bearded dragon care - Noah's Ark Pets
Common Name: Bearded Dragon
Scientific Name: Pogona Vitticeps
Distribution: Australia
Size: 18"-2ft
Natural Habitat:
Inhabits the desert scrublands of Australia. Lives in colonies in the wild. Most will become tame with regular handling. Males can become territorial.
Beardeds are docile and friendly, easy to handle.
Captive Environment:
When kept in captivity, the adults require a 50 gallon size enclosure. Use reptile carpet or calcium carbonate sand for substrates. Provide a rocky basking area with crevices and caves, or a hide area, and large branches.
Lighting:
Full-Spectrum lighting that emits UVB is a must for captive reptiles. Ultraviolet light (UV) is important in the production of vitamin D3, which is necessary for calcium absorption. The light should be positioned less than 18" from your pet for maximum effect. Glass blocks ultraviolet light and should never be used as an enclosure top A 12- hour day/ night lighting cycle is a good start for your pet reptile.
Temperature:
Day temperature should be from 78-100 degrees f. Maintain night temperature range between70-75 degrees f. There are several methods for establishing the proper temperature range for your reptile. Using spotlights of variable wattage incandescent bulbs on the outside of the enclosure, under tank heaters or heat rocks or any combination of these. Never place lights inside the enclosure where the reptile could come in contact with them and get burned.
Water:
When young use only small water dish for drinking and can be misted directly.When sub-adult and older can have dish to soak in occasionally.This species requires only low levels of humidity.
Food:
This omnivore eats arthropods and insects such as crickets super worms mealworms,
and wax worms. Feeds on small mammals such as pink baby mice. Likes dark greens (collard, mustard, turnip and dandelions, small amounts of beet greens) DO NOT FEED SPINACH, CABBAGE, OR KALE. These vegetables block the absorption of calcium in the reptile's body. Supplement leafy diet with sprouts, zucchini and yellow squash. Feed young beardeds only crickets and vegies.70 % of diet should be crickets dusted with calcium supplement.
NOTE: This care sheet is a general guide, to learn more about your pet consult a book about it.
