|
|
Dragon Care
Sheet
Caring for a bearded dragon
Bearded dragons have become on of the most popular
pets in the Reptile/Pet trade today. They are friendly and tame.
They are great for the first time reptile owner. We would suggest
visiting
www.beardeddragons.org to research bearded dragons. There is a
lot of good information on that site.
Housing
A hatchling can be housed in a 20 gallon tank for a
short period of time depending on its growth rate. This
will last them for a few months only though as they grow quickly. Adult
Dragons should be housed in nothing smaller than a 40 gallon breeder
tank. 55gal aquariums are a good size due to the extra length it
gives them to run and they are easily found at most Pet stores. Screen
lids should be used for the top of any aquarium style cages you use. Do
not use glass, Plexiglas or wood to cover your cages. This will not
allow enough air circulation and will also trap humidity in the cage.
Screen tops allow air flow, allow your lighting and heat sources to work
correctly and also allow humidity to escape
Heating & Lighting
Beardies require a
temperature gradient in their enclosures because they can't regulate
their body temperatures like we can. They have to thermo regulate, which
means that they have to move between areas of differing temperatures in
order to regulate their internal temperature. You should have a basking
spot for your Beardie that is around 95-105 degrees F, as they need to
get their bodies around 95 degrees to digest their food. Your Beardie
will also need an area to cool down if he gets too warm. At the opposite
end of the tank, you should try to keep the temp around 75-85 degrees.
Night time temps shouldn't be allowed to drop below 60 degrees, whereas
70-75 degrees is more comfortable for them. Don't guess on temps - you
could cook or freeze your Beardie! Use a good thermometer, one on the
cool side and another near the basking site. (Note: those stick on
thermometers are usually not very accurate. We suggest getting a temp
gun.
We do not recommend using hot rocks as they are
potentially dangerous! They can overheat and produce serious burns or
short out and produce electrical shocks. Also, Beardies do not have heat
sensors on the underside of their bellies so they don't realize they're
being burned. This can result in some pretty nasty burns.
There are two types of bulbs that
produces UVB - mercury vapor and fluorescent tubes (replace
your fluorescent tubes every 6 months). Don't be mislead by "full spectrum" bulbs. "Full spectrum"
does not mean that it produces UVB. Beardies synthesize vitamin D3 when
exposed to UVB, and D3 is necessary for calcium metabolization. In the
wild, Beardies expose themselves to the natural UVB in the sun's rays,
but in captivity, especially in colder climates, they just don't get as
much sunlight as they need to produce enough D3. Beardies who are
deprived of UVB develop MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease) where the Beardie
uses calcium out of it's own bone sources to fuel bodily processes. If
the MBD isn't treated early, skeletal deformities, broken bones, kidney
failure, seizures, and eventually death will occur.
Natural sunlight is the best. Try to
get your Dragon outside when the temperature is good and the sun is
shining. Don't place your Beardie in a glass cage in direct sunlight as
you will overheat him and could kill him. The glass of the aquarium acts
like a magnifying glass in the sun - it will heat up the tank very
quickly. Always provide a shady area for your Beardie to escape the heat
of the sun if he gets too warm.
If the temperature drops below 65 degrees in your
home at night, you might want to consider a nighttime heat source for
your Beardie. You can not use a bright light of any kind for heat at
night. Imagine trying to sleep with the lights on! You wouldn't sleep
very well. Your Beardie could get stressed out, stop eating, develop
behavioral abnormalities, and depressed immune function if you keep his
lights on all the time. Nocturnal reptile heat bulbs produce a dim light
which is usually available in blue, purple (black light) and red. Some
night lights produce more light at higher wattages. I don't recommend
using these bulbs on a permanent basis because it is believed that beardies can still detect some light that they are emitting.
