I need some advice

[Kolinios]

I'm planning to get a bearded dragon and i need A LOT of advice. I have already done literally hours of research :study: but I still need some advice and general tips. Such as what is the best way to hold them, what is the best kind of food to give them, how much calcium i should put on my beardies salad, how to tell if my beardie is sick, what is the best way to bathe my beardie, and is hand feeding better than feeding them from a bowl? If ANYONE could help me out that would be great! Thanks 8)

 

[CooperDragon]

I suggest reading through the bearded dragon care sheet and newbies guides linked on the right side of the page for a general overview but we'll be happy to answer any specific questions the best we can.

It's best to hold them supporting both hands and feet. They panic if they don't feel stable. It's also good to keep them fairly low to the ground in case they jump so they don't get hurt.

A variety of food is most important. Young dragons need plenty of bugs. Crickets and dubia roaches are popular staples. I've found dubias to be easier to care for. You can get a colony started within a few months and that will give you a replenishing supply of bugs so you don't have to order them online. I like using black soldier fly larvae, silk worms, and for older dragons hornworms as rotating bugs as well.
You want to give them a nice salad every day. Adults should be mostly eating salad with 1-2 bug meals per week while young dragons need a couple of bugs meals daily. There is a gradual transition that happens as they approach full size and their growth slows down. It's good to give them salad daily so they are used to it as a food source. The leftovers can be fed to the bugs. I like offering 2-3 items from this list each day http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html and I rotate what is offered based on what looks freshest and is available at the store each week.

You don't need to put supplements in the salad. Just offer a nice variety. The calcium dust goes on the bugs. Put some dust in a small cup, add some bugs and gently shake until they have a light, even coat. I've found it works best do do this in small batches and just repeat until your dragon loses interest (usually within 10 min or so).

Signs of illness include lethargic behavior, weight loss, sustained lack of appetite, dark black beard, among others.

Baths aren't really necessary unless they get soiled or start to smell. A small dragon can be bathed in a tupperware container with some warm water (test on the inside of your wrist) no higher than their elbows. A larger dragon can be bathed in a larger container such as a turkey roasting pan or similarly sized container that can be washed and sanitized easily.

I leave a bowl of salad every day but often hand feed bits of it throughout the day. I find it to be a good way to bond but one is not necessarily better than the other.