You can make your bearded dragon healthier by following a few simple steps. First, make sure you’re providing your dragon with an appropriate diet consisting of live insects, plant matter, and a specially formulated food.
Make sure to supplement their diet with calcium, multivitamins, and maybe a few treats every now and then. Next, keep your dragon’s habitat clean by spot-cleaning their enclosure regularly and doing a thorough deep clean once a month.
Provide sanitized décor and always wash any items before adding them to the enclosure. Finally, offer your pet plenty of time for exercise and basking under a UVB light. This will help your dragon stay healthy and happy, and living its best life.
What do bearded dragons need to stay healthy?
Bearded dragons need proper nutrition and daily care to stay healthy. The most important part of keeping them healthy is providing them with adequate living quarters, which includes a suitable temperature and humidity, as well as a large enough enclosure so they have room to move around and explore.
Bearded dragons need a habitat that is well lit, with a temperature range of between 85 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit at night. This temperature drop allows them to properly metabolize food.
It is also necessary for them to have access to full spectrum ultraviolet light for proper growth and development.
Nutrition is a key part of keeping a bearded dragon healthy, and an appropriate diet should include both live and non-live foods. Bearded dragons should be fed insects such as crickets, worms, and mealworms, as well as leafy greens like collard greens and endive.
An occasional treat of a pinkie mouse can also be offered. It is important to dust insects with a vitamin and mineral supplement twice a week. Additionally, bearded dragons should be offered clean, filtered water to drink—it can be the same type of water used for human consumption.
In addition to proper nutrition and habitat, good hygiene practices are necessary for keeping a bearded dragon healthy. Bathing them in warm water for 10-15 minutes several times a week can help keep the skin clean and hydrated, as well as provide a form of hydration.
Regular cleaning of the enclosure is also important. Bearded dragons should have access to daily playtime outside of their enclosures, but it is important to keep an eye on them and provide a secure environment during this time.
Should you hold bearded dragon everyday?
It’s generally not a good idea to hold a bearded dragon every day. While they can be social and enjoy the occasional handling, it is important to note that they’re naturally skittish and can easily become stressed when they feel threatened.
This is especially true of younger, less tame bearded dragons. Furthermore, too much handling can cause them to become grumpy and eventually they may become difficult to handle.
Instead, it is best to let your bearded dragon come to you of its own accord as a sign of trust. This means allowing your pet to familiarize itself with its environment and you, and slowly building a bond of trust.
Once the trust has been established, you can slowly and cautiously increase the amount of time you spend handling them.
Lastly, it is important to be gentle and take care when handling your bearded dragon. They can easily become injured if dropped and they do not possess the same natural armor that other reptiles do. Therefore, use a slow, gentle approach to prevent them from becoming scared or traumatized.
Is it hard taking care of a bearded dragon?
Taking care of a bearded dragon can take some patience, effort, and dedication. It requires understanding the needs of the animal, such as providing a suitable habitat, adequate nutrition, and proper husbandry techniques.
Other important aspects of taking care of a bearded dragon include providing the proper socialization, grooming, and access to ultraviolet light. Providing the right environment and food can also help prevent health problems.
But with the correct knowledge and dedication, it can be a rewarding experience to take care of a bearded dragon. It is important to research and gain as much knowledge as possible when it comes to the husbandry requirements of a bearded dragon to ensure a long, healthy life.
Furthermore, it is important to make sure that your environment meets the requirements to keep your bearded dragon safe and secure.
What does a sick bearded dragon look like?
A sick bearded dragon may look lethargic, have decreased appetite, have dull or faded colors, labored breathing, difficulty moving, discolored bearded and/or patches of discoloration on the skin, swelling or bulging around their eyes, mouth or neck, changes in their droppings, excessive urates, or sunken eyes or head.
They may also be sneezing, coughing or producing mucous. Although they may still be able to move around and appear active, they may be less interactive, less interested in food or showing other signs of illness such as unusual behaviors, hiding or a decrease in appetite.
If you believe your bearded dragon is ill, it is important to take them to a qualified reptile veterinarian for the correct diagnosis and treatment.
