If you want an unusual and interesting pet there are many you could choose. If you decide on getting a Bearded Dragon you've made a good choice as they are generally easy to care for and don't require a lot of special food. What they do require is a good how to make a bearded dragon habitat, or enclosure, to live in. The equipment necessary for maintaining a healthy dragon can be an expensive initial outlay of money but once done, your dragon will be inexpensive to keep.
Your bearded dragon will grow to be 15 - 24 inches (38 - 60 cm) in length, so you need to provide a home that will give it plenty of room to stretch out and roam around in. This requires an enclosure that is at least two to three times the length of your pet when full grown. This is about the size of a 50-Gallon Aquarium. In addition to the amount of space needed, your pet's home needs to be in a location that will not be in the light for 24 hours and it must be a quiet location. Loud noises will cause your beardie a lot of stress and make it unhealthy.
There are many kinds of enclosures available. A 50-gallon aquarium will serve nicely as a vivarium and give you an all around view of what your pet is doing. There are also habitats that are wooden on three sides with a suitably heavy lid and glass front. Wire mesh homes are nice, airy, and lightweight. What is most important is that you provide an area where your pet can get warm, and that it won't be able to get out and cause itself harm.
Bearded dragons come from the plains of Australia so they need an environment that is desert-like and warm. This requires a substrate, or floor covering, that is made of dirt, sand or small gravel for realism. Many people use butcher or similar paper as well and this will work also and provide easier clean up. Choose something that will not irritate your beardie's feet or harm them if they eat it.
It is vital that you provide a way for your bearded dragon to keep warm and obtain ultra violet light to be healthy. Offer a source of warmth such as a Heat Lamp and/or a Heating Pad designed for reptiles. Also supply a UVB lamp to act as a source of substitute sunlight. Including a thermometer is also important so you can check the temperature and assure that your pet has enough warmth.
Your bearded dragon also needs a dish for water and another for food. You will find many types of dishes for this purpose at the pet store but you may find something suitable, and less expensive, around your home. A water dish needs to be shallow, sturdy and non-tip. You don't want it dumping out or tipping over on top of your pet. A food dish can be most anything as long as your pet can reach the food inside. Remember that your beardie is an omnivore and will enjoy a variety of fruits, vegetables, mealworms and live crickets to chase down.
Your pet also requires some furnishings for its home to provide interest and exercise. A few flat rocks should be placed under the heat lamp to provide a nice basking place for warming up. Some other rocks, rope, vines or logs for climbing should also be included. You might also include some plants. Just be sure that everything you put in the vivarium is safe for your pet if they decide to eat it.
Setting up your bearded dragon vivarium can be a fun activity, and you get to do it again each time you clean it. Moving items around can create interest and mental stimulation for your pet. Knowing what your pet requires for a comfortable home environment and meeting those needs will help you keep a healthy, happy animal. Purchase a small book on bearded dragon care to have on hand for reference and for answering questions you may have as your pet grows.
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