Baby Bearded Dragon Facts
Bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) are originally from Australia, and have become one of the most popular lizard pets. Adults do very well in captivity, but baby dragons require extra care, as they are somewhat fragile.
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Bearded Dragon Facts
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Bearded dragons get their name from the "beard" displayed on the throat of adult animals. They are a solid light tan in color, and the body has a rounded appearance. When threatened, they will flatten their bodies and display their beards. Babies hatch out about three inches long, and adults will reach two feet in length. Their lifespan is about 10 years.
Housing Baby Bearded Dragons
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A baby bearded dragon will do well in a 10-gallon terrarium with a tight fitting lid. Dragons actively hunt for their prey, and putting a baby dragon in an enclosure that is too large will make it significantly more difficult to find the prey items. Provide clean water for the dragon in a shallow bowl. As the dragon increases in size, increase the size of the terrarium accordingly. Adults may require a 55-gallon terrarium.
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Ultraviolet Light and Bearded Dragons
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Bearded dragons are diurnal, meaning that they are out during the daytime. Because of this, they require an ultraviolet B (UVB) light source to help them metabolize calcium and build strong bones. This can be best accomplished by a UVB fluorescent reptile light over the terrarium.
Heating the Enclosure
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Baby bearded dragons require a higher cage temperature than many other lizards. During the day, the cage temperature should be about 85 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, one corner of the cage should have an incandescent basking light over it, to provide a warm spot reaching 100 F.
Feeding Baby Dragons
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Care must be used in feeding baby dragons. Start out by feeding pinhead-sized crickets. Baby dragons are susceptible to intestinal blockage and other problems if overfed, with potentially fatal results. As they get older, they will eat flowers and vegetables as well.
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References
- Photo Credit Bearded Dragon Push-Up image by getgrim from Fotolia.com
