Tomorrow is Appreciate A Dragon Day! While this is a great time to delve into books and movies featuring fictional dragons, it’s also a perfect chance for us to shine a light on some real ones. Bearded dragons are becoming very popular pets these days. They’re cute, quite docile, and easy to care for, and they are appropriate for many first-time reptile owners. Read on for some tips from your Oshawa, ON veterinarian on keeping beardies healthy.

Get Good Equipment

With reptiles, optimizing their habitats is half the battle when it comes to keeping them healthy. A beardie will need a good vivarium. We recommend getting one that is at least 120 cm x 60 cm x 60 cm for a single dragon. However, these guys definitely appreciate having a lot of space, so bigger is better. Plastic is a good option, as it’s durable and easy to clean. You’ll want to add lots of dragon necessities, such as wood, hide boxes, and safe rocks. A ceramic heat lamp is another popular addition. As far as environmental conditions, you’ll need to have one end warmer than the other. Ask your vet for more information.

Lights

UV lights are also a must. Basking is very important for dragons! Insufficient and/or improper lighting can wreak havoc on your dragon’s metabolism, and can cause or contribute to metabolic bone disease, a potentially-deadly health condition. Be sure to set the lights on a timer, so your pet dragon can experience natural cycles. Ask your vet for recommendations.

Diet

Variety is the spice of life. That’s as true for dragons as it is for us! Your little dinosaur’s menu should consist of insects, such as crickets and Dubia roaches; leafy greens, such as kale and spinach; and colorful veggies, like pepper and pumpkin. For treats, you can offer waxworms and mealworms. You’ll also need to supplement these things with specific vitamins and minerals.

Handling

One great thing about beardies is the fact that they are generally much calmer and gentler than many reptiles. You’ll want to handle your pet regularly, to keep him friendly. Just take care to support his weight properly. Never hold a beardie by the tail! Also, be slow and gentle, and don’t startle or overpower your beardie. As your ON veterinary clinic, we’re happy to offer great care for reptiles. Call us anytime!