#bearded dragon care

[rotclaw]

to my fellow bearded dragon owners- this video was made by an australian veterinarian specializing in exotics, BeardieVet. it has tons of info on proper beardie care and i highly recommend watching/listening to it when possible (it's quite long at nearly 4 hours)

here's a long comprehensive list of info, copied from a reddit comment

• Bearded dragons do not bask all day. They come out in the morning and in the evening to bask for a bit

• If you have warm nights, your dragon will bask less. They will only bask based on their body needs and if they are warm all night they do not have a need to bask

• It can get as low as 5°C/41°F at night in Australia during spring and typically is about 11°‐12°C/51.8°‐53.6°F in their burrows

• Preferred core temp for their body is 36.3°C/97.34°F. This is achieved with a basking spot of about 42°C/107.6°F

• They do not have bile acids to ingest vitamin D3. They get this vitamin through proper UV

• Average preferred UVI is 4.1, but any where in the range of 3.8-4.5 is acceptable

• A high amount of bright visible light is needed for them. They know to go to the bright light to bask

• A heat bulb with visible light and UVA (like a halogen bulb), a proper linear UVB bulb, and a full spectrum LED bulb are the preferred lights used to achieve a proper LUX (perceived brightness)

• They are considered beginner pets because they are so robust that they can stay sick for so long without showing signs (not because they are easy to care for)

• Humidity isn't an issue by itself (they actually seek out humidity microclimates). It's high humidity combined with improper temps that causes issues

• They are very active animals and the main reason they aren't active in captivity is because they are bored

• Bare minimum size enclosure is 4x2x2. This is really needed in order to get proper UVI and temps. 5x3x3 would be better.

• They spend a lot of time higher up (more males than females) to be able to survey their territory in places like bushes and trees (not something like a hammock)

• They like to be able to see their surroundings fully

• Deep Heat Projectors are unnatural wavelengths and cause them to dry out which increases water loss

• In the wild they will sleep out in the open in 15°C/59°F, but will go into a burrow with anything under 10°C/50°F

• "Brumation" during our summer months is due to increased temps that cause them to stay sheltered to reserve their energy

• Substrate in Australia is 0.3% gravel, 1.5% silt, 2.3% clay, 95.9% fine sand (quartz & iron oxide)

• If they try to ingest their substrate it's a nutritional deficiency or a psychological reason: not proper UV, fed high phosphorus & low calcium, MBD & parasites, husbandry issues

• If you don't have loose substrate, you're depriving them of one of their 5 freedom rights

• Straight play sand isn't the best because it lacks clay

• Pin worms are needed to break down cellulose

• An overload of parasites is due to poor husbandry. The parasites are a secondary issue, so fix the husbandry and the parasites will go back in check

• No loose substrate equals a loss in muscle mass and causes stress on the joints, this becomes a welfare issue

• Keepers that bathe their dragons so they can defecate that is trying to solve a problem that's caused by poor husbandry (i.e. temps not high enough, parasite overload, not enough UV)

• If your husbandry is correct, you should not have to bathe them at all. It's not something they typically do (sit in puddles of water). Unless of course they are visibly soiled

• They should be able to do normal bodily functions on their own. If they can't, it's a welfare issue

• They do not absorb through their skin or their cloaca. They are not designed to take water in that way.

• They should be getting enough water from their food. You can mist them (from above not straight in the face) and the enclosure to mimic rain as well once a week. This will create little spots for them to drink from too

• Some causes of MBD include: not enough vitamin D production, not enough heat, not enough calcium, and too much phosphorus

• In the wild they eat a lot of flowers, wild sage, hibiscus, and Australian blue bells

• We grow them way too fast in captivity. It should take them 2 years to grow to full size, not 6 months

• Babies should get 5-6 protein items (about the size that is between their eyes) a day

• Adults should get 3-4 protein items (about the size that is between their eyes) 3 days a week and 3 times that in greens

• They do not need to eat if they are overweight

• Absolutely no fruit ever. They do not eat any in the wild at all and it causes dental disease and fungal cultures

• All protein items should be dusted with calcium

• BSFLs do have high calcium, but a majority of that is in their exoskeleton which is indigestible so they still need to be dusted

• You can dust a salad with a multivitamin once every other week

• ADV is something natural to them and is only an issue if husbandry is wrong (like cold sores in people, only comes out under stress)

• Obesity causes a lot of health issues

• Their insides are in one cavity so when they are obese it pushes their lungs in and they have a really hard time breathing

• Obesity also insulates them which prevents them from reaching optimum core temperature as the heat cannot penetrate past the fat

• Weight and length to compare what an ideal body composition should be (SVL= snout to vent length):

• Male: 372 grams; 24cm/9.45in SVL

• Female: 254 grams; 21.5cm/8.46in SVL

• Gravid Female: 315 grams; 22cm/8.66in SVL

• Average Dragon: 341 grams; 23.3cm/9.17in SVL

(thanks to schance99 on reddit for writing all this down)

[nohiketoosmall]

This is going to be a bit of a bummer of a post but my local reptile store gets rescues in and i want to show people this

This is a bearded dragon- a relativley normal one, albeit possibly fat.