The best heat source for night time is a ceramic
heating element (CHE). CHE's are non-light emitting heating units. They
get very hot but disperse heat over a very narrow (15" in diameter) and
shallow area. The range for a 60 watt CHE is 8" down, the range for a
100 watt CHE is 10" down, the range for a 150 watt CHE is 12" down, and
the range for a 250 watts is 14" down. CHE's are not effective in
heating large enclosures, and a rheostat or dimmer switch may be used
for small enclosures so it doesn't get too hot. It is very important
that CHE's only be used in porcelain/ceramic light sockets as the amount
of heat that they produce is enough to melt regular plastic light
sockets.
Substrate
Playground sand is often used because it is
relatively dust free and easy to maintain, although there have been
reports of intestinal impaction. Substrates we use include wheat
bran, outdoor carpeting, non-stick padded shelf liner, and paper towels.
Substrates that should not be use include walnut shells, alfalfa
pellets, kitty litter, or wood shavings. Walnut shells and kitty
litter are also not digestible.
Feeding
You must feed very
small prey to baby Beardies. The rule-of-thumb for feeding Beardies says
not to feed anything larger that the space between the Beardie's eyes.
When fed prey that is too large for them, serious physical problems can
result including: partial paralysis, seizures, ataxia (loss of motor
control), inability to self-feed, gut impaction, and even death. Start
with feeding small crickets and gradually increase to larger sizes as
the Beardie grows. Also offer a daily mixture of greens and veggies for
your growing Beardie. Beardies that were raised with greens as a part of
their diet are more likely to enjoy greens as an adult.
Beardies consume a wide variety of invertebrates
and small vertebrates in the wild, and a variety of protein sources
should be offered in captivity. Prey items such as appropriately sized
crickets, cockroaches, mealworms, super worms, silkworms, and wax worms
can be fed. If you feed freshly molted supers or mealworms, that will
reduce the amount of tough, indigestible exoskeleton. Exoskeletons
(chitin) can cause intestinal impaction so the least amount ingested the
better. As the Beardie reaches adulthood, you can feed less live prey
and more vegetarian-based diet as the Beardie's body no longer requires
the high protein diet to grow. Adult Beardies need approx. 50 - 75%
vegetarian to 25 - 50% live prey/protein. Remember to dust crickets and
worms with a calcium supplement just before feeding them to your Beardie.
Adults don't require as much calcium supplementation as growing beardies
and egg-producing females. Also, don't forget to use a multivitamin
supplement a few times a week.
Some acceptable greens and vegetables are listed
below:
|
|
|
Food Chart Key |
| Green |
