If you’re thinking of introducing a pet reptile to your home, a pet bearded dragon can be a fantastic choice. A relatively docile animal from Australia, usually around 16-20 inches in length, they have become more and more popular over the years. They are great for homes with small children as they react well to regular attention.
A 40 gallon long reptile terrarium is perfect for your pet bearded dragon. As the bearded dragon is a desert reptile, you want to choose a reptile terrarium that will allow for air to pass in and out freely. A mesh top is a must and should not incorporate wood, glass, or plexiglass. Proper air circulation will prevent humidity in the reptile habitat from becoming too high for bearded dragon care.
Choose a fluorescent bulb that can stretch across the top of the pet terrarium (UV rays cannot properly pass through the glass) for your bearded dragon that will supply lighting for 12-14 hours every day. You can create a basking spot with something as simple as an every day household lightbulb or something like a porcelain dome light fixture for use only with a ceramic heat emitter and used at a controlled temperature no higher than 110F. The cool side of the enclosure should be kept at around 85F.
Choose appropriately sized crickets and greens; food should be no bigger than the space between their eyes. Something larger than this can hurt your pet bearded dragon. You should only feed your pet bearded dragon as much it wishes to be fed. Young bearded dragons will eat 20-60 small crickets daily. As they get older, you can also offer them treats like cockroaches, mealworms, silkworms, earthworms, etc. However, these treats should be balanced along with crickets and greens to allow for a stable diet. All uneaten prey should be removed from the bearded dragon’s reptile terrarium.
Remember to give your pet bearded dragon plenty of attention and to keep its reptile terrarium clean and free of infectious bacteria. A 1/4 cup of bleach mixed with a gallon of water will do the trick. Spray the mixture on all surfaces and after 15 minutes scrub with a rag to make sure all waste is removed. Proper environment and diet is essential to the care of your pet reptile and your bearded dragon will thank you for it.
