Bearded dragons make great exotic pets that are easy to care for. Read on to find how you can easily care for them at home.
There are many exotic animals around us, and nowadays, people are keen on keeping these exotic animals as pets. Because dogs and cats are mainstream, and most people have them as pets, owning an exotic animal will certainly be a head-turner.
If you are one of these people and want to keep something unique as your pet, look into these gentle creatures called bearded dragons. They are unique and also very rare. So if you own one, you will surely amaze your friends and family.
But where do you find a bearded dragon? How do you take care of it? The answers to these questions lie in this article.
How To Choose The Right Bearded Dragon
Before you take in these majestic reptiles, you need to choose the right type of bearded dragon. The things you need to consider include:
1. The Age
You can choose either a young bearded dragon or a grown-up one. Both have their separate set of pros and cons.
For example, young ones will need extra care, but you can grow them up in a humane environment so that they bond with you.
On the other hand, adult bearded dragons do not require much care, but they will not get attached to you easily.
2. The Health Of The Bearded Dragon
This should come to you as no surprise that you should always choose the bearded dragon that is in good shape.
To check for a healthy bearded dragon, you need to ensure it has had no injury marks or scars. You can check to see if the skin is swollen to identify injuries.
Why You Should Keep Bearded Dragons As Pets
Bearded Dragons are fun reptiles, and they can be excellent pets as well. Some reasons why bearded dragons make great pets are as follows:-
- They are very responsive and interactive.
- They are small, so it is easy to move them around.
- They are not too picky about food, so anything goes as long as it is healthy. One of the most nutritious foods would be Dubia Roaches For Bearded Dragons.
- They are not very expensive to maintain compared to other exotic reptilian pets.
- They are unique creatures that come in a variety of colors. Bearded dragons can even morph.
Taking Care Of Bearded Dragons
Now that you have settled on why you should get yourself a bearded dragon let us look at how you can take care of it.
1. How to House These Small Creatures
There are various house choices for bearded dragons. The first choice should be a glass tank. They are usually the best type of habitat for any reptile. Be sure to keep enough wooden objects inside so that your pet can have many nooks and crannies to hide in.
You also need to keep the place warm and have sufficient lighting. Reptiles are cold-blooded creatures, so a warm environment is a must to keep them healthy. And the best type of light to keep them warm would be UltraViolet A or Long UV wave lights. They help keep the pets in a good mood and help with their digestion as well.
2. The Food For Bearded Dragons
The food for these pets is also not that hard to collect. As mentioned before, they are not very picky about their food.
This means you can feed them both bugs and plants. The most common animal food to these bearded dragons is crickets. They are rich in protein and also easy to find. You can easily find a cricket or two in your backyard.
As for plants, anything goes. But just like humans, they have vegetable preferences. But most of the time, they will do ok with green leafy vegetables like kale, arugula, dandelion, spinach, etc. Test out to see which plant foods your bearded dragon prefers and feed them that.
But be wary about the age of your bearded dragons. Young bearded dragons need more protein to grow. So, give them more insects than leafy vegetables.
3. Give Your Bearded Dragon A Bath
These small creatures also enjoy cleanliness. But to keep them clean, you need to be careful not to use any soap or detergents. Their skin might react badly to these.
So, just use plain warm water for bathing them. The water should be at least 30°C. Place the warm water on a tub and let them swim around it for 10-30 minutes. After that, pick them up and gently dry them with a towel.
4. Let Them Walk Around The House
Although bearded dragons prefer to stay in their glass tank and enjoy the sunlight, they will also enjoy quality time with humans.
You can take them out of their tank and let them walk around the house. This way, they will be more aware of their surroundings, feel comfortable with humans, and not get bored.
But be sure that you are letting them walk on a plain surface and not any couch or carpet because reptile feces is tough to remove from fabrics and rugs. They will require constant supervision when they roam – so don’t take your eyes off of them.
5. Take Them To The Vet In Times of Emergency
Like all pets, your bearded dragons will fall sick from time to time. Accidents can happen, and you need to accept that.
But that does not mean you should ignore them. If you see them behaving abnormally, take them to the nearest vet for a check-up.
Bearded Dragons’ common diseases include metabolism problems, bone diseases, infectious stomatitis, parasitic infection, respiratory infections, oral diseases, and much more. If you feel that your pet might be sick, take them to the nearest vet for proper medical attention.
Final Thought
Bearded dragons are relatively inexpensive, which makes them an excellent choice for an exotic pet. They are also easy to take care of and can be warm and friendly if you provide the little bit of care they need.