Feed daily, staple |
| Black |
Feed occasionally |
| Blue |
Feed rarely |
|
Yellow |
Questionable |
|
Red |
Never |
|
|
| |
|
Food Item
|
Ca:P
|
Protein
|
Fat
|
Fiber
|
Sugar
|
Water
|
Notes
|
|
Alfalfa (plant, not
sprouts) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Great staple |
| Alfalfa sprouts |
1:2.2
|
4%
|
.7%
|
2%
|
.2%
|
93%
|
Good source of vitamins A & K |
| Apple (peeled) |
1:1.8
|
.2%
|
.3%
|
1.9%
|
11.5%
|
85%
|
|
| Apricot (fresh) |
1:1.4
|
1.4%
|
.4%
|
2.4%
|
9.3%
|
86%
|
High vit.A (26 IU/g) |
|
Arugula (raw) |
3:1
|
2.6%
|
.7%
|
1.6%
|
|
92%
|
High vit. A (24 IU/g), bitter
flavor |
|
Asparagus (raw)
|
1:2.7
|
2.3%
|
.2%
|
2.1%
|
2%
|
92%
|
|
| Avocado |
1:4
|
2.1%
|
17.3%
|
4.9%
|
1%
|
73%
|
Unknown toxicity - deadly for
birds |
| Banana |
1:3.3
|
1.0%
|
.5%
|
2.4%
|
18.4%
|
74%
|
High phosphorus |
|
Basil (fresh) |
2.2:1
|
2.5%
|
.6%
|
3.9%
|
|
90%
|
High vit. A (39 IU/g) |
| Beans, Garbanzo
(canned) |
1:2.8
|
5.0%
|
1.1%
|
4.4%
|
3.8%
|
70%
|
Low oxalates (24 ppm) |
| Beans,
Green (canned) |
1.4:1
|
1.2%
|
.1%
|
1.9%
|
|
93%
|
Moderate oxalates (312 ppm) |
| Beans,
Green (raw) |
1:1
|
1.8%
|
.1%
|
3.4%
|
|
90%
|
Moderate oxalates (312 ppm) |
| Beans, Kidney (canned) |
1:3.9
|
5.2%
|
.3%
|
3.5%
|
|
78%
|
Moderate oxalates (312 ppm) |
| Beans, Lima (canned) |
1:3.5
|
4.9%
|
.2%
|
4.8%
|
8.5%
|
77%
|
|
| Beans, Pinto (canned) |
1:2.1
|
4.9%
|
.8%
|
4.6%
|
|
78%
|
|
| Beans,
Soybeans (canned) |
1:2.4
|
16.6%
|
9.0%
|
6.0%
|
|
63%
|
Moderate oxalates (770 ppm),
goitrogens |
| Beef
(ground, low fat) |
1:15.5
|
26.1%
|
11.7%
|
0%
|
|
61%
|
High phosphorus and protein |
|
Beet Greens (fresh) |
3:1
|
1.8%
|
.1%
|
3.7%
|
|
92%
|
High oxalates, high vit. A (61
IU/g) |
| Beets
(canned) |
1:1
|
.9%
|
.1%
|
1.7%
|
6%
|
91%
|
High oxalates (15,000 ppm) |
| Bell Pepper (green) |
1:2
|
.9%
|
.2%
|
1.8%
|
|
92%
|
Moderate oxalates (1171 ppm) |
| Bell Pepper (red) |
1:2
|
.9%
|
.2%
|
2.0%
|
|
92%
|
High vit. C (19%), high vit. A
(57 IU/g), moderate oxalates (1171 ppm) |
|
Food Item
|
Ca:P
|
Protein
|
Fat
|
Fiber
|
Sugar
|
Water
|
Notes
|
| Bell Pepper (yellow) |
1:2.2
|
1.0%
|
.2%
|
.9%
|
|
92%
|
|
|
Blackberries (fresh) |
1.5:1
|
.7%
|
.4%
|
5.3%
|
7.9%
|
86%
|
Moderate oxalates, vit. C (2%),
high in fiber |
|
Blueberries (fresh) |
1:1.6
|
.7%
|
.4%
|
2.7%
|
7.3%
|
85%
|
Moderate oxalates |
|
Bok Choy (Chinese Cabbage) |
2.8:1
|
1.5%
|
.2%
|
1.0%
|
1%
|
95%
|
High vit. C, high vit. A (30
IU/g), goitrogens |
|
Borage (raw) |
1.75:1
|
1.8%
|
0.7%
|
0%
|
.9%
|
93%
|
High in potassium. |
|
Bran, Wheat (substrate) |
1:73
|
15.6%
|
4.3%
|
42.8%
|
|
10%
|
High phosphorus and
fiber |
| Bread,
White |
1:1
|
8.2%
|
3.6%
|
2.3%
|
|
37%
|
Great for hiding meds in |
| Bread,
Whole Wheat |
1:3.2
|
9.7%
|
4.2%
|
6.9%
|
|
38%
|
Great treat and for hiding meds
in |
|
Broccoli (raw) |
1:1.4
|
3.0%
|
.4%
|
3.0%
|
|
