help on bearded dragons

ok i want to get a bearded dragon, so i want to know the basics on caring for them and a list on what i should buy, and how much a bearded dragon costs thanks.

I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to do your research before getting a beardie. With a snake, you need to know heat, humidity, cage size, feeding. Done. With beardies, it's a lot more complicated. For one, their diets are more complicated than a snake's diet. You've got to work in a wide variety of insects, worms, greens, veggies, and supplements. Lighting and UVB are also major factors. I'll jot down a few basic things, but you really have to read as much as you can!!

Here's an awesome caresheet on an awesome forum. BD.org is the best beardie forum out there.
http://www.beardeddragon.org/articles/caresheet/


Okay. I'll start with caging.

Many say that an adult beardie is okay in a 40gal breeder tank, but I personally wouldn't keep an adult in anything smaller than a 4x2x2ft. My darling Budo uses every inch of his 4x2 and still begs to get out all the time. The bigger the cage the better with these guys! They really appreciate space.

Feeding:

Crickets, roaches, locusts, phoenix worms, silk worms, and butter worms are all good staple feeders. Feeders should be the size of the space between a beardie's eyes. Baby beardies should be fed 3x per day, as much as they can eat in 5 minutes. Juveniles (8mo+) should be fed as much as they can eat in 5 minutes daily. Adults (16mo+) should be fed 30-50 feeders per week.

Beardies also need greens and calcium and vitamin supplements. For info on good and bad greens, veggies, and supplement dosages, check out this site.
http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com/

Lighting:

12/12 or 14/10 hour photoperiod. You can do it manually, but it's so much easier to buy a timer. Beardies need UVB radiation. To provide this, you have two options: fluorescent strip bulbs or mercury vapor bulbs. NEVER use a compact bulb, these can seriously hurt beardie eyes. Be very very very careful about which bulb you buy. Pet stores will sell you anything. The vast majority of UVB bulbs out there do more harm than good. There are a few brands that I would vouch for. The fluorescent bulb ReptiSun 10.0 is the best on the market. As far as MVBs, the MegaRay and T-Rex are both great bulbs.

Choosing between fluorescents and MVBs is very important. Fluorescent bulbs give off UVB, light, but no heat, and should be within 8" of the highest basking point. MVBs give off a very high UVB output (meaning calcium supplements should not include vitamin D3), light, and heat, should be no closer than 12" from the highest basking point, and should only be used in enclosures 40gal+ due to how hot they get. So, it really depends on the beardie's setup.



Temps:

Cool side of 80-83*, warm side of 90-100*, basking point of 100-110*. Nighttime temps should go no lower than 65*.



Humidity & Hydration:

No higher than 50%. Beardies should be bathed 3-4x weekly. Personally, I bathe Budo every day. It's super dry here (10-20%) and Budo loves his baths. Dishes of water probably won't be used. And misting your beardie is okay, but should not replace baths.


Substrate:

Tiles, astroturf, reptile carpet, paper towels, newspaper, and non-adhesive shelf liner are all great substrates for beardies. Sand, bark, shredded paper, and soil are all bad choices due to beardies ingesting them and getting impaction of the intestines.



You could probably get a beardie for as low as $10, although $30 is more reasonable for a baby, around $100 for an adult. Go with a breeder or a rescue, not a pet store. They're not expensive. It's the setup and food you need to worry about. UVB bulbs are not cheap and need to be replaced every 6-12 months (depending on the type), and baby beardies can eat 200-300 crickets per day, which really does add up.


Good luck! Beardies are the BEST pets out there, it's a decision you won't regret!! :gj:

ok thanks right now im still doing my research thanks for the help

i was reading, an are these foods right for them?
Greens

* escarole
* kale
* collards
* bok choy
* Swiss chard
* parsley
* clover
* alfalfa pellets
* dandelion greens
* turnip greens
* mustard greens
* NEVER iceberg lettuce

vegetables



* broccoli
* okra
* peas
* green beans
* zucchini
* squash
* grated carrots
* sweet potato
* bell pepper
* frozen mixed vegetables

fruits



* figs
* kiwi
* papaya
* melon
* apples
* grapes
* dates
* peaches
* apricots
* strawberries
(seeds removed)
* plums
* tomatoes
* bananas (with skin)

what are turnip greens? mustard greens? and dandelion greens?