And THIS is a bearded dragon given improper care

This animal has severe metabolic bone disease. It was apparently only fed fruit and probably didnt have a uvb light. A housekeeper brought it in because the family that owned it didnt care and she couldnt keep watching it suffer.

Bearded dragons need UVB AND a varied diet supplemented with vitamins

[dragonmecrazy]

First post, and a brief introduction! ✨️

Hello, and welcome!

Pictured above and frequently on this blog is Astarion. He is a Pogona Vitticeps, also known as a Central Bearded Dragon. While this blog is largely still under construction, it is functional and ready to go! The purpose of this blog is to inform people on proper husbandry for Bearded Dragons. Additionally, I will be sharing reputable resources for anyone wanting to extend their knowledge or double-check anything I offer!

Bearded Dragons are, unfortunately, deemed a "Beginner" level pet by many chain pet stores that then also provide buyers with inadequate starter kits and setups. Many of these Dragons are also housed in small shop enclosures with multiple others, which can be fatal. Because these stores make misinformed suggestions, many Bearded Dragons live in low-quality standards and wind up in rescues.

My goal is to provide a safe, friendly, and helpful place where I can share everything I have learned in my time researching, caring for these reptiles, and from the community spaces I have joined! So, if you have questions, please don't hesitate to reach out! We are always and forever, learning.

— Astarion & Jessie 💙

[beardeddragonguru]

5 Key Bearded Dragon Care Essentials [Infographic]

At Bearded Dragon Guru, we are specialists in "Beardies" and we love to know they are well cared for. We have created an infographic to help show important details and data for caring for your dragon. You will discover how to provide the best enclosure and habitat and the temperature and humidity that you need to set to ensure for a cozy home. UVB lighting is essential and you will find out what you need to know here as well as identifying things to look out for in case you need to take your bearded dragon to the vets. For more information visit here: https://beardeddragonguru.com/5-key-bearded-dragon-care-essentials/

[dd-wyd]

The gay boys - day 17

"What did you do!?"

"I shaved."

"Put it back on!"

The pride month challenge 🌈

[fbwzoo]

Dear fucking LORD I am beyond grateful for the reptile Facebook groups. I was already in most of the needed ones - Advancing Herpetological Husbandry, Reptile Lighting, and How Not to Slay the Dragon. Last one was the immediate care info brush up and getting specifics down for set up. My post is up in there now & already gotten some really nice helpful comments, which made me nearly cry once.

Have joined another group from there, for bearded dragons with muscular dystrophy, as it's possible that's what Ed may have along with MBD. Still relatively new and not much research, but seems to be getting more common in pet store dragons due to poor breeding. So I have that group for info if needed.

And now I have money to finish immediate supply shopping, so I went to get the heat bulbs and UVB light, then wanted to double check that the light would be correct for the usage. Reptile Lighting has all of the mesh screens researched for amount of UVB blocked, which coordinates for a chart to tell you the right bulb strength for distances to ensure the right amount of UVB exposure.

Cue almost crying again bc THANK YOU THAT WAS SO EASY.

Bulbs ordered.

Oh, and Ed has a vet appointment on Monday afternoon, so we just gotta get through the weekend. Focusing on rehydration first, fixing basking spot second, and then we'll try food.

[otterloreart]

I had gotten stuck on these smaller ddrawings so i finally went ahead and finished them up.

here's the sort of "model" that i originally made to show how i wanted to draw them:

and here's the one on the cover, which is a more detailed cartoony image:

I had already drawn out that a while back.

Heres the other main part of the cover. I was considering labelling these things better but I think I'll let the symbols work on their own, what do you think?

My goal here isn't to create a 100% care guide for bearded dragons- im not an expert, i don't have one, etc. The most thorough part is the food section, which has a breakdown of specific foods, but obviously can't be ever food type ever.

I think my goal, personally, is to create something that is 1. understandable with minimal reading comprehension and 2. cannot be misinterpreted to endanger any bearded dragons, especially / even if someone cannot read the words.

i mean i have this detailed supply list trying to be completely clear.

I'd be interested to know what peoples' interpretation of the drawings are, too.