91%
|
High vit. C (9%),
mod. oxalates, goitrogens |
| Butterworms |
|
16.2%
|
5.2%
|
|
|
59%
|
|
|
Cabbage, Green (raw) |
2:1
|
1.4%
|
.3%
|
2.3%
|
2.7%
|
92%
|
High vit. C (3%), goitrogens |
| Cabbage, Red
(raw) |
1.2:1
|
1.4%
|
.3%
|
2.0%
|
5.4%
|
92%
|
High vit. C (6%),
mod. oxalates (350 ppm) |
|
Cactus Pad/Leaf (raw) |
2.3:1
|
.8%
|
.5%
|
|
|
|
Great staple veggie, high
calcium |
| Cactus
Pear (Prickly Pear) |
2.3:1
|
.7%
|
.5%
|
3.6%
|
|
88%
|
Great staple veggie, high
calcium |
| Cantaloupe (fresh) |
1:1.5
|
.9%
|
.3%
|
.8%
|
8%
|
90%
|
High vit. A (32 IU/g) |
| Carrots
(raw) |
1:1.7
|
.8%
|
.5%
|
1.8%
|
6.6%
|
90%
|
High vit. A (150 IU/g), moderate
oxalates |
|
Cauliflower (raw) |
1:2
|
2.0%
|
.2%
|
2.5%
|
2.2%
|
92%
|
Goitrogens |
| Celery (stalk & leaves) |
1.6:1
|
.8%
|
.1%
|
1.7%
|
1%
|
95%
|
Finely chop |
|
Chayote |
1:1
|
.8%
|
.1%
|
1.7%
|
|
94%
|
Moderate oxalates (340 ppm) |
| Cherries |
1:1.6
|
1.1%
|
.2%
|
2.1%
|
12.8%
|
82%
|
Good source of potassium. |
|
Cheerios |
1:1
|
11.0%
|
6.0%
|
9.0%
|
|
3%
|
High vit. D, A, and B vitamins |
|
Food Item
|
Ca:P
|
Protein
|
Fat
|
Fiber
|
Sugar
|
Water
|
Notes
|
|
Chicken (cooked) |
1:16.7
|
27.1%
|
4.1%
|
0%
|
|
68%
|
High phosphorus,
high protein (white meat) |
|
Chicory |
2:1
|
1.7%
|
.3%
|
4.0%
|
.9%
|
92%
|
High calcium & fiber |
|
Chives |
1.6:1
|
3.3%
|
.7%
|
2.5%
|
|
91%
|
High vit. C, high
oxalates, high vit.A (44 IU/g), potential
toxicity |
|
Cilantro (Coriander) |
1.4:1
|
2.1%
|
.5%
|
2.8%
|
|
92%
|
High vit. A (40
IU/g), mod. oxalates (50 ppm) |
|
Clover |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Great treat |
|
Collard Greens |
14.5:1
|
2.5%
|
.4%
|
3.6%
|
|
91%
|
Great staple, high calcium,
moderate oxalates |
|
Corn, Yellow |
1:13
|
2.6%
|
1.0%
|
2.0%
|
5.4%
|
77%
|
High phosphorus,
mod. oxalates (99 ppm) |
| Cranberries (fresh) |
1:1.3
|
.4%
|
.2%
|
4.2%
|
|
87%
|
High fiber |
| Cricket (before gut loading) |
1:12
|
21.3%
|
6.0%
|
3.2%
|
|
70%
|
Gut-load & dust to increase
calcium |
| Cucumber (peeled) |
1:1.5
|
.6%
|
.2%
|
.7%
|
2.3%
|
97%
|
Good source of water, poor
nutritional value |
|
Dahlia (flower) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Great treat |
|
Dandelion Greens |
2.8:1
|
2.7%
|
.7%
|
3.5%
|
2.4%
|
86%
|
High calcium, high vit. A (140
IU/g), moderate oxalates, be cautious of
pesticides in wild greens |
|
Earthworm |
unk
|
10.0%
|
2.0%
|
unk
|
|
84%
|
Do not buy worms
raised for bait. |
| Egg
(whole, hard boiled) |
1:3.4
|
12.6%
|
10.6%
|
0%
|
|
75%
|
|
|
Eggplant (raw) |
1:3
|
1.0%
|
.2%
|
2.5%
|
3.4%
|
92%
|
Moderate oxalates (291 ppm),
could be toxic to Beardies ??? |
|
Endive |
1.9:1
|
1.3%
|
.2%
|
3.1%
|
1.2%
|
94%
|
Mod. oxalates, high
calcium |
|
Escarole |
|
|
|
|
|
|
High calcium, mix with other
greens |
|
Figs (raw) |
2.5:1
|
.8%
|
.3%
|
3.3%
|
6.9%
|
79%
|
High in calcium & fiber.
