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Here are some answers to frequently asked questions on Bearded Dragon Lizards
What
is the lifespan of the bearded dragon?
A
dragon’s lifespan ranges from 4 years to 15 years. The average is about 6 years
What
and how frequently should I feed the bearded dragon?
You
can feed young bearded dragons up to three times a day, with proper supplementation.
Adults can be fed less frequently.
Should
my bearded dragon get exercise?
Most
certainly. The cage should be roomy enough for your dragon to move about briskly. You can
also allow it to move about in the house and even outside, but always under your watchful
eye.
Why
do bearded dragons twitch or shake?
Calcium
and vitamin D3 deficiency leads to metabolic bone disease. This causes twitching and
shaking. To remedy this, raise the level of food supplementation and expose your dragon
often to direct sunlight (not through a glass pane)
How
should I position the UV / warming lights?
These
lights should be 8 to 10 inches above the highest basking point, towards one end of the
cage
Can
bearded dragons hear?
According
to experts’ accounts, yes. They seem to react to sudden or loud noises, though there
is no mention that these animals produce any kind of noise themselves.
Can
they show affection?
Not
in the way the more common pets do. Still, they seem to give an impression that they enjoy
being handled, carried or rubbed gently or being in your company
Can
I have more than one bearded dragon?
It
is possible to have more than one bearded dragon in one cage. But always provide alternate
shelter in case the less dominant dragon begins to feed less and loses weight
Do
bearded dragons get depressed
Failure
to feed and reduced activity can be considered as a sign of depression in a bearded dragon
which has been subjected to dominant treatment by a rival
At
what age should breeding of bearded dragons start?
When
both male and female are at least 12-18 months old. Females may take a little longer to
attain sexual maturity.
What
is a healthy diet?
A
diet consisting of live prey (primarily crickets) and vegetable matter in the correct
proportion, along with calcium and vitamin D3 supplements is ideal.
Can
you place an adult male with a juvenile female?
Avoid
it. Females mature later than males. An adult male may pursue the juvenile female with
intent to mate and cause much harm to her.
Should
I give a daily bath to my bearded dragon?
A
bath on alternate days or even once a week should be sufficient, under a tap or a shower
Do
bearded dragons get along?
Not
always. They can be amiable and tolerant sometimes and aggressive and even violent at
other times
How
do you train a bearded dragon?
You
cannot ‘train’ your dragon in the literal sense. By patient and persistent
effort, you can make it tolerate, or may be even enjoy, handling by you
At
what age are they sexually mature?
By
the time they are 18 months old.
What
color mutations are available?
The
bearded dragon is primarily grey in color with darker shades during displays. Breeders
however tend to concentrate on evolving dragons with red and gold tinted skin
What
is lizard substrate and why do they need it?
Substrate
is the material used as flooring for the bearded dragon’s cage. It is necessary to
keep the floor relatively warm and to enable easy maintenance.
How
do you prepare a bearded dragon habitat?
A
pet dragon’s habitat consists of a cage with a variety objects termed collectively as
‘furniture.’ These objects include
the substrate, plant or wood sections, potted plants, smooth rocks etc
Why
are they called dragons (instead of lizards?)
The
dragon’s tendency to blow out its spiny ‘beard’ and gaping gives it a
resemblance to dragons and hence the name, though it belongs to the lizard family of
reptiles.
If
you sprinkle calcium power on crickets, do dragons grow faster?
Calcium
is sprinkled on crickets before they are fed to the dragon. Along with vitamin D3, this
accelerates bone development in young dragons
How
often should they have health checks?
As
bearded dragons are hardy animals, health check up at regular intervals may not be
mandatory. A check up becomes necessary if they pick up some infection.
How
do you determine the sex of the lizard?
A
careful examination of hemipenal bulges on the underside near the base of the tail, is a
sure method. Two bulges indicate a male and a single bulge indicates a female.
What
are the types of diseases can bearded dragons get?
Terminal
ingestion, thermal burns and respiratory and intestinal infections are common disorders
that bearded dragons are susceptible to. Mite infestation is another disease.
How
do you take care of the crickets that dragons eat?
Crickets
you feed to your dragon should be young, healthy and well-fed. They are best suited as
prey when they are freshly molted and when they are gut-loaded.
What
kind of plants can be placed in their cages?
Potted
plants like ficus, hibiscus, geranium, petunia, pothos, pursule and violets are some of
the plants suitable for placing in the dragon’s cage.
How
do I know when they are sick?
Loss
of appetite, reluctance to bask, mucus collection around nostrils and at the edges of the
mouth are all symptoms of sickness and infection. Stiffness or paralyses of hindlegs is a
sign of a fatal condition known as terminal ingestion.
How
many hours should I set the timer for amount of daylight in the tank?
10
to 12 hours daily, during daytime.
Do
Dragon Lizards enjoy walks?
Dragon
lizards love to roam about the house and walk outdoors, especially in bright sunshine
Can
they cohabit with other lizards?
They
can cohabit with other dragon lizards, but not with other species of lizards
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