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 itself needs to be escape proof. Bearded dragons are speedy little critters, and should it get out of it's home, it may take you a while to find it and then catch it. The top of the tank will need to fit very snugly, but still allows for ventilation, and the sides of the tank need to be completely smooth to prevent any accidents to your bearded dragons feet or tail.
The next thing to think about is the lighting that your bearded dragon will need within it's home. Your pet will need between 12 and 14 hours of light per day and this ensures that it's natural environment is mimicked. A fluorescent bulb that fits snugly along the top of the tank or vivarium is on lighting technique that you can try, but with this, there is a danger of your dragon getting burnt if it can get within 8 inches of this light. Therefore, any branches or other decorative things within your tank should not allow your bearded dragon to get this high, to get too close to the light.
Once the lighting has been sorted, it is now time to start thinking about heating your tank. A bearded dragon needs a fairly high temperature to mimic it;s natural environment, and this is between 95 and 100 degrees during the day and 60 to 80 degrees at night. Again, there are a variety of things that you can use to heat your tank for your bearded dragon but the most popular are heat mats of special lights. These should only be placed in certain areas within your tank, and there must always be a cooler part of the tank that your bearded dragon can retreat to when it gets too warm.
Once you have sorted the tank, lighting and heating, you must now think about the substrate or materials to make your bearded dragon comfortable. Sand is one of the best options for an adult bearded dragon but younger dragons cannot have this, for fear of ingestion and other such problems, so they should have newspaper or reptile carpet. Reptile sand is an inexpensive option and can be bought in a variety of colours to make your tank as decorative as you want it to be.
Decoration within the tank not only makes it more pleasing to the eye, but also gives your bearded dragon something to play with and run around on. Branches are a good idea and can be bought from most pet stores. A hiding spot is needed for your bearded dragon as well and it can be as complicated or as simple as you wish. Something as cheap and simple as a toilet roll tube can be used and the only restriction is your imagination. Always check, however, that what you are using is safe and you can find this out from a Vet or from books or the Internet and such like.
Your bearded dragon needs fresh water all the time. A shallow bowl should be used to prevent your dragon from tipping it over. Food is also important, and certain worms, cockroaches, and even things such as small mice can be used to feed your pet. You can also feed him or her fruit and vegetables such as carrots and grapes or peas to spice up the diet.
All in all, as long as you arm yourself with as much information as possible and make sure you know what you are doing, and what your bearded dragon will need, I am sure that you and your pet will have a long and happy relationship. Remember, any pet is a commitment, some more than others, but if you are sure that a bearded dragon is for you, and you know the requirements to keep it fit and healthy, all will be fine!