Bearded Dragons are popular pets. They are interactive, stay relatively small, are easy to care for and have calm personalities.
Young Beardies are carnivores. They will eat great quantities of crickets. Caring for a juvenile Bearded Dragon is easy when you provide for all of his needs. Here is a shopping list of supplies you will need:
- Terrarium with sliding screen top. The biggest you can get but at least 36x18.
- Heat lamp with 75 watt incandescent bulb. Place this on one end of the cage to provide a "sunning" spot. It is equally important to provide a "cool zone" in the terrarium where your Bearded Dragon can escape the heat produced by the lamps.
- Basking log. Place under the heat lamp.
- Heat Lamp with infrared bulb. Place on the same end of the cage to provide warmth at night.
- Two terrarium thermometers. Place one on each end to monitor the hot and cool zones.
- Crushed walnut shell bedding. This bedding makes cleanup a breeze with a cat litter scoop.
- Water dish. Although they get most of their moisture from their food it is necessary to provide clean water in a shallow dish.
- Calcium powder. You will be dusting the crickets with this twice a week.
Feed your baby Bearded Dragon 2 week old crickets daily. Twice a week place the crickets in a baggie with a teaspoon of calcium powder and shake to dust them. The crickets will turn white. As your Beardie grows, buy larger crickets and continue to dust twice weekly.
What about mealworms? Mealworms are not recommended for Bearded Dragons. Their exoskeletan is difficult for a Bearded Dragon to crush and digest. This can lead to intestinal blockage which can be fatal.
When your Beardie is 4 to 6 months old begin introducing finely chopped leafy greens such as Kale, Mustard Greens, Dandelion Greens, Beet Greens, and an occasional leaf or two of spinach. Stay away from the lettuce family; it has no nutritional value and can lead to metabolic bone disease, as a result.
Serving leafy greens is also a great way to provide water. Rinse or mist the greens before placing them in your Beardie's food dish.
Once your Bearded Dragon has begun eating the leafy greens begin introducing finely shredded vegetables to his "salad". He will enjoy carrots, peas, yams, squash and an occasional piece of broccoli. Make sure the pieces are small and mix into the greens.
Fruits are also nutritious and delicious! Mix in finely chopped apples, strawberries, bananas, tomatoes, cantaloupe (in moderation) and blueberries.
In order for your Bearded Dragon to not become a "picky eater" it is important to chop the food into very small pieces and mix thoroughly. If you give larger, bite-size, pieces your Beardie will pick out what he likes most and will, eventually, eat only those things.
From 6 to 8 months of age gradually start reducing the number of crickets and increasing the vegetarian diet. Ultimately you will achieve 75% vegetable and 25% cricket diet as your Bearded Dragon becomes an adult.
