Make sure you hire a great pet sitter who covers all the essential care needs of your bearded dragon! These reptiles come with extensive care needs from lighting to heat to live food requirements. In this post we’ll go over all the different care aspects for them and why they’re important to your pet’s health.
Lighting Needs
Bearded dragons have special lighting needs that are crucial to their overall health and well-being. In their tank they should have 3 different lighting types including a UVB light. Another light should be to provide an outdoor type light environment and the last is to give them warmth. All of these lights should be assembled in a certain way to mimic a natural outdoor environment.
Humidity Levels
These reptiles live naturally outdoors in desert type environments. We want to do our very best to replicate their normal habitat by keeping their tank at the right humidity level. Typically, a common guideline is between 35% - 40% humidity. If you need to adjust the humidity, you can use humidifiers or dehumidifiers to do so. The lamps may also help to adjust the humidity levels in their tank.
Habitat Upkeep
Since bearded dragons use the environment to regulate their body temperature, it’s important to have their tank set up to allow them to do this properly. For instance, you should always give them a basking area where they can go to soak up light and warm their body up. You can use a stick or structure they’re able to climb up to achieve this. On the other side of the tank you should have objects for them to get cool under. Pet stores and online retailers sell items that resemble caves to provide them with these options.
Feeding Requirements & Handling Knowledge
These guys have an interesting diet and it’s much more complex than your typical cat or dog. It also varies depending on their age. Younger dragons will have higher food consumption needs whereas older ones usually need much less. They’ll often eat crickets or roaches in addition to greens and even fruits! Their diet requirements have a very wide range so we recommend speaking with your veterinarian about what’s best for your individual dragon.
Before even becoming a reptile parent, you should do some research on the handling basics. If this is a family pet who will likely be handled by small children it’s also important to educate your kids on the right and wrong ways to hold your bearded dragon. Because of their body temperature regulation needs, this isn’t a pet who should be held for extended periods of time. If your home is standardly kept at a higher temperature, then you may be able to keep them outside of their tank for a longer period of time but it’s not advised to allow them to walk around freely for hours on end. Again, we’d advise speaking to your vet about the right treatment for your specific situation. If you’re planning an upcoming trip, be sure to book a pet sitter who is knowledgeable on all the intricate details of your dragon’s care needs.