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Finding a Bearded Dragon
Feeding Bearded Dragons Bearded Dragon Habitat Bathing Your Bearded Dragon Temperament and Behavior Finding a BEarded DRagonFinding a bearded dragon to purchase is an important thing to consider when looking to buy a new pet. It is recommended that owners with little experience owning bearded dragons get an older dragon to start with because they are much easier to care for. Young bearded dragons are very fragile and can be easily injured, contract illness, and become malnourished easily if you aren't experienced handling them. A general rule of thumb for finding a bearded dragon that is nearing adulthood is that it is at least 10 inches long.
Bearded dragons can be purchased from most pet stores or you can find a breeder to buy one from. Bearded dragons purchased from breeders are often healthier because they have been raised in a more natural habitat and are more often free from stresses and possible illness than those purchased in a pet store. Wherever you decide to purchase your new bearded dragon, just make sure it is healthy before you buy it. There are several things you can look for when checking for a healthy bearded dragon. A healthy bearded dragon will not be lethargic. It should keep its head held up and be fairly active. Look for any injuries or healing wounds. If there are wounds present, be sure they are healing properly--no signs of infection such as puss or drainage. The eyes of the bearded dragon should be clear with no drainage present. Feeding Bearded DragonsBearded Dragon HabitatBathing Your Bearded DragonBathing your bearded dragon is important for its cleanliness as well as keeping their skin hydrated. Bathing also helps with other issues your pet may experience, such as constipation, fecal impaction, and shedding. Here are some commonly asked questions and information about giving your bearded dragon a much needed bath.
Questions and Answers
It is also recommended to give your bearded dragon a rock or something for it to rest on if it gets tired of wading in the water. You could even roll up a bath towel for your bearded dragon to climb on. Many bearded dragons won't drink from a water dish. They almost always drink their bath water, though. This is part of the reason bathing is so important to maintain your bearded dragon's hydration status. Temperament and BehaviorIf owning a bearded dragon is a new experience for you, its temperament and behavior is something you may want to become familiar with. Bearded dragons display many characteristics unique to their breed, some of which indicate aggressiveness or agitation. Some behaviors of a bearded dragon include:
Bearded dragons aren't generally aggressive by nature. Even a bearded dragon who is approached in their natural habitat will allow you to hold it without showing any signs of aggression. However, if a bearded dragon becomes stressed with someone's behavior, it can be provoked to respond with defensive and aggressive behaviors. Some of these include:
Brumation is a type of hibernation cycle experienced by bearded dragons. Each bearded dragon experiences brumation differently. They may take long naps, become less active, and lose their appetite, or they may sleep through the entire cycle without waking. Generally, the brumation cycle occurs during the winter and lasts about two months. Some owners try to wake their bearded dragon to eat and bathe, but it is recommended not to disturb it during its brumation cycle. Waking your bearded dragon during its hibernation cycle can cause brumation to last much longer and stress the dragon out. Usually, not eating during this cycle is completely normal and your bearded dragon should not lose any weight during this process.
Shedding skin is something many reptiles experience. Infant and juvenile bearded dragons will shed much more often than adults because they are still growing. Adult bearded dragons will shed their skin once or twice each year. During the shedding process, it's important to keep your bearded dragon's skin hydrated and clean. Regular bathing is important as well as misting it several times each day. Never pull the skin off unless it is clearly unattached and ready to be removed. The skin shouldn't be moist and you should not meet any type of resistance. Bathing can help speed up the shedding process and is very soothing for the bearded dragon. Be sure to monitor problem areas such as the tip of the tail and the toes. Make sure the skin isn't stuck on in these areas, which can affect their tissue circulation, causing necrosis (tissue death). Learn more about bearded dragon temperament here. |
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