Before You Buy Bearded Dragons: Finding A Healthy Dragon To Purchase

When you go to buy bearded dragons it is important that you choose a healthy animal so that they will live a full and happy life. Many animals sold throughout the pet trade are susceptible to many different parasites, malnutrition and even injuries. Training yourself on what to observe before you make your purchase will give you the best chances of choosing a beardie that is full of life.

Parasites

Parasites are a danger to all animals and humans alike. These can be in internal like bacteria and worms, or external such as mites. It won't be possible to see internal parasites so you will have to make your decision based off of a few other factors. Take a good look at the habitat in which you lizard is being kept. Here are a few questions you will want to ask yourself and /or the seller.

What are the temperatures?
Is there uneaten food or feces laying in the cage?
Is the habitat generally clean?
Does the lizard look lethargic?
Is the animal eating properly?
Are bowel movements regular?

Again, these are not set rules that determine whether a lizard has internal parasites, as a dragon in a completely sterile environment can still have parasite problems, and a dragon in a filthy enclosure could have none. However, if the conditions are suspect, the chances of these parasites are greatly increased so be cautious.

External parasites like mites are fairly hard to see, but can be spotted with a keen eye. They will look like miniscule black specs that appear to be burrowed into your lizards scales. These are quite the pain in the rear to deal with, so if you notice them on any dragons within the same enclosure as the one you want to purchase, it is better to look elsewhere.

Nutrition

The second thing you will want to ask of the seller is what they feed the lizard on a daily basis. Ask them what types of foods, how often they are fed, and how much they eat. You will also want to ask if the beardies are given any nutritional supplements. A healthy diet and proper supplements are essential to bearded dragons, especially adolescents. Another good idea is to visit the store or breeder during feeding times, or on several different days. This way you can see first hand how well the dragon is eating. One of the first signs of a health issue is a lack of appetite, something younger dragons definitely don't normally have a problem with.

Physical Health

The last thing you should take note of is the overall appearance of the animal. Take a close look at the mouth, eyes, vent and appendages of the dragon. All areas should appear clean, clear, and free of any type of fecal matter, puss, mucus, or wounds. Mucus in the mouth or nose could be a sign of bacterial and respiratory infections and open wound can quickly become infected. The colors of the beardie should also be vibrant, unless they are in the process of shedding.

When looking to buy bearded dragons these tips will save you a ton of money, hassle and heartache that comes with buying an unhealthy animal. It really boils down to having a well-trained eye for these sort of things. The tips included in this article will give you a great start, but by taking your time and exploring several different breeders or sellers, you will quickly become an expert at spotting potential problems. Now go out and find yourself a happy, healthy beardie that you can love for years and years to come!

For more tips on Buying a Bearded Dragon visit Joselyn's website Caring For Bearded Dragons. Here you will find vital in-depth information regarding all aspects of beardie care including buying, feeding, illness prevention, lighting and heating requirements, as well as breeding information.

All the Best,
Joselyn Rhodes

5 Tips to Preparing Safe, Healthy Food For Your Bearded Dragon

There is a wide variety of food that is suitable for your bearded dragon. It is both easy and inexpensive to create a great beardie meal. However there are some things you might like to know. Below are a number of tips to help you to prepare the ideal bearded dragon lunch.

Tip #1
A good place to start looking for good quality food is right in your own home. A leftover salad is perfect as it requires no effort to make and will actually help to dispose of those unwanted scraps. However be careful of lettuce as this has no nutritional content. Also it's not a very good idea to apply salad dressing or seasoning to your beardies food. A great idea is to set aside a portion for your beardie before you apply these flavorings. You can apply the same principle to vegetables and fruit also.

Tip #2
Cut the food into a size no larger than the distance between your beardies eyes. If it is cut too large your beardie is likely to experience problems with digestion. Adults can generally be fed human portion sizes, but judge for yourself as it will depend on the size and maturity of your dragon. It's very important that you never feed juveniles or babies food that is too big for them to eat. This tip is of most importance when they're feeding on insects, however it applies to all other foods as well.

Tip #3
Be very selective about the insects you give to your beardie. Under no circumstances should it ever be fed fireflies. They are extremely toxic! Limit the use of mealworms as they can have very tough skin and cause impaction in your beloved pet. Also be careful of collecting your own insects in the backyard as these may have been exposed to chemicals which are harmful to bearded dragons such as herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers.

Tip #4
Vegetables should make up 85% of your bearded dragons diet. However also supply a portion of insects such as grasshoppers, moths and flies as they are a great source of protein. To round it all out, provide fruit and flowers. They are a natural addition to their diet and promote good health.

