zoo
• Most Attractive: Carolina Custom Cages
• Most Convenient: Exo Terra Natural Large
• Most Professional: Critter Condo
• Most Dimension Options: Carolina Custom Cages

Please leave a comment below with your own thoughts on the best Bearded Dragon enclosure.

The post Best Bearded Dragon Enclosure With Reviews & Comparisons appeared first on My Pet Lizard.

Bearded Dragons are undoubtly the #1 pet lizard in the world. One of the reasons why they are so popular is because they are extremely friendly. They make excellent pets for kids and are great companions. But they do have some complex nutritional and environment requirements. This guide provides information and tips on how to take care of a Bearded Dragon.

Bearded Dragon Facts

Here’s some quick Bearded Dragon facts:

1. The scientific name of a Bearded Dragon is Pogona.
2. When a Bearded Dragon feels threatened, they push their throat skin forward, giving the appearance of a “beard”.
3. Bearded Dragons are native to Australia.
4. There are 9 different species of bearded dragons.
5. The average captive lifespan of a Bearded Dragon is 10 years. In the wild they live for 5-8 years.
6. Bearded Dragons have a third parietal eye. It looks like an oddly colored scale at the top of their skull.
7. Bearded Dragons are prolific breeders; laying up to 20 eggs at a time.
8. The sex of a Bearded Dragon embryo can be changed by the incubation temperature.
9. Bearded dragons produce a mild venom which can harm small animals.

Bearded Dragon Growth Chart

There are 4 age categories for Bearded Dragons:

A Bearded Dragon can grow up to 18 – 22 inches (45 – 56 cm) long. Most Bearded Dragons will stop growing at 18 months of age. Here’s a growth chart for the Central Bearded Dragon species. Note the tail makes up about half the length. So a 22 inches long Bearded Dragon is about 11 inches long from head to vent (the anus).

Buying Bearded Dragons

You can buy Bearded Dragons from breeders, pet stores, rescue shelters and online.

The Central Bearded Dragon (Pogona Vitticeps) is the most common species to have as a pet.

Choosing a Bearded Dragon

For your first Bearded Dragon, I recommend you adopt an adult Bearded Dragon because they’re easier to keep.

If you can, do a quick health check and look out for:

• missing body parts
• injuries / wounds
• mouth infections
• droopy eyes
• poor alertness

How Much Does A Bearded Dragon Cost?

Owning a Bearded Dragon requires a substantial investment upfront. A lot of special equipment is needed to mimic their natural habitat. The cost of everything is > $500 USD. There’s also ongoing costs which include electricity, live insects and maintenance e.g. replacement light bulbs.

Housing & Habitat

The natural habitat of Bearded Dragons is bushland, woodland and desert areas. You will need to setup up a home for a Bearded Dragon in order to look after them. Try to mimic their natural environment as much as possible.

Here’s a short list of everything you might need to setup a home for a Bearded Dragon:

• an enclosure
• substrate (e.g. paper towels / newspaper / ceramic tile etc…)
• basking light
• UV light
• programmable timer
• basking platform e.g. tree branch
• hideout / cave
• feeding dish
• water bowl

Enclosure

There are 4 types of enclosures for Bearded Dragons:

• Glass terrarium – cheap, aesthetic, heavy, poor insulation
• Melamine cages (type of wood) – expensive and heavy
• PVC cages (type of plastic) – professional, lightweight and easy to clean
• Vision cages (molded plastic) – professional and very expensive
• Custom enclosure

You’ll probably want to get a glass terrarium as it’s cheap and popular. Remember to cover off the back and sides using black poster board or newspaper for example.

The tank size is very important. A small tank can limit growth. The ideal tank size for a Bearded Dragon is 48″ x 24″ x 24″. The absolute minimum size is 36″ x 18″ x 18″. You can use smaller tanks for younger Bearded Dragons. But it wont take long until you’ll need to upgrade.

For two Bearded Dragons, you’ll need a bigger tank. Do not put put more than one male in a tank. And females should not be housed with males until 2 years of age.

Product Reviews & Comparisons

We’ve done an big article on the best Bearded Dragon enclosure with reviews and product comparisons etc…. Here’s a quick summary:

Name	Image	Price Range*	Tank Size	Description
Exo Terra Natural Large		Low $	36″ x 18″ x choose height 12″, 18″ 24″ or 36″	Large glass terrarium with front window ventilation, hinged doors and raised bottom.
Critter Condo		Medium $$	48″ x 24″ x 24″	Wide PVC and foam terrarium with in-built lights, thermometer, hydrometer and sliding doors.
Repti Zoo		Medium $$	Range of models and sizes	Wide glass terrarium with opening front doors and a raised bottom frame.
Carolina Custom Cages		High $$$	Range of models and sizes	Large custom glass terrariums with sliding or hinged front doors.

*Price Range (comparing similar dimensions):

• Low $ < $300 USD
• Medium $$ <= $ 500 USD
• High $$$ > $500 USD.

