Bearded dragon: photo, content at home

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Most families have pets. Until 2000, these were, as a rule, cats and dogs. But lately the situation has changed a lot. Many have become interested in the exotic, preferring to enjoy the company of unusual creatures, taking care of them and observing their habits and activities. It is clear that rare representatives of domestic animals that can comfortably coexist with humans are more costly in terms of maintenance and purchase in general than public pets: hamsters, rats or rabbits. In addition, they need the proper organization of living space: equipment, cage or terrarium. But, as you know, the end justifies the means.

Today we would like to pay attention to graceful pets who have managed to conquer thousands of families in our country with their sociability, independence and beauty. We will talk about bearded dragons, which are called bearded dragons abroad. We will try to tell you all the most interesting aboutthis type of lizard, starting with their description and ending with recommendations for care and maintenance at home.

Measure seven times, cut once

Before getting a pet, not just an exotic one, the potential owner needs to weigh the pros and cons of being in a human home. If we are talking about reptiles, lizards and other heat-loving representatives of the fauna, then you can’t do without a terrarium equipped with professional lamps for heating and irradiating your pet with ultraviolet rays.

By the way, not every city can buy such a lizard without problems. If you can easily find them in large metropolitan areas, but those who live in the outback and dream of a bearded agama will have to fork out also for delivery or for a trip for the cherished exotic creature.

The initial cost of a agama is significant, but it cannot be said that these lizards are too expensive to keep.

Description of species

The bearded dragon is a lizard native to Australia. In Latin it is called Pogona vitticeps. Throughout the time of observing it in its natural habitat, it was noticed that lizards are found in desert areas with a hot climate.

In nature, agamas are afraid of birds of prey. It is believed that this lizard is quite tenacious due to the ability to adapt well to its habitat (dig holes in the ground, hide in stone crevices, in branchestrees). The life expectancy of a bearded agama, the photo of which is presented in the article, is about 12-14 years. The reptile is active during the day, sleeping at night.

Bearded reptiles are omnivores, prefer to feast on both plant foods (leaves, vegetables, fruits) and animals (insects and small rodents). By the way, at home, bearded dragons are fed depending on their age. For example, babies under 6 months of age are given an animal protein source (crickets, grasshoppers, cockroaches, or worms) every day, with occasional fresh greens. But for grown-up individuals, it is recommended to dilute the diet with green salad leaves and vegetables from a ratio of 50: 50%.

The external data of the bearded dragon

The length of an adult agama in the wild reaches 60 cm, half of which is the tail. She has an intimidating appearance. In case of danger, spikes swell on her neck, outwardly similar to a beard. A slightly flattened body, strong paws with sharp claws give the lizard a special extravagance.

In its normal state, it is gray, peach and greenish brown in color. And when the mood changes, it changes its color. For example, when the air temperature drops, it will become darker. By the way, there are a great many morphs (colors) of agamas. The bearded dragon darkens when it is disturbed. By the way, during the mating season, the beard of males becomes almost black. Photos of bearded dragons, taken during the courtship of a male for a female, are the best confirmation of what has been said.

The lizard has a big mouth and sharpteeth, and the tip of the tongue is sticky for a more confident grip on prey. The reptile has excellent eyesight and hearing. On the sides of the body, resembling a flat coin, there are sharp spikes in two rows.

Domestication of the Australian lizard

People noticed the calmness, funny behavior, grace and friendliness of bearded dragons and began to make attempts to domesticate the reptile. It quickly became clear that the bearded descendant of dragons takes root quite easily in home terrariums. Currently, the owners of Australian dragons are about a million people.

Benefits of owning a lizard:

• An interesting animal, unpretentious to the conditions of detention.
• No aggression.
• Easily enters into a trusting relationship with the owners.

Expected challenges for exotic pet owners:

1. It is necessary to strictly observe the necessary conditions for keeping bearded dragons. Even a few days without a special ultraviolet lamp for reptiles can be detrimental to the agama.
2. You need to buy special food, watch your pet's diet.
3. Special prophylaxis will be required to support a he althy reptile lifestyle (vitamin supplements, calcium supplements).