check out this site:

http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtrem...nframeset.html

this has all the food info you could possibly need/want to feed yur beardie! this is the guide we are following... also a thing to know, you can feed them phoenix worms which are high in calcium and low in phosphorus, and also Dubia roaches which have good stuff in them too, if crickets are not yur thing. We are feeding our beardie mixes of romaine, cactus pear and phoenix worm salad :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LaFilleClochette

check out this site:

http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtrem...nframeset.html

this has all the food info you could possibly need/want to feed yur beardie! this is the guide we are following... also a thing to know, you can feed them phoenix worms which are high in calcium and low in phosphorus, and also Dubia roaches which have good stuff in them too, if crickets are not yur thing. We are feeding our beardie mixes of romaine, cactus pear and phoenix worm salad :D

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x2

I've got a dubia colony, they are great! Super easy to care for, breed, and Budo loves them!

i have beadie almost 2 years
in the past before buying them, i look the care sheet in the internet
look like teory for me, the care sheet in the internet for us state that have 4 seasons
i live in jakarta, 2 seasons, the temperature at day in my town 32-34 celcius, goods for beardie, the temperature at night get 28-30 celcius
so i buy them, buy the tank and uvb bulb
i use the tank 1M x 50Cm x 50Cm
fill with bali sand and wallpaper for beautiful:banana::banana:
i give them in the morning veggie, after 1 to 2 hours i give them cricket
after their age more than 6 months i give them cricket and superworm
one baby beardie from mouth to the end of the tail reach 30 Cm, they eat about 20-30 crickets im my house for a day.
i also give calcium+d3 3 times for a week and gutload the cricket
for baby give them water too
my opinion while they are baby, give them cricket as many they want to eat
because cricket more fast absorb by their body, and the get pup many time, it;s means for me they grow more faster
i'm sorry, my english bad
later i'll upload the room of my beardie, hope give you an ide for your enclosure

dody

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tank4102

what are turnip greens? mustard greens? and dandelion greens?

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your whole family from the north huh?

they are a leafy vegetable similar to spinach but far bigger leaves all have a bit of a diff flavor from eachother,but great when cooked up all together with ham hocks or smoked neck bones.

i dont know where your from but if you cant find them in your local grocery store, try going to one in a area with a higher black population or southern influnence.

Hi,

Well if you look under his user name;

Location: jakarta

:P

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jakarta


dr del

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,

Well if you look under his user name;

Location: jakarta

:P

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jakarta


dr del

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aifgm is from jakarta i dont see where it says tank4102 is also from there, i was answering his q

Hi,

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 771subliminal

aifgm is from jakarta i dont see where it says tank4102 is also from there, i was answering his q

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I'm sorry. :)

You are absolutely right I misread who you were replying to. :colbert2:


dr del

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,



I'm sorry. :)

You are absolutely right I misread who you were replying to. :colbert2:


dr del

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np we all make mistakes :) atleast you own up to it

:)hello
i live in jakarta, indonesia
the temp in here so hot good for beardie

this is my red blood male terrarium
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/f...3102009428.jpg

this is the baby from the male
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/f...3102009430.jpg

hope you give an idea for your enclosure

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 771subliminal

your whole family from the north huh?

they are a leafy vegetable similar to spinach but far bigger leaves all have a bit of a diff flavor from eachother,but great when cooked up all together with ham hocks or smoked neck bones.

i dont know where your from but if you cant find them in your local grocery store, try going to one in a area with a higher black population or southern influnence.

---

dandelion greens can be found in many peoples yards. Most folks consider them weeds. I love my dandilions. They are a very healthy food source for my farm\zoo. My beardie eats them, as do my goats, rabbits, dubias, tortoises, etc.

Just be sure not to gather any from a yard that is treated with insecticides, fertilizers, etc...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by aifgm

this is my red blood male terrarium
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/f...3102009428.jpg

this is the baby from the male
http://i537.photobucket.com/albums/f...3102009430.jpg

hope you give an idea for your enclosure

---

Those look pretty good. But most don't like the loose substrate for beardies - espeically young ones. Too much risk of impaction (and harder to keep clean... mold, bacteria growth, parasites, etc). Yes, many do it with no problems. At least for a while... Just something to be aware of....

The adult looks very cramped in his enclosure.

And they could use something to climb on and probably some kind of hide. There should be a temperature gradient from a hot side with a basking bulb to a cool (not cold, just cooler than the hot side) side.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wafisherman

Those look pretty good. But most don't like the loose substrate for beardies - espeically young ones. Too much risk of impaction (and harder to keep clean... mold, bacteria growth, parasites, etc). Yes, many do it with no problems. At least for a while... Just something to be aware of....

The adult looks very cramped in his enclosure.

And they could use something to climb on and probably some kind of hide. There should be a temperature gradient from a hot side with a basking bulb to a cool (not cold, just cooler than the hot side) side.