Moderate oxalates. |
|
Garlic |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Potential toxicity |
|
Food Item
|
Ca:P
|
Protein
|
Fat
|
Fiber
|
Sugar
|
Water
|
Notes
|
| Grape Leaves (not
ivy) |
4:1
|
5.6%
|
2.1%
|
11.0%
|
|
73%
|
High in vit. A (270
IU/g), high calcium & fiber |
| Grapefruit (fresh) |
1.2:1
|
.6%
|
.1%
|
0%
|
6.2%
|
91%
|
High vit. C (4%) |
| Grapes (red & green) |
1.4:1
|
.6%
|
.4%
|
1.0%
|
16%
|
81%
|
Moderate oxalates (34 ppm) |
|
Guava |
1:1.3
|
.8%
|
.6%
|
5.4%
|
6%
|
86%
|
High fiber & vit. C,
mod. oxalates (140 ppm) |
|
Hibiscus, Rosella (flower) |
2.7:1
|
1.6%
|
.1%
|
2.5%
|
|
86%
|
Great treat and excellent source
of vitamins |
|
Hibiscus, Rosella (leaves) |
2.3:1
|
3.3%
|
.3%
|
1.6%
|
|
85%
|
|
| Honeydew (fresh) |
1:1.7
|
.5%
|
.1%
|
.6%
|
|
90%
|
|
| Hornworms |
1:3
|
9%
|
3%
|
|
|
85%
|
Info provided by Rob at
Great Lakes Hornworm |
|
Kale (raw) |
2.4:1
|
3.3%
|
.7%
|
2.0%
|
2.2%
|
84%
|
High vit. A (89 IU/g), mod.
oxalates, goitrogens |
|
Kiwi (fresh) |
1:1.5
|
1.0%
|
.4%
|
3.4%
|
9%
|
83%
|
High oxalates, and high vit. C
(10%) |
|
Kohlrabi (raw) |
1:2
|
1.7%
|
.1%
|
3.6%
|
4.5%
|
91%
|
High vit. C (6%), goitrogens |
|
Leeks (raw) |
1.7:1
|
1.5%
|
.3%
|
1.8%
|
3.9%
|
83%
|
|
|
Lemon Grass (Citronella) |
1:1.5
|
1.8%
|
.5%
|
25.3%
|
|
71%
|
High fiber |
|
Lettuce, Loose Leaf |
1.4:1
|
1.3%
|
.2%
|
1.0%
|
|
96%
|
Poor nutritional value, may
cause diarrhea |
|
Lettuce, Iceburg |
1:1
|
1.0%
|
.2%
|
1.4%
|
1.8%
|
96%
|
Poor nutritional value, may
cause diarrhea |
|
Lettuce, Red Leaf |
1:1.2
|
1.3%
|
.2%
|
.9%
|
|
96%
|
Poor nutritional value
|
|
Lettuce, Romaine |
1:1.3
|
1.6%
|
.2%
|
1.7%
|
2%
|
95%
|
Poor nutritional value, high
vit. A (26 IU/g), high oxalates |
|
Mango (fresh) |
1:1
|
.5%
|
.3%
|
1.8%
|
14.8%
|
82%
|
High vit. A (39 IU/g), moderate
oxalates (300 ppm) |
|
Mealworm |
1:25
|
20.3%
|
12.7%
|
1.7%
|
|
62%
|
Low calcium, high
phosphorus & fat, hard chitin shell |
|
Mushroom, Portabella (raw) |
1:16.3
|
2.5%
|
.2%
|
1.5%
|
|
91%
|
High phosphorus, WARNING - some
mushrooms can be very toxic to Beardies. |
|
Mustard Greens |
2.4:1
|
2.7%
|
.2%
|
3.3%
|
.8%
|
91%
|
High vit. C (7%), high vit. A
(53 IU/g), moderate oxalates (1287 ppm),
goitrogens |
|
Food Item
|
Ca:P
|
Protein
|
Fat
|
Fiber
|
Sugar
|
Water
|
Notes
|
|
