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3 Tips for Bearded Dragon Owners

Intro: Bearded dragons are one of the most popular reptile pets in the U.S., and it’s easy to understand why. They’re fascinating, personable and make great companions.

Dr. Troy Tollefson

To help bearded dragon owners better understand the needs of their pets, Troy Tollefson, nutritionist for Mazuri Exotic Animal Nutrition, shares the ins and outs of how to provide complete nutrition and support overall wellness for bearded dragons.

Know Before You Buy

Before purchasing a bearded dragon, Troy suggests doing some research to understand what it truly takes to give them a proper home. Bearded dragons live for about 10 years and need daily care and attention, plenty of fresh food and water as well as an enclosure suited to their temperature needs.

To achieve ideal temperatures, reptiles need a basking area with a heat lamp and a cooler side. This allows the bearded dragon to choose their own level of heat, which is essential for them to stay healthy. Having natural and UV light available and a place for them to safely roam outside their space is key to building a comfortable habitat. 

Bearded dragons can also be finicky eaters so it’s important to ensure they receive a well-balanced diet that meets all their nutritional needs.

Ensure a Balanced Diet

Providing a balanced diet is one of the best things you can do to support your bearded dragon’s overall health and wellness. A common misperception around bearded dragon nutrition is that they only need and eat insects. However, insects that haven’t been properly gut loaded are not a complete diet and are low in calcium, vitamins and minerals that can cause nutritional challenges like metabolic bone disease and stunted skeletal growth.

A good way to ensure a balanced diet is to provide your bearded dragon a complete feed like Mazuri Bearded Dragon Diet. The pelleted diet provides complete nutrition, including healthy levels of protein, fat and energy, and other important nutrients such as vitamin E.

It may take time for your bearded dragon to adjust if they’re used to the movement of insects but by transitioning your bearded dragon to a complete pellet, you can trust they’re getting all the nutrients they need without the time intensity of properly housing and gut-loading insects. Transitioning your reptile from a live diet to a complete pelleted feed may take several days to a couple of weeks as you slowly adjust the diet.

Fruitful Facts and Advice

When deciding whether to purchase a bearded dragon or even add another one to you home, consider a few facts and bits of advice. Bearded dragons are solitary animals that should be housed in separate enclosures with plenty of space to hide, climb and explore.

To mimic their natural environment, fill their terrarium with a sturdy branch or stone so they can climb and bask under the heat lamp. It’s important to check the humidity and lighting daily to ensure a hot-dry environment is maintained.

A fun way to make sure your bearded dragon is getting enough exercise is to take them on a walk. A reptile harness can help you safely keep track of them as they explore. 

You Do ’Zu

Providing your bearded dragon with a comfortable, engaging environment and proper nutrition will go a long way in supporting their development and longevity. When you choose Mazuri Bearded Dragon Diet to meet your pet’s nutritional needs, you’re choosing the same professional-grade nutrition zoo professionals rely on. When it comes to mealtime, You Do ’Zu.