| If you are interested in owning a pet lizard, one | | | | should be added to the habitat as well. Finely sifted |
| species you might want to consider purchasing is the | | | | play sand or calcium sand should be used to cover |
| Bearded Dragon. Commonly referred to as "beardies" | | | | the bottom of the habitat. These sands can be |
| by those who own them, Bearded Dragons tend to | | | | purchased at nearly any pet store. It is important to |
| be quite tame and are relatively easy lizards to care | | | | never use sand from the beach or from your yard, |
| for. Since they are generally calm in nature, they are | | | | as this sand can contain parasites and other |
| also a good choice for families with children who are | | | | potentially dangerous additives that could harm your |
| looking for an exotic pet, though it is important to be | | | | pet. |
| certain to wash your hands thoroughly with | | | | Finally, you will need to pay special attention to |
| antibacterial soap after handling a Bearded Dragon as | | | | obtaining the proper lighting and heating for your |
| you should with any reptile. This precaution can | | | | Bearded Dragons. You will need a UVB light such as |
| protect you and prevent the transmission of | | | | the Repti-Sun 10.0. Your pet will need to receive 12 |
| salmonella. | | | | to 14 hours of UVB light each day in order to |
| Recognizing a Bearded Dragon | | | | prevent the development of certain diseases, such |
| Bearded Dragons have a very distinctive look, as | | | | as Metabolic Bone Disease. It is also a good idea to |
| their heads are broad and triangular in shape. In | | | | use a heat lamp to keep one side of the enclosure |
| addition, they have what appears to be many spikes | | | | warmer than the other. This way, your Bearded |
| running along the bottom of their chin, though these | | | | Dragon can move from one side of the enclosure to |
| spikes are not harmful or painful in any way. When | | | | the other in order to better regulate its body |
| the Bearded Dragon feels threatened or intimidated, | | | | temperature. |
| however, it will expand this pouch in order to look | | | | Feeding Your Bearded Dragon |
| larger and more menacing. Hence, the name | | | | Bearded Dragons are omnivores, meaning they eat |
| "bearded" dragon. | | | | fruits and vegetables as well as insects. Ideally, your |
| Creating the Proper Housing for Your Bearded | | | | pet's diet should consist of about 80% plant matter |
| Dragon | | | | and 20% insect. Some insects Bearded Dragons |
| When creating the proper housing for your Bearded | | | | enjoy include:o Butterwormso Cricketso |
| Dragon, it is important to remember that these | | | | Hormwormso Locustso Phoenix wormso Roacheso |
| reptiles are native to dry habitats that are sparsely | | | | Silkwormso Superworms |
| vegetated. Therefore, care should be taken to | | | | Some vegetables you may want to feed your |
| recreate this same type of habitat in your home. | | | | Bearded Dragon include:o Cabbageo Carrot topso |
| While a baby bearded dragon will be happy in a 20 | | | | Collard greenso Dandelion greenso Escaroleo Kaleo |
| gallon long tank, it is best to use a tank that is at | | | | Mustard greenso Parsleyo Spring greenso Turnip |
| least 40 gallons long or more for an adult bearded | | | | greens |
| dragon. This way, your pet will have plenty of room | | | | While fruit can also benefit Bearded Dragons, it is |
| to run around and comfortably explore its habitat. | | | | important to stay away from citric fruits such as |
| In addition to having enough room to move about, | | | | oranges, lemons and grapefruit as these fruit can be |
| your Bearded Dragon will also need areas where it | | | | potentially fatal to your pet. |
| can bask and absorb heat. Therefore, rocks and logs | | | | |