Tip #5
Lastly, always provide plenty of water. Although they are desert dwelling animals and very good at conserving water, it is also essential that they have some available. Some suggestions are to keep a water dish in the enclosure or to spray their food with water before feeding.

Want to learn more about bearded dragon food? Visit Lauren's website at www.beardeddragonanswers.com where you'll find a full list of healthy food and the harmful things to be aware of and avoid.

Bearded Dragon foods-how to ensure your pet has a long and healthy life

Geneioforos Dragon food is simple and easy access. Eating the correct food geneioforos Dragon you can help your pet live a longer and healthier lifestyle. Diet geneioforos dragons is very simple and should give no trouble any keeper's lair. The type of food you feed your Dragon will vary depending on age.

Feed your lizard only in quantities that can be eaten within a few hours. Geneioforos Dragon food is best when moistened but always make sure you remove any uneaten food daily as adding water to dry types can lead to rapid deterioration and fermentation. Bearded Dragons dry food diets with low moisture content is not unnatural and can lead to them becoming dehydrated. Feed store in a cool, dry place to ensure freshness.

A bowl of fresh, clean drinking water should always be present in your environment. Always feed them something made for! Insects should be larger than the space between the eyes of the Dragon. It should be closed, crickets and other insects and gut loaded with powder supplements such as calcium, vitamins and minerals. Insects, this should be a daily staple of the diet of the dragon geneioforos and Greens will be available at all times. Insects can be purchased from your local pet shops or wild-caught (without the use of pesticides).

Vegetables should form an important part of your bearded Dragon diet: 10-25% for infants and juveniles, 30-50% for an adult. A wide variety is the key, however, crickets and dark leafy greens are two of the main options specifically for infants. Vegetables should be granted to your Dragon daily. All these foods are readily available in the "production" of the local grocery store.

Your feed geneioforos Dragon 10-12 crickets in an era of plus two locusts caused. If these eat all give then a few more items. Do this 3 times a day at around 11 am, 3: 00 p.m. and 6 p.m. (assuming that your lights are at 9 am-9 pm). Your diet geneioforos Dragon for many foods such as carrots will result in a condition called vitamin a toxicity, which is fatal. Pumpkin should be cooked or micro-there before their diet to beardie. Diet pinkie mice is an option and not a requirement, more of a personal choice really.

Cricket water cushions help to keep your live crickets now keeping them hydrated. Moistening just once will provide crickets with water for days. Crickets should themselves be fed well for 2 days, with a high-quality commercial Cricket food before you geneioforos Dragon. These can be alternated with grasshoppers, waxworms, canned canned silkworms.

Crickets can be kept in a plasma holder or something similar with some food and water to a normal room temperature. You should receive around 300 people simultaneously, so I think my stay alive longer when submitting certain dry regular oatmeal as the litter and put a large piece of the egg in the middle box. Crickets is a very popular feeder insects and is easy to find in any pet shops that sell reptiles. Mealworms can be obtained at higher geneioforos dragons but are not recommended for young as the insect of hard shell can cause an impaction. Do not leave any of the crickets in your tank overnight, as they can bite your Dragon when asleep.

I am very lucky as my wife loves even more than often chuckles to himself while getting home crickets in our bus geneioforos Dragon. Loves to watch the fellow travellers around the bus looking for the crickets have a song in her bag!

As you can see, your diet pet lizard is very easy. Always remember that diversity is the formula for success with geneioforos Dragon food.

Can't get enough of me Cedric Dragon Beard! Caring for your bearded Dragon is easy when you know how. More care tips, articles and images bearded Dragon foods available here

Bearded Dragon: Your Happy Healthy Pet

The authoritative information and advice you need, illustrated throughout with full-color photographs--now revised and redesigned to be even more reader-friendly!

Bearded dragons are increasingly popular; they may soon overtake the green iguana as the most popular reptile in the U.S. With their unique appearance, docile nature, and minimal care requirements, beardies make a great introduction to reptile keeping. With colorful photos, charts, and tables, this guide covers the basics, including:

• The beardie's background and the various breeds of bearded dragons
• Choosing your bearded dragon
• Setting up and maintaining your beardie's home, complete with a basking area and lighting
• Feeding and caring for your bearded dragon

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The Bearded Dragon: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet

The Bearded Dragon, also known as the Lizard of Oz, is an enormously popular pet from down under. It is estimated that in 1998, 100,000 Bearded Dragons will be purchased by reptile enthusiasts in the United States. A docile animal, Beardeds are relatively easy to keep in captivity–but they do need special care–all of which will be included in this excellent source for the beginning Bearded Dragon fan.

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