How to Properly Care for a Bearded Dragon

This Instructable will show and instruct you how to properly care for a bearded dragon. Everything from cage, food, water, decorations, and basic facts. The picture below is of my 12" long bearded dragon Lola.

Step 1: Basic Facts

Bearded dragons are found in Australia in deserts and woodland. In the wild they will evade humans and often run up trees from predators. When confronted by a predator like a dingo or bird, they will sometimes puff-up and hiss to make themselves appear larger then they really are. Though they do not usually bite they are capable of biting. The males have black beards during mating season to attract females.

Step 2: Cage Size

The cage you will need for your bearded dragon is a glass fish aquarium. The size of the cage depends on your bearded dragon. I have posted a chart below for cage sizes.

XS beardies 2-4" 10 gallon
S beardies 5-7" 20 gallon
medium beardies 8-10" 30 gallons
L beardies 11-15" 40 gallon

Step 3: Substrate and Decerations

You will need some kind of substrate. Some people use reptile carpet but I have found that the best substrate is sand. Do not buy calcium sand from the pet store but buy children's play sand, its alot cheaper and is safe for the dragon. Put about 3" of sand on the bottom of the cage and smooth it out. After that but any kind of hide that you find at the pet store that is big enough for your dragon to be able to turn around while inside it. Then you might want to place some rocks are plants inside for show. You will need a big enough water dish so that the dragon can fit its whole body in but stand in it. I have a small water dish in the picture because my other one had a leak and I have to get a new one in a few days.

Step 4: Food

Feeding is easy. Your dragon will eat mostly vegies but some insects. The usual is 70% vegies and 30% insects. For vegies mostly romain lettus, carrots, spinach, brocholie, and almost anything else. For insects crickets, superworms, waxworms, hornworms,silkworms, etc, remember to put calcium dust from the pet store on the crickets every now and then.

Step 5: Water

Water is easy fill the water dish with water every day and make sure it is always clean. Tap water is fine. Make sure you also spray the inside of the cage with a spray bottle to get some humidity.

Step 6: Handling and Cautions

You can handle your beardie. They can get very tame and actually enjoy being around humans. Just hold them every day and work with them and they will become very nice. But while holding if your dragon becomes angry, put him/her back into the cage. Bearded dragons can not really hurt you, just scare you.

Step 7: Your Done!!!

That is all you need to know about care! The good thing about reptiles is all they ask for is your respect and care so if you keep them healthy and feed them, water them, and clean out there cage, they will show you respect to.