Bearded Dragons can be a great first family pet. They are easy to keep clean and fun to watch as they eat crickets, mealworms, and even fruits and vegetables.
How Did the Bearded Dragon Get Its Name?
Bearded Dragons (also called beardies) got their name from the skin under their chins that puffs up when they think they are in danger. They do this to scare away the enemy. The "beard" will sometimes turn dark purple or black when puffed up. Sometimes beardies open their mouths wide to appear bigger and scarier and some even let out a loud hiss to appear and sound scarier.
As for the being a dragon, beardies may look at little like a dragon with their scales and spikes, but they are very gentle and friendly lizards. These spikes and scales are actually for protection from their enemies. When holding these docile creatures the spikes and scales are hardly noticeable. Some call them smooth and soft.
Best Part of Owning a Bearded Dragon...Feeding Them!
Besides holding them and showing them off to your friends and family bearded dragons are fun to watch eat crickets, mealworms, and small mice. Even watching them eat their favorite fruits and vegetables can be fun. Some of the many fruits and vegetables that beardies like are:
- Lettuce
- Berries (like strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries)
- Cucumber
- Zucchini (my beardies favorite!)
- Carrot tops
- Grapes
- Corn
- Green beans
Beardies grow fast. Here is a good schedule to use to feed your pet lizard.
- Hatching- 0 up to 2 months: Two to three week old crickets offered two to three times a day.
- Juvenile-2 months to 4 months: Three to four week old crickets offered twice a day.
- Sub-Adult- 4 months to about one year: Four to five week old crickets and/or mealworms everyday.
- Adult: 18 months: Four to six week old crickets or king mealworms.
Note: Can also feed pinkies or fuzzies (baby mice) every one to two weeks and
always feed your beardie mixed vegetables every other day.
Fun Facts About Bearded Dragons
- Bearded Dragons can live between 3 to 10 years.
- Adults shed their skin several times a year.
- Ripe bananas bring flies that the beardie loves to eat!
- Female Dragons can lay up to 24 eggs.
- They bob their heads up and down when they see each other.
- Beardies need to sit in the sun to keep warm.
Bearded Dragons are wonderful pets and a great way to teach children responsibility and care for other creatures. Go to your local library and pet store to find out more about this friendly and docile lizard.
Sources
General Care and Maintenance of Bearded Dragons (1997) by R. Mailloux.
Meet the Bearded Dragon (2009) by Suzanne Buckingham.
Mary Moustakas - Working on Masters in Clinical Psyc. Have a son on the autism spectrum so, I hope to pursue a Ph.D in neuropsychology.
Join the Conversation