BEARDED DRAGON
CARING FOR YOUR
BEARDED DRAGON
General care
A healthy Bearded Dragon should be bright and alert. Its body and leg muscles should appear well-formed and strong. There should be no signs of diarrhoea. Nails may become overgrown and will need to be trimmed. Consult your pet shop or vet.
Diarrhoea
: this can be caused by incorrect feeding or internal parasite infestation. Mouth rot: cheesy deposits appear in the mouth.
Respiratory problems
: signs include fluid or mucus from the nose. Bone disorders: signs include twisted, twitching, swollen or paralysed hind limbs, and a soft or undershot jawbone. This is due to a lack of calcium and/or vitamin D3. It can be reversed if caught in time and properly treated.
If you are at all worried about the health of your Bearded Dragon you should consult your vet or a specialist reptile vet as soon as possible.
Some reptiles carry a form of salmonella. Salmonella is most usually contracted by ingestion. Good hygiene and washing hands after handling or cleaning your Bearded Dragon should be sufficient to prevent any risk of infection.
Shopping List
Vivarium
oSubstrate o
Heat mat/spotlight
oUVB tube/UVB heat lamp o
Thermometers x 2
oSilver reflector for tubes o
Dome reflector
oThermostat o
Food and water bowl
oBearded Dragon care book o
Live foods
oCalcium supplement o
Vitamin supplement
oCage furnishings o
Pet safe disinfectant
oDeodoriser o
This leaflet is produced by the Pet Care Trust, the national charity that promotes the benefits of pet ownership and education within the pet care industry. For more information, go to www.petcare.org.uk, or phone 08700 624 400.
A Company Limited by Guarantee and Registered in England No. 666171. Registered Office as above. Registered Charity No. 1052488
© Pet Care Trust
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