Simplified dragon needs

1. **Habitat and Environment:**

- Bearded dragons thrive in desert-like conditions. Their enclosure should mimic their natural habitat.

- Provide a spacious terrarium with proper ventilation. A 40-gallon tank is a good starting point for a young dragon. I do reccomend at least a 4x2x18 or 4x2x2 for adults!

- Use a substrate like loose topsoil, playsand (rinsed) or tiles. I like to use a combination of all 3 of these and offer plenty of wood and rocks to climb on

2. **Lighting and Heating:**

- Bearded dragons need both heat and a UVB light.

- Set up a basking spot with a temperature around 105°F (40.5°C) when you point a temp gun at the basking spot. Use a basking lamp to do this. The basking temp is different from the ambient (air) temp of the enclosure.

- Install a 12% T5 desert UVB bulb to promote calcium absorption and prevent metabolic bone disease. THIS IS CRITICAL.

3. **Diet:**

- Their diet should be diverse:

- **Insects**: Offer dubia roaches, crickets, mealworms, and black soldier fly larvae (BSFL).

- **Greens**: Include turnip greens, collard greens, mustard greens, and other leafy vegetables.

- **Fruits**: Occasionally, provide small amounts of fruits like blueberries, but this isn’t a necessity and should only be offering to dragons that are closer to full grown size.

- Dust insects with calcium and vitamin D3 supplements. I also offer a probiotic once a week.

4. **Hydration:**

- Provide a shallow water dish, if you’d like, for drinking. However, bearded dragons mainly get their hydration from their food. I don’t use water dishes in any of my enclosures. Never pick up a dragon who is drinking or immediately after they’ve drank. It can easily disrupt their drinking and cause them to drown while they are trying to swallow after drinking.

5. **Observation and Interaction:**

- Spend time observing your dragon. Look for signs of illness, stress, or abnormal behavior. Bobbing is normal, pacing might mean they want to free roam or be held. I’ve also noticed glass surfing means they may need to poop!

- Handle them gently to build trust and socialize them. Don’t be afraid to be forceful with a young dragon when getting them. It’s a normal reaction for a lizard to run from a human hand! You have to work to build that trust.

Remember, each bearded dragon is unique, so adjust care based on their individual needs—research and understanding are key to providing the best care! 🦎🌵