New Bearded Dragon Checklist

It’s a very exciting time adding a new pet bearded dragon to the family, at Pet.co.nz we want to make sure that we help you successfully introduce your new bearded dragon to your home and make the experience as stress free as possible.

Before the big day, ideally before the bearded dragon arrives you want to set things up as they will be when the bearded dragon arrives, this is really important for bearded dragons as they will need a nice heated enclosure to come home to. Here is what we suggest to help make sure that your bearded dragon settles in.

• Suitable reptile enclosure – needs to be 90cm by 45cm by 60cm as a minimum.

• Reptile water and food dishes

• Safe reptile hideaway

• Plastic jungle plants

• Reptile heat lamp

• UVB lighting

• Reptile vitamin and calcium supplements

• Thermometer and thermostat

• Bearded dragon dry food

• Bearded dragon live food

• Substrate
  Here are some more top tips to help successfully bring the bearded dragon into your new home...

• When feeding your bearded dragon, make sure they have clean water and that you observe the bearded dragon eating, so you know they have eaten and what they like to eat as well so you can ensure you are always feeding them a good food.

• They will like a mixture of live food, finely chopped veges and dry food as well.

• Sprinkle calcium powder on the food to ensure the bearded dragon is getting all the nutrients they require.

• With the substrate you choose, if your bearded dragon is very young they may ingest some of the sand, so talk to the breeder about what the bearded dragon is used to as it may be better to start with a carpet or newspaper.

• Ensure that the temperature is at an even level at all times – the temperature needs to be 29-31 degrees in the cooler part of the aquarium and 37-40 degrees in the basking area of the aquarium. A good thermometer is important to measure the temp in both parts of the enclosure, this needs to be monitored on a daily basis to make sure the temperatures aren't too hot or too cold.