Day-to-day ownership of a bearded dragon is delightfully easy and surprisingly interactive. For those used to dogs and cats, bearded dragon lizards are a perfect foray into the world of reptiles as pets. These surprisingly cuddly creatures are intelligent and capable of being trained – they can even be taken for walks! These medium-sized lizards are full of personality but are as gentle as they are entertaining. These wonderful qualities paired with the hallmark low-maintenance of reptile ownership are just some of the many reasons why bearded dragons are so popular.
Feeding Your Bearded Dragon
Bearded dragons are omnivores and they are not picky. They eat a wide variety of foods: fruits, veggies, bugs, even the occasional flower. Not only is their food easy to source, but it’s quite inexpensive as well. Feed them a variety of crickets, roaches or worms, and you’ll have a very happy bearded dragon on your hands.
Young beardies should be fed twice a day, while full-grown adults need only eat once a day. Figuring out how much to feed your bearded dragons is also easy. They will not overeat even when excess food is available to them, so they can be trusted to eat as much (or as little) as is appropriate for them.
Housing Your Bearded Dragon
The average beardie is between 12-24 inches long and classified as a medium-sized lizard. A 55-gallon tank will suit most bearded dragons just fine, and easy to accommodate in households of almost any size.
Originating in the deserts of Australia, bearded dragons like it warm and with low humidity. They do not require a fancy getup and the essentials are simple: a screen lid and a dual light source for warmth and UVB. This low-maintenance enclosure also translates to easy cleaning. Maintaining their tanks require only a few minutes of light cleaning each day (clearing out old food and droppings) with the occasional deep clean.
Bonding with Your Bearded Dragon
While your beardie may not rush to the door to greet you with a wagging tail, it does have the ability to recognize its owners and show affection. And since it has a significant lifespan (8-15 years), it gives owners plenty of time to establish a relationship with these spiky animals.
Unlike many other types of reptiles that are mostly kept for their looks, these calm and well-tempered lizards enjoy being handled. Walks offer another (and very unique) means of bonding with your pet lizard. With an appropriate harness, finding ways to interact with your bearded lizard can be a walk in the park – pun intended.
Finding a Bearded Dragon for Sale
Bearded dragons make excellent pets: They are social, easy to care for, and kid-friendly. In fact, they are considered to be one of the best pet lizards for beginners. Compared to other popular pet reptiles, owning a bearded dragon is much more interactive and requires a minimal amount of care.
There are eight bearded dragon species and well over a dozen bearded dragon morphs. Red is the most popular coloring, but thanks to their growing popularity, many other colors can be found in reptile pet stores.
As with all reptile pets, they live much longer and happier lives when they are captive-bred rather than wild-caught. Since Australia banned the export of wild bearded dragons in the 1960s, it’s highly unlikely that a bearded dragon for sale was not bred in captivity.
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