Terrarium Requirements for Bearded Dragons

As a dwelling for an agama, it is best to prefer a special glass terrarium aquarium with ventilation. Minimum Recommendedterrarium size for one lizard: 1.8 meters long, 0.5 meters wide, 0.4 meters high. The minimum capacity of the terrarium is 500 liters.

Entrance to the pet's dwelling is at the discretion of the owner of the reptile, but it is best if the doors are located in front or on the side. The door must close securely. It is necessary to artificially create a day length of at least 14 hours. For this, lighting and ultraviolet lamps are used. Decorations are installed in it (you can build a hill from flat stones of medium size, put a large snag), where the agama will rest. All accessories must be natural, no synthetics.

Litter

The bottom of the terrarium is sprinkled with coarse sand or special cellulose filler for cat trays so that the animal can burrow into it. In no case should you use fine gravel, as the reptile can swallow it. There are frequent deaths of agamas from keeping them on the sand of a fine fraction.

It is noteworthy that abroad the conditions for keeping bearded dragons in a human house are somewhat different from those fixed in Russia. For example, the Americans keep their reptiles on tiles without sand or other fillers.

Temperature and UV radiation

The temperature regime in the bearded dragon terrarium deserves special attention. Due to the fact that the reptile is quite thermophilic, during the day the temperature under incandescent and UV lamps should not be lower than +35 ° C. In the terrarium, it is also necessary to organize a cool corner withtemperature not less than +28 °C.

About 1-2 times a week, the reptile should be bathed in warm water or sprayed with a spray bottle, and then wiped dry with a napkin. There is constant controversy regarding spraying among reptile owners, however, in nature, every morning they run on the grass, on which there is abundant dew.

It is important to remember that temperature fluctuations and drafts are contraindicated for a heat-loving lizard.

For comfortable conditions, the bearded dragon requires an ultraviolet lamp with a minimum UVB value of 8-12 units. It is placed inside the terrarium at a distance of 25-30 cm from the bottom. A plafond is used, which protects the lamp from damage, does not limit or distort the spectrum of the radiation flux. By the way, oblong-shaped lamps are most suitable for such purposes than standard ones, because the former are able to spread light over a large area.

Food agama at home

The lizard is an omnivore. She consumes vegetable food (ground carrots, apples, dandelion leaves, green salad) and animal food (beetles, caterpillars, crickets, cockroaches). To protect the reptile from infection with various parasites, animal food must be purchased in specialized stores.

For a small pet up to 6 months, 80% of feed should be of animal origin.

In order for the diet to be balanced, the diet should be constantly changed. It is recommended to feed the reptile 1 time in 2 days, mixing the necessary ingredients. But as practice shows,Agama requires food daily. The reptile drinks relatively little, professionals advise giving the bearded lizard filtered purified bottled water.

Terrarium breeding

The best option for keeping one male and two females. Two males cannot be kept together, as they defend their territory with tough fights and can cause significant damage to each other (bite off a tail or paw, for example).

To avoid conflicts, it is desirable to keep the lizards separately and unite for the mating period. They reach sexual maturity at 2 years. Subject to the temperature regime, mating takes place in March.

Pregnancy lasts 1 month, after which the females lay eggs (about 8-20 eggs) and bury them in the sand.

The incubation period is about 2 months. The female is able to lay eggs 2 times per season. Young growth should be taken to special incubators in order to avoid its loss (agama can eat its own eggs).

Advice for beginners who decide to get a bearded dragon

Beginner exotic pet lovers should not get young bearded dragons under 3 months old, as they require special care.

It will also be useful to remember that after communicating with a reptile and contact with it, you need to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water, because the Australian lizard can be a carrier of worms and other bacteria.

Remember that food from the human table in no case should be in the terrarium of a reptile, otherwise negativeconsequences cannot be avoided.

With good care, keeping a bearded dragon will only be a joy. The main thing is the observance of all the above rules, daily communication with the pet and affection. This lizard has great intelligence, gets used to the environment, remembers its name.

With enough communication, a bearded dragon will become a full-fledged tame family member, a beloved pet with whom you can communicate and even play.