---

x2

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wafisherman

Those look pretty good. But most don't like the loose substrate for beardies - espeically young ones. Too much risk of impaction (and harder to keep clean... mold, bacteria growth, parasites, etc). Yes, many do it with no problems. At least for a while... Just something to be aware of....

The adult looks very cramped in his enclosure.

And they could use something to climb on and probably some kind of hide. There should be a temperature gradient from a hot side with a basking bulb to a cool (not cold, just cooler than the hot side) side.

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yes, i change the substrate every six months, clean the pup every day
can't give them something to climb, because they can get out from the terrarium, i never close the top.:D:D
i don't have enough space to give them bigger tank
in the past i already try use newapaper for the substrate, but the cricket always hiding inside, i use exoterra sand too, but my baby become impaction
then i find bali sand, i try it and i get no baby impaction
with bali sand, the beardie from baby and adult become more active and confortable as i see them every day :banana::banana:

If you do not have space for them, you shouldnt have them. Beardies need space, imagine if you were stuck in a 6 by 5 room for the rest of your life, could you live in it? Yes, would you like it? no.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Beardedragon

If you do not have space for them, you shouldnt have them. Beardies need space, imagine if you were stuck in a 6 by 5 room for the rest of your life, could you live in it? Yes, would you like it? no.

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lots of people seem to like it alot, their called habitual offenders

hey im new to this site but not new to reptiles im a memeber of another site like this called beardeddragon.org and its a great site for new or old bearded dragon owners much like this site for bps you should check it out alot of helpfull people and info i my self own 7 dragons all diffrent kinds of morphs and 5 snakes 4 bps 2 100%pie 1 pastel 1 spider 1 c.a red tail and i my best buddy is a well known breeder in florida so im around alot of reptiles when im at his house every sat and sun helping him clean and feed im around 2500 or more reptiles and that dragon site has helped me understand dragons so much and i hope i learn alot about bps from this site and all of its memebers you guys seem great like my other dragon family so please if you want a great site like this one for dragons please go check it out sorry for the hijack i just want you guys to understand where i come from lol :rolleye2:

Beardeddragon.org is the BEST forum on the web (no offense, guys, this is also a really great forum, I love it here). If you own a beardie or want to own a beardie and aren't a member of the bd.org forum, JOIN! :gj::gj:

hey crazy i take it your a member if so whats your scn mines hyporollo and that site is awesome but so far this site seems to be just as good but for bps i love it and all the diffrent pics much like what you find on bd.org you will find all the info you need and some plus they have alot of pics to show all the diffrent morphs really if you own a dragon you need to be a member

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rollo

hey crazy i take it your a member if so whats your scn mines hyporollo and that site is awesome but so far this site seems to be just as good but for bps i love it and all the diffrent pics much like what you find on bd.org you will find all the info you need and some plus they have alot of pics to show all the diffrent morphs really if you own a dragon you need to be a member

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I'm herpfreak. :) Hmm, I think I must agree that the photo section on this forum is superior to bd.org. But there aren't so many cute stories on here. :P

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Beardedragon

If you do not have space for them, you shouldnt have them. Beardies need space, imagine if you were stuck in a 6 by 5 room for the rest of your life, could you live in it? Yes, would you like it? no.

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yes, i agree with you, they all need bigger tank, maybe in the future i'll give them more space..for now i just give them tank as seen in the picture..after they bigger i'll move them to bigger tank with other beardie
can't move now because the size is differrent to much..
some baby that already bigger are together in the big tank..
:):)

well what i feed my beardies (22 breeders and 12 babies) is ether mustard greens, dandelion greens, collard greens,bokchoy(chines cabbage) for the bugs i dont do roaches (wife dont like them got bit in the eye when she lived in the Philippines), crickets, horned worms every once in a while the same with pinkies, wax worms, super worms, meal worms, i used to use sand but i got tired of having it smell after a week so i use shelf lines and i clean all the cages all the time (they seem to like pooping once you clean there cage) i love my beardies but there addictive like crack. i use power sun 10.0 in most of my cages but do use mvb strips in the cages i built. i just use 100 lite bulbs in those cages for heat.

i menat to say 100 watt light bulbs

Bd.org is a great site, if you really want to get into bearides. Ive been a member since around 2003 or four I think...banned since 2006 or 7. ( Long story)

Even though ive edited some our beardie caresheet is from their site.

hello, sorry guys i diddint post lol i have been in bd.org lol. yeah im from illinois lol and i went to a pete's freesh market in chicago and luclky i found mustard and collard greens =].