I was walking by your store yesterday and noticed the adult beaded dragon you keep in the front window. I had seen the animal before, but I hadn't really examined his enclosure, because the last time I was by there, I didn't really know all that much about bearded dragons. However, I recently got one of my own and have spent the past month or two doing a lot of research on how to properly care for a bearded dragon in order to ensure that mine is as happy and healthy as he can possibly be.
As I said, I'm new to bearded dragon ownership, so I am by no means an expert. However, I have read a lot of care sheets and forum posts from genuine experts and I feel like I am qualified to make a few observations about the care of the adult bearded dragon in your store. Please understand that I am NOT trying to put you on the defensive or criticize your level of care for your dragon's health. I am hoping to just educate you a bit, as I have educated myself, since I am certain you want the best for your dragon as well.
There were a few components to the dragon's enclosure that caused me a bit of concern. As I approached the window, the first thing I noticed from a distance was the lack of any UVB source. I did not see any sort of fluorescent tube to provide UVB and, as I got closer, I checked the two dome lamps and neither contained a mercury vapor bulb, so there seems to be no UVB source whatsoever. UVB is absolutely essential to bearded dragons in the prevention of metabolic bone disease (MBD). Bearded dragons kept in captivity are highly susceptible to MBD, because they do not get nearly the levels of direct sunlight that they would in the wild. They require substantial amounts of UVB in order to create vitamin D and properly process calcium.
Another lighting concern I had is that there were two "heat lamps" at opposite ends of the enclosure. One seemed to be a soft white household bulb. While household bulbs are fine to use as basking lights, they need to be clear glass, not the soft white or tinted versions. The second bulb was an infrared bulb, which should not be used with bearded dragons at all. The other concern with having two heat bulbs is that there is no "cool side" for the dragon to escape to in order to regulate his body temperature. The enclosure should be set up in such a way that the basking area is a little over 100 degrees and the cool side is no more than 85 degrees.
That was another issue I noticed with the enclosure. I did not see any thermometers to monitor the temperature, nor a hydrometer to monitor the humidity. It is possible that the store employees are using a heat gun to monitor temps, which would be fine, but again there needs to be a warm/basking side and a cool side.
As for humidity, it is important to keep the humidity below 40% and preferable below 20% for a bearded dragon. They are meant to live in arid conditions and high humidity makes them susceptible to respiratory infections. It seems very likely that enclosure may be too humid, because there is a large dog food bowl full of water directly below the infrared lamp. The heat from the lamp will cause the water to evaporate and elevate the humidity in the tank. There is no need to keep a water dish of any kind in a bearded dragon's enclosure. The vast majority of bearded dragons will not drink from a dish and instead get their
hydration from their food and occasional baths.
The final cause for concern I had was the substrate that is being used. It appeared to be some sort of wood chips? It's generally recommended that you do not used any sort of loose substrate for bearded dragons, as it will cause impaction if they ingest it. While adult bearded dragons are less likely to lick or taste their substrate than juveniles, it can still pose a risk if adults are fed in their enclosures. Yesterday I saw that your dragon had been fed some apple pieces and some of those pieces had fallen out of the food dish and onto the substrate, where pieces of wood chips had then gotten stuck to them. If the dragon were to eat those apples and the wood chips along with them, it could cause impaction that might ultimately lead to death.
Loose substrate can also harbor bacteria and fungus if not thoroughly cleaned and replaced often. For substrate it is recommended that you use newspaper, butcher paper, paper towels, reptile carpet, ceramic or slate tile, or non-adhesive shelf liner. All of these things are safe for the beardie and easy to clean.
I hope you take all of this information to heart. I really just want the best for your dragon, as I'm sure you do. I'm also a bit concerned because I know your store sells bearded dragons and serves as a model to the owners who purchase them. Setting a good example and being knowledgeable about proper care would be a great service to your customers.
For more information, I highly recommend the website
http://www.beardeddragon.org. It has terrific care sheets and information as well as a thriving forum community who will happily answer any questions you have.