[hotvampireadjacent]

very stressed lately cause i have credit card debit.. but no need to worry about me if I really am in danger i can ask my parents for help. Would rather Not.

anyway my point is whenever i'm stressed when i have to take care of my pets i am reminder why I stay strong. they need me to care for them. If nothing else I need to take care of them

[unbreakabledawn]

limited brain cell activity means he will stand still like a statue while i balance things on his head

[clowniconography]

a big distinction between ace and sabo to me is that ace eventually got the support he needed to grow from a bitter kid constantly angry at the world to a happy adult who both had people willing to sacrifice themselves for him and people he'd sacrifice himself for. whereas i personally believe sabo jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire in terms of traumatic family situations which caused him to go from a kind and smart morally upright little kid to a completely unpredictable adult with an inscrutable moral code. *grips him tightly in my fist* man what the fuck happened to you

[pagesofscales]

Animals As Gifts: A Brief Guide

Working at an exotic animal rescue, I see so many animals given to us from families that purchased an animal for their child's birthday or for Christmas or another holiday. Usually it's a gift for a child or teenager that ended up uninterested in it and not caring for it.

These animals come to us in poor condition. Leopard geckos missing toes, bearded dragons with MBD, ball pythons with mites. I've even seen a turtle come in missing half of it's shell and almost fully blind. While some of these things do happen even with good care, they can almost always be prevented. Unfortunately, that's pretty rare to see with gifted animals.

Despite all this, it can be good to give an animal as a gift. It can be a great learning opportunity for a kid or a way to bond as a family. That being said, it has to be done right.

1. Do Your Research

Research is the most important thing to do before getting a pet, especially ones that are often impulse buys such as fish or reptiles.

If you're getting an animal on behalf of your kid, this is incredibly important. You need to know about the animal-

What do they eat? How much?

What supplies will you need? What size of set up?

How much do they cost?

How long do they live?

What are some common illnesses that affect these animals? What are the signs?

-and the kid you're buying the animal for/the family as a whole.

Do you have the space for the animal? What about when the animal grows?

Do they have siblings? How will this affect things?

Do you/they have the money to constantly buy food and toys? What about a surprise medical emergency?

Are they responsible?

Can they commit to giving the animal the life it needs? Who steps up if they can't?

If the answer to any of these is no, don't do it.

2. Communicate

So many people want their gifts to be surprises and I get it. I do. But when the health and safety of an animal is sacrificed for a few seconds of surprise, it's not worth it.

Talk to your kid and find out if its something they actually want and can handle at the time. Talk to anyone else in the family that might be affected. Spouse, siblings, etc.

Once you have the go ahead, something to consider doing would be to let them choose the animal and supplies and just finance it. Or purchase some of the more basic supplied and let them pick the animal.

If you're absolutely dead set on surprising them or giving them something to unwrap, you can always get a gift card to a pet store or a picture of the planned animal or something of the sort for then to unwrap. Then have the discussion and go with them to get the animal. Just be prepared for the possibility that they may not want or be able to care for an animal.

If the kid is older or a teenager, you can even make a deal with them. I got my first reptile for my sixteenth birthday and in order to get him, I needed to keep my room clean every day for a year which was a difficult task for me. Make them prove that they can be responsible. Which leads me to the next point.

3. Take Responsibility

Please, please, PLEASE have a backup plan for if they lose interest or can no longer care for the animal.

Who takes care of the animal if they lose interest?

What happens if they can't care for them anymore?

What if you go on a long trip?

Gifting an animal is your decision and you need to be prepared to step up or rehome the animal if needed.

There's no shame in rehoming. Oftentimes, it's the best thing for the animal, even if it's a hard decision. Just make that decision before the animal has to suffer.

[dragonmecrazy]

Bearded Dragons are not beginner pets.

[duskingblossom]

So uhhh,,

I got a bearded dragon! :D

His name is Titan and he is a little over a month old right now. His enclosure does need a few extra things right now, but so far it's worked well B]

He got a better uvb light added today too, so he hopefully won't have any bone growth issues!

[nohiketoosmall]

so, i dont have a beardie or a leopard gecko, just a bp, but i was at my local petstore today and got thinking about the questions some new beardie owners were asking

im considering making some sort of mini-guide for beardies, would anyone be interested in seeing that? I'm wondering what kind of advice a succinct, picture-based pamphlet could include that's not overly wordy but doesn't include so few details people would neglect their animals (it wouldnt be 100% care, it would be like an overview)

I would use a proper font but the artstyle would be like this:

im not sure which resources are best, and i know care advice has changed a lot recently. for example most sources are going to recommend a 48x24x24 as minimum but i have more people recommending 4 feet enclosure nowadays, and i wouldnt want to wade into that argument- aka i wouldnt want to turn people off of it if it implied their tank was too small.

yeah idk i was just looking around at resources and i feel like there are a lot but they dont come with great visual aids and it might just be an interesting project for me to try out. ig the challenge would be to pack enough information in without too many words.

anyways! if anyone has any thoughts on this let me know! I would obviously cite my sources for any information provided and make clear that it isnt the end all, be all of care guides- just something visually distinct and colorful so that it sticks in peoples minds.

[dd-wyd]

The gay boys - day 18

"Grow one with me. I'm curious to see what you look like with a beard."

"I think the stubble suits you, Wyd. You handsome rogue."

The pride month challenge 🌈