beginner bearded dragon keeper

[BertieTheBeardie]

I bought a bearded dragon about 1 month ago and she's fine with me handfeeding her, stroking her and let's me put my hand under her stomach and is generally a very friendly dragon(she is constantly distracting me from homework by glass surfing ?) and settled in on the first week and ate the first day I got her etg but she's still nervous so should I wait a bit longer to pick her up, I do pick her up to put her in the bath but not much more than that and am continually doing trust excersises.Also when I got her she was on snake bedding ( woodchippings ) which she hated so I've changed it but would the chippings hurt her? She is about 3yrs so would have been on it the majority of her life, also her old owners fed her spinach often so would it have had effects on her Heath? She is full grown at 21inches. And she's lived most of her life without a uva light I'm getting one soon but at the moment her vivarium is by my skylight and the blinds are open so she can get natural sunlight is this ok for now?

 

[BertieTheBeardie]

 

[Terry15]

Last year I found this site too, not knowing anything about bearded dragons. I've been taking care of my nieces dragon, Mystic. This is a Great site with a lot of info & great people.
Here is a good link for nutrition.
http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html

Mystic was glass surfing yesterday, so I let him out for some exercise. He gets this way, maybe it's a sign that he needs something. After a while I put him back in his tank, he still seemed as if he wanted to come back out. I talk to him, I said I would take him out again later and said it was ok to poop. Within minutes he pooped. I let him back out, cleaned out his tank, and he was content for the evening. Maybe yours is trying to let you know she wants some exercise or just a little snuggling time. Until you get a good UVB light, it would be good to take her outside to get some sun. Just don't put her in a glass tank, put her in a storage container, or just let her bask on a table in the sun. You may need to get her a leash. Read everything you can and ask people questions on this site before you go out and buy lights. There are a lot of things you may need, but thy are cheaper online. A good probe thermometer is a start. Have Fun.

 

[BertieTheBeardie]

Thank you for the advice!I'm planning on taking her out as it's hot today. I am thinking on putting her in my Guinea pigs old run which is about 6ftx4ft as I don't want her to excape also I've wrapped her up in one of my dogs towels(she is fine with dogs her old owed let their cat in with her) and had a cuddle.

 

[Terry15]

Just keep your eye on her, the love escaping. Since she is a girl, do you know if she has ever laid eggs ?

 

[BertieTheBeardie]

Hahah she tried! Put her nose through the bars, I bought her in just before thunder started which was lucky. I'm not sure, her old owners had a breeding pair of bearded dragons , with eggs about to hatch that's why they were selling her, I'm not sure if they put the male in with her and I did think she looked pregnant/gravid but I'm not sure. Her bellys sagging and keeps digging, but I can't feel any lumps eventhough I can see two on the back of her stomach

 

[Terry15]

Maybe she is ready to lay some eggs. You could do a search up top and find out what she may need if she is going to lay eggs.

 

[BertieTheBeardie]

Ok I will! If she is I'm not quite sure what I'll do! I know I'd have to get an incubator, all my friends love my beardie so if she did lay eggs I could ask if they wanted to have them while incubating or 6months thank you