Nasturtiums (flowers) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Great treat |
| Nectarine |
1:3
|
.9%
|
.5%
|
1.6%
|
8.5%
|
86%
|
|
|
Okra (raw) |
1.3:1
|
2.0%
|
.1%
|
3.2%
|
2.4%
|
90%
|
Moderate oxalates |
| Olives
(canned, pitted) |
29:1
|
.8%
|
10.7%
|
3.2%
|
|
80%
|
High in calcium and fat, high
vit. E (3%) |
| Onion |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Potential toxicity |
| Orange, Mandarin |
1.4:1
|
.6%
|
.2%
|
2.3%
|
|
88%
|
Navel oranges have more vit. C
and less vit. A |
| Orange, Navel |
2:1
|
1.0%
|
.1%
|
2.4%
|
8.9%
|
87%
|
High vit. C (6%), moderate
oxalates (87 ppm) |
|
Papaya (fresh) |
5:1
|
.6%
|
.1%
|
1.8%
|
5.9%
|
89%
|
Great staple fruit, high
calcium, high vit. C (6%) |
|
Parsley |
2.4:1
|
3.0%
|
.8%
|
3.3%
|
1.1%
|
88%
|
High oxalates (14:1 ox:ca), high
vit. C (13%), high vit. A (51 IU/g) |
|
Parsnip (raw) |
1:2
|
1.2%
|
.3%
|
4.9%
|
4.8%
|
80%
|
Moderate oxalates (205 ppm),
high fiber |
| Pea
sprouts (raw) |
1:4.6
|
8.8%
|
.7%
|
|
|
62%
|
High in vitamins A & K |
| Peach (fresh) |
1:2.4
|
.7%
|
.1%
|
2.0%
|
8.7%
|
88%
|
Low oxalates (10 ppm),
goitrogens |
| Pear, Asian (fresh) |
1:2.8
|
.5%
|
.2%
|
3.6%
|
|
88%
|
High oxalates |
| Pear (fresh) |
1:1
|
.4%
|
.4%
|
2.4%
|
10.5%
|
84%
|
High oxalates |
| Peas,
Green (raw) |
1:4.3
|
5.4%
|
.4%
|
5.1%
|
4.5%
|
79%
|
|
|
Peas, Snap (pea & pod) |
1:1.2
|
2.8%
|
.2%
|
2.6%
|
|
89%
|
Moderate oxalates (60 ppm) |
|
Pepperment Leaves |
3.3:1
|
3.8%
|
.9%
|
8.0%
|
|
79%
|
High vit. C, high
vit. A (43 IU/g), high fiber |
| Phoenix
Worms |
1.52:1
|
17.3%
|
9.4%
|
|
|
65%
|
Good source of calcium.
www.Phoenixworm.com |
| Pineapple (canned) |
2:1
|
.4%
|
.1%
|
.8%
|
|
86%
|
Moderate oxalates (58 ppm) |
| Pineapple (fresh) |
1:1
|
.4%
|
.4%
|
1.2%
|
12%
|
87%
|
Moderate oxalates (58 ppm) |
|
Pinky Mouse
|
1:1
|
|
|
|
|
|
Very high in fat |
|
Plum (fresh) |
1:2.5
|
.8%
|
.6%
|
1.5%
|
7.5%
|
85%
|
|
|
Food Item
|
Ca:P
|
Protein
|
Fat
|
Fiber
|
Sugar
|
Water
|
Notes
|
|
Pomegranate |
1:2.7
|
1.0%
|
.3%
|
.6%
|
9%
|
81%
|
Moderate oxalates (140 ppm) |
| Pork
Chop (cooked) |
1:7.8
|
30.2%
|
8.1%
|
0%
|
|
61%
|
High in phosphorus. |
|
Potato, Russet (cooked) |
1:5
|
1.7%
|
.1%
|
1.8%
|
1%
|
77%
|
Mod. oxalates (150
ppm), high phosphorus |
| Potato,
Sweet (cooked) |
1:1.3
|
1.7%
|
.3%
|
1.8%
|
5%
|
73%
|
High vit. A (171 IU/g), mod.