How do you save a malnourished bearded dragon?
When caring for a malnourished bearded dragon, it is important to provide them with the correct nutrition and environment.
In terms of nutrition, a balanced diet should include both protein and plant-based foods, such as worms, crickets, roaches, wax worms, grasshoppers, veggies, fruits, and plants. A variety of food should be provided in order to ensure that all necessary nutrients are met.
Also, providing gut-loaded insects (insects that have been fed a nutritious diet prior to feeding them to your dragon) can increase the nutritional value of their meals. It is important to supplement their food with vitamin and mineral supplements to ensure proper nutrition.
In terms of their environment, it is important to provide your bearded dragon with the appropriate habitat that mimics their natural environment. This includes proper lighting that mimics the sun, as well as providing appropriate temperature and humidity.
Bearded dragons can become very stressed in an environment that is too humid, too hot, or too cold, so it is important to adjust the temperatures and humidity in the tank based on their species.
Finally, it is important to monitor their health closely, as even with a nutritious diet and the right environment, some illnesses or parasites may have weakened their immune system. Seeking the advice of a veterinarian can help diagnose any underlying issues and provide the appropriate care.
With proper care and a balanced diet, you can help your malnourished bearded dragon get back to their health and happy self.
Does soaking bearded dragons hydrate them?
Yes, soaking bearded dragons can help to hydrate them if done correctly. Bearded dragons need to have their enclosure filled with 50-60% humidity, because they’re native to desert climates. This can often be difficult to achieve in a captive environment.
A good way to help increase their moisture intake is to provide them with a shallow dish of warm water and soak them in it for around 15 minutes a few times per week. This can dampen their skin, leading to the absorption of moisture they need.
It is important to note that the water should not be too hot or cold, it should be lukewarm, and you should never leave the dragon unattended in the water as they can get stuck or drown. Additionally, you should make sure the water is clean, and that you completely dry the dragon off after the soak.
How long does a bearded dragon with MBD live?
The typical life expectancy of a bearded dragon with Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) is greatly reduced compared to healthy bearded dragons. The severity of the disease, together with the age of the dragon when it is diagnosed, will be major determining factors in the life span.
On average, the average life expectancy for a bearded dragon with MBD may range from several months to two years, depending on the aggressiveness of the disease and the age of the dragon when it was diagnosed.
It is important to note that MBD is often treatable, and with proper care and treatment, a bearded dragon with MBD can live for many years. Early diagnosis of the disease, followed by the implementation of proper husbandry and nutrition, as well as diligent veterinary care, can significantly improve the quality of life and the life span of a bearded dragon with MBD.
Therefore, it is important to seek the opinion of a qualified veterinarian if you suspect your bearded dragon may have MBD.
Can I feed my bearded dragon vegetables everyday?
Yes, you can feed your bearded dragon vegetables every day. However, it is important to ensure that they are getting a balanced diet. Vegetables should make up no more than 50% of their daily diet as they also need some protein, vitamins and minerals from other sources such as insects, fruits, and grains.
Vegetables to feed your bearded dragon can include butternut squash, collard greens, yams, bell peppers, zucchini, green beans, and carrots. When feeding vegetables to your bearded dragon, it is important to make sure that they are cut into appropriate sizes so they are not a choking hazard.
Additionally, it is important to wash all vegetables before feeding them to your dragon to remove any traces of pesticides.
Can a bearded dragon live without eating insects?
Yes, it is possible for a bearded dragon to live without eating insects. However, it is not recommended, as insects are an important part of a bearded dragon’s diet. Insects provide they essential nutrition and protein they need, and they also provide necessary fiber, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids.
A bearded dragon that is not consuming enough insects in its diet may become malnourished and suffer from health issues, such as poor growth, abnormal metabolism, low energy, and/or poor reproductive health.
In addition, a lack of insects in their diet can create improper calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, which can potentially lead to many different health-related issues, such as metabolic bone disease. As such, it is important to ensure that your bearded dragon receives a balanced diet and meals that consist of a variety of insects.
