Feeding Your Bearded Dragon in the Right Way

Bringing home a pet also brings along a lot of responsibilities and feeding your bearded dragon is a part of it. You need to be familiar with the feeding habits of your newly bought reptile especially when your pet is young and growing.
                 
You will be pleased to know that your pet is an omnivore which means that it needs a right balance of animal and plant material. If you don’t take care of what and how you feed your pet, your pet can suffer horribly which is definitely something you will never wish to happen.

Feeding Baby/Juvenile Dragons 

An important fact you need to keep to keep in mind that juvenile dragons are very curious and like to taste everything that comes within their reach. Therefore, it is important that during the early growth phase you keep a strict eye on your pet watching every movement closely. It is also recommended that you select enclosure substrates cautiously, avoiding items that contain loose particles which could hinder intestines of a baby dragon.

Food particles given to a baby dragon or even an adult dragon should not be large. The best size for your bearded dragons is a food particle which is smaller than the space between their eyes. Large particles can cause considerable damage to your pet.

Feeding plan for a baby dragon (up to 12 weeks) should be started off with number of insects’ everyday. You can also opt for “calcium dusted” insects at least four times a week. Excellent insect sources include crickets, cockroaches and mealworms. Slowly you can shift your juvenile dragon to green vegetables that are finely chopped.  There are about 42 types of vegetables that are safe for your bearded dragon, and provide it with maximum nutritional value required for healthy growth.

Give about 10 minutes to your pet to eat sufficiently. Avoid over stuffing your pet. If your pet refuses to eat you can offer food after some time.
If you like to know more on the types of food items you can feed your baby bearded dragon don’t forget to get a copy of "Bearded Dragon Secret Manual". This book will guide you about the different food items you can select for your baby pet and will also help you plan a right feeding schedule so that your bearded dragon grows and remains healthy.

Feeding Adult Bearded Dragons

Once your baby dragons reach adulthood, they can be fed on a variety of food items having a healthy mix of crickets, meal worms, pink mice and vegetables. Adult dragons can also be given a special treat in the form of locusts, wax worms, silk worm and a number of other types of worms which are available. Your adult pets also deserve their preys to be dusted with a calcium and vitamin D supplement but they require less calcium than juvenile dragons.
NEVER FEED YOUR BEARDIES ON INSECTS CAUGHT IN YOUR BACKYARD. Doing such a mistake can poison your dragon to an extent that it can be killed. To keep your pets safe, keep them away from wild insects. Once your prey is done with the treat, remove all unconsumed food from the enclosure and clean it.
Fresh water in shallow bowls should also be offered to the dragons with the meals and at times you need to put water in the pet’s snout if they don’t drink it themselves.

To know more about the fruits, vegetables and animal materials that are healthy for your pets, don’t forget to check out "Bearded Dragon Secret Manual", available here.

Caring for Bearded Dragons “Must Know Tips” for Owners

If you like to have a bearded dragon at home, then you need to know a few basic tips that will help you take good care of your pet. Bearded dragons are considered to be good pets for most people, even those who have no previous experience of keeping reptiles. Most families especially kids now like to have bearded dragons as pets as not only they are friendly but also adapt well to the surroundings.
                 

Choosing Your Pet 

Before you buy a dragon, make sure you examine it carefully at the pet store or breeder’s place. Active dragons make the best pets because as soon as you step close to them, they look at you with bright and alert eyes. Such pets like to spend time with the owners and you would surely like to have more fun with your new companion.

The dragon you decide to buy should not have any injuries, deformities, burns or sores and should be perfectly clean with no signs of pus. Try not to buy bearded dragons that are smaller than 6 inches as they are very delicate and more prone to get ill.

Providing the Perfect Enclosure

Before you bring your pet home make sure you have the right enclosure with the right heat, light and temperature arrangements. Although dragons can live in small spaces, it is better you give them a large space to play and move around. This will help dragons grow healthy.
Your pets need enclosures that have proper air circulation and humidity control settings. Bearded dragons are reptiles so they like to remain dry and love warm climates. There are plenty of bulbs and heating elements available in the market that will help you maintain a perfect habitat for your desert lover.
These friendly lizards love to play around so having substrates (material at the bottom of the enclosure) is also not a bad idea.

Giving the Right Diet 

Feeding your dragon correctly is very important as an improper diet can affect your pet’s growth and may produce illness. Try to feed your pet with food that is clean and nutritious.  You can find out a comprehensive list of vegetables, insects, fruits and other food items that can be given to your pet in "Bearded Dragon Secret Manual", available at www.beardeddragonsecretmanual.com. You should also offer clean water to your pet by placing a shallow bowl in the enclosure.

Cleaning your Pet

Pets need to be kept neat and clean therefore you can bathe your “beardie” once a week using warm but not hot water. (Check the temperature before you place your beardie in the tub to prevent injury). The water level should be about chest high or half way through your pet’s front arms. You should never leave your pet unattended in the tub.
Once you feel you can provide basic care for a bearded dragon, you can ultimately bring it home to have loads of fun everyday.

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