oxalates (1000 ppm) |
| Prunes (canned) |
1:1.5
|
.9%
|
.2%
|
3.8%
|
|
71%
|
|
| Pumpkin (raw) |
1:2
|
1.0%
|
.1%
|
.5%
|
4.4%
|
92%
|
Moderate oxalates (400 ppm) |
|
Radicchio |
1:2
|
1.4%
|
.3%
|
.9%
|
|
93%
|
|
| Radish (raw) |
1:1
|
.6%
|
.5%
|
1.6%
|
2.7%
|
95%
|
Moderate oxalates (92 ppm) |
| Raisins (seedless) |
1:2
|
3.2%
|
.5%
|
4.0%
|
62%
|
15%
|
Great treat, high fiber, high
sugar content |
|
Raspberries (fresh) |
1:1.2
|
.9%
|
.6%
|
6.8%
|
|
87%
|
Moderate oxalates |
| Rhubarb |
6:1
|
.9%
|
.2%
|
1.8%
|
.9%
|
94%
|
Highly toxic! High oxalates
(13,360 ppm) |
| Rice
(brown, long grain) |
1:8.3
|
2.6%
|
.9%
|
1.8%
|
|
73%
|
Must be cooked |
|
Rosemary (fresh) |
4.8:1
|
3.3%
|
5.9%
|
4.0%
|
|
68%
|
High calcium and fiber. |
|
Rutabaga (raw) |
1:1.2
|
1.2%
|
.2%
|
2.5%
|
5.6%
|
90%
|
Goitrogens |
| Salmon,
Pink (canned) |
1:1.5
|
19.8%
|
6.1%
|
0%
|
|
70%
|
High protein |
|
Sardines (canned) |
1:1.3
|
24.6%
|
11.5%
|
0%
|
|
60%
|
High protein |
| Seaweed (Kelp) |
4:1
|
1.7%
|
.6%
|
1.3%
|
|
82%
|
High calcium |
|
Silkworm |
1:2.4
|
63.8%
|
unk
|
unk
|
|
76%
|
Contain an enzyme
called serrapeptase, this has properties that
make calcium absorption more efficient, can
reduce inflammation, pain and best of all it can
break down arterial plaque. |
|
Spaghetti (cooked) |
1:7
|
4.8%
|
.7%
|
1.7%
|
|
66%
|
|
|
Food Item
|
Ca:P
|
Protein
|
Fat
|
Fiber
|
Sugar
|
Water
|
Notes
|
|
Spearmint |
3.3:1
|
3.3%
|
0.7%
|
6.8%
|
|
86%
|
|
|
Spinach |
2:1
|
2.9%
|
.4%
|
2.7%
|
.4%
|
92%
|
High in vit. A (67 IU/g), high
in oxalates (19:1 ox:ca), goitrogens |
|
Sprouts, Brussel |
1:1.6
|
3.4%
|
.3%
|
3.8%
|
2.2%
|
86%
|
High vit. C (8%), goitrogens |
|
Squash, Acorn |
1:1
|
.8%
|
.1%
|
1.5%
|
2.2%
|
88%
|
|
|
Squash, Butternut (Winter) |
1.5:1
|
1.0%
|
.1%
|
11.7%
|
2.2%
|
86%
|
High fiber, high vit. A (78
IU/g) |
|
Squash, Hubbard |
1:1.5
|
2.0%
|
.5%
|
8.7%
|
2.2%
|
88%
|
High fiber, high vit. A (54
IU/g) |
|
Squash, Scallop |
1:2