Bearded dragon
One of the most common and popular reptiles is the bearded dragon. It is best kept on its own in a large, dry desert terrarium.
It often displays very sociable behaviour towards humans, is trusting and will let you pick it up. They often eat from your hand and will even let you stroke them, although the bearded dragon is not actually a pet meant to be stroked.
Bearded dragons are generally easy to keep, but there are a few things to bear in mind here too.
How to look after a bearded dragon
Terrarium
As a bearded dragon can easily grow to 50 cm in length, it needs a large terrarium. It is said that a bearded dragon should have a floor area of at least 1.50 square metres.
The terrarium should include climbing structures, as bearded dragons enjoy climbing. Bearded dragons need a desert-style terrarium, which means it should be dry and have high temperatures. The terrarium should be between 27 and 30 degrees; one area should even be 35 to 40 degrees. It can be cooler at night, but the temperature should not fall below 20 degrees.
Substrate
I use sand as the substrate. However, it should not be too fine, so that the animals do not sink into it. You can buy special terrarium sand, or – as I do – play sand.
Plants
Even a desert terrarium should have plants in it; this creates a better climate. You just need to make sure you use plants that aren’t harmful to bearded dragons, as they eat plants. In my terrarium, I have tillandsias and a bromeliad.
Diet
Bearded dragons are omnivores. They eat vegetables such as lettuce, dandelions and carrots, as well as small amounts of fruit, such as apples and berries, and, of course, animal-based food such as crickets. They also enjoy mealworms in small quantities.
Lighting
Bearded dragons absolutely require a UVA and a UVB lamp. It is also best to have a ceramic heat lamp to create a zone with a higher temperature. Bearded dragons need plenty of light.
Enclosure and climate
As mentioned above, bearded dragons need a desert-style terrarium. This should have a humidity level of 50 to 60 per cent during the day. At night, you can increase this to 70 per cent by giving it a light spray. In my terrarium, I’ve built several levels using a mixture of sand and loam, and added large branches, because bearded dragons love to climb – and it makes the environment much more interesting.