Bedding / Substrate

When setting up your enclosure, you’ll need to choose some bedding or substrate to use as flooring. The main substrate used are:

• sand
• newspaper
• paper towels
• ceramic or vinyl tiles
• reptile cage carpet
• non adhesive shelf liner

Do not use sand as substrate for juvenile Bearded Dragons as they might eat it. This can cause impaction issues. You’ll need to regularly clean or replace substrate.

Heating

Bearded dragons are cold blooded animals. They come from hot and dry climates. So Bearded Dragons have particular temperature requirements.

You will need to buy a heat lamp and bulb to create a basking area for your Bearded Dragon. This is where your Bearded Dragon will go to warm up. An incandescant 100W light bulb does the job. I recommend you get he Exo Terra Sun-Glo Basking Tight Beam Bulb.

Your enclosure should have a gradient temperature range with a hot and cold zone. Baby and juvenile Bearded Dragons need slightly warmer temperatures for basking.

Turn off the basking light at night time. If your house temperature gets below 80°F over night then you’ll need some supplemental heat for night time. A ceramic heater or an under tank heater are suitable at night time if required. You can also get night time bulbs for heat with less light. Don’t use heat rocks as these can overheat and burn the undersides of your Bearded Dragon.

Lighting

Reptiles need ultraviolet (UV) light to live healthy lifestyles. Bearded Dragons require about 12-14 hours of full spectrum UV light each day.

Bearded Dragons need UVB 10 strength light. UVB is incredibly important for Bearded Dragons to absorb calcium. Make sure your entire enclosure is lit up during the day. Light bulbs need to placed in a protective cage or tube as they can get hot and burn your Bearded Dragon.

I recommend you use a programmable timer to manage the day and night light cycles.

Decor

Add some decorations into the enclosure so your Bearded Dragon will feel more at home. Here are some ideas:

• Hideouts, caves, huts etc… Paver stones are great to use to create caves.
• Wood branches / tree bark for perching. Keep it minimal. Boil wood before adding to kill off any bad bacteria.
• Background and rock walls made out of molded styrofoam and plastic
• Fake plants e.g. cactus, desert brush etc… Some plants are poisonous so be careful.

Accessories

You’ll also need some accessories to help you along the way:

• Covers and lids. A secure wire mesh lid is fine.
• A reptile thermometer / infrared temperature gun – avoid adhesive thermometers as these are unreliable
• Humidity gauge
• UVB meter
• Feeding dish / bowl for containing live insects
• Water dish / bowl or reservoir – may create unwanted himidity
• Hammock
• Cleaning materials

Feeding

Bearded Dragons eat both live insects and native plants. A Bearded Dragons diet will depend on age. Younger Bearded Dragons need to eat more protein – 80% protein and 20% plants. And as they get older this becomes 20% protein and 80% plants.

You can find live insects from your local pet store. You will need to mix calcium and multivitamin supplements in their feed.

Soak or mist juvenile Bearded Dragons once a day and then once a week as they reach adulthood.

The Food List

Behaviour

Here are some behaviours you may observe:

• Arm wave – Sign of submission
• Head bob – Show of dominance
• Mouth open – Just cooling down
• Head puff / Black beard – Feels threatened or distresed
• Glass surfing – Feels stressed or bored
• Inactive & not eating – Probably hibernating (also known as Brumation)
• Shedding skin – Twice a year for Adults and more often for younger Bearded Dragons

What is Bearded Dragon Brumation?

In the wild, a Bearded Dragon will hibernate in the cooler months. This routine is called brumation for reptiles. When a Bearded Dragon hibernates, they are less active, may sleep for days and not eat as much. Brumation typically occurs after 1 years of age. Brumation is not always observed in captivity. This is because the temperature in an enclosure is always controlled and the food is always available.

How to Take Care of A Bearded Dragon – Common Health Problems

Here’s a list of common Bearded Dragon health problems and how to solve them:

Play Activities

Here’s a easy ways to interact and play with your Bearded Dragon:

• Give them a bath / swimming
• Let them go for a walk on a leash
• Play ball
• Feed insects using tweezers
• Add a mirror – only expose a few times a day and cover up for the rest of the day

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Resources

Here’s some of my favourite Bearded Dragon websites which also contain articles on how to take care of a Bearded Dragon:

• www.lizards101.com
• www.terrariumquest.com
• reptile.guide
• www.beardeddragoncare101.com
• bestpetlizard
• beardeddragontank.com
• beardeddragonsworld.com

You can also connect with other Bearded Dragon enthusiasts on Reddit. People on Reddit are more than eager to help you with any odd questions on Bearded Dragon care. https://www.reddit.com/r/BeardedDragons/

Conslusion

Bearded Dragons are amazing animals and make great pets. Once you’ve overcome the initial setup costs, you wont look back! They’re easy to care for and their peculiar behaviour never stops to entertain. I hope his guide has helped you to learn the basics of how to take care of a Bearded Dragon.

The post How to Take Care of A Bearded Dragon appeared first on My Pet Lizard.