What You Need To Know Before You Buy A Bearded Dragon

Bearded dragons, which are a native of the deserts of Central Australia, are a type of ancient lizard that got its name from their distinctive act of extending their flap of skin under the chin when threatened. They are generally even-tempered creatures that are fun to care for and seem to love being cared for by humans in return.

Before rushing into a pet store to buy a bearded dragon, it’s very important to gather all essential information about the animal as there are quite a number of things that need to be considered to ensure that you’re making a good deal of your money. In the first place, these little reptiles are not that cheap. The average price usually goes between $50 and $100, although there are so many other things that need to be purchased to keep your bearded dragon generally comfortable, happy, and healthy.

Bearded dragons make a great pet to anyone who’s interested in reptile pet parenting. Although owning one may present some challenges along the way, in time you will find that such lizards are relatively easy to nurture and attend to. Before deciding to buy a bearded dragon, first try to answer the following questions: “Can I provide a habitat that requires an electrical heat source?”, “Do I want a pet that doesn’t need to be cuddled most of the time?”, “Can I manage to feed an animal on an everyday basis?”, “Am I comfortable providing insects and worms as food to an animal?”, and “Am I responsible enough to provide proper care to a pet?”. If you answered “Yes” to these questions, a bearded dragon may just be the perfect companion animal for you.

Aside from determining whether bearded dragons are the right pet for you, it’s also important to remember that it requires a large financial investment to care for one, especially at the beginning. To keep an adult bearded dragon healthy, you need to have the following: a 45-75 gallon fish tank with screen top ($100-$180), heat lighting ($1 for the light bulb and $10-15 for the fixture), UVB tube lighting ($20-$35), UV tube fixture ($20-$35), substrate ($4 per 50lbs of play sand), and food ($20 per week). Again, bearded dragons only cost between $50 and $100, but taking care of one will cost you some more because of all the needed food and supplies for its survival.

Once you decide to shop for a bearded dragon, whether from a pet store or a breeder, be sure to inspect thoroughly. Some things you should consider is how alert and active the lizard is. After all, you don't want a pet that can't lift its head or looks weak. Observe the animal when you walk up to its cage. It should be watching you with curiosity and attention and should have very alert eyes. You also need to check its body for sores, burns, or any other kinds of wound. It should have a full tail and a complete set of toes. You should also look for external parasites or any deformities that may cause the lizard to be ill.

Finally, be sure to consider the size of the animal before buying one. In general, bearded dragons less than 6 inches in length are not a good buy. Young bearded dragons can be very fragile and are more prone at becoming ill or overly stressed. It is a lot easier to care for an adult bearded dragon than a juvenile one.

Caring for a bearded dragon is generally easy. It is very important, however, to invest some time, money, and effort in establishing your reptile’s needs to ensure that your pet will be happy and healthy in its new home.