by K Lochery

Created on: October 25, 2008   Last Updated: November 22, 2009

Well, if you have decided that you wish to own a bearded dragon as a pet, then the easy bit is done. Making the decision is the easy part of this whole process, and from here on in, everything gets a bit complicated. That is why it is a very good idea to think about your choice of pet very carefully. Owning a bearded dragon is a long term commitment and involves a lot of time and effort. If you cannot put time and effort into your pet and looking after it, a bearded dragon is not the best choice of pet for you.

Originating in Australia, the bearded dragon, or Pogona Vitticeps, which is their proper name, are known as gentle beasts and they are one of the most common dragons to be used as pets. If they are correctly tamed, they can make good pets as they enjoy being handled by their owners.

If you are wondering why the bearded dragon is called such a name, it is due to the fact that when they are in defensive mode, as in when they feel threatened by a predator or similar, they inflate the skin around the throat area. This, therefore, makes them appear to be bigger in size and to intimidate their predators. With regards to real size, as in when they are not threatened and have an inflated throat area, they can grow to between 16 and 20 inches in length. The tale of the bearded dragon can be almost as long as the body itself, but this is included in the overall size. Both the advanced and the beginner of reptile owners can home a bearded dragon, due to the fact that they can be tamed and therefore handled, and also because they are fairly small in size, when compared to other reptiles. They enjoy attention and regular handling, and can deal with small children, making it a great all round pet.

If you decide to get yourself a bearded dragon, you must remember that they can live for up to ten years, making it a fairly large commitment. They require specific details to be correct, such as their home, feeding and other such things, and if not looked after in the right manner, you may find yourself with costly Vet bills.

When thinking about the home for your bearded dragon, you need to remember that the size of the tank or cage very much depends on the age and size of your pet. If you buy a dragon from a young age, the tank it needs will only need to be around a 20 gallon tank or vivarium. This, however, will only last your bearded dragon for a few months, and as they grow, you will need to buy a new tank, that needs to be around the 55 or 60 gallon mark.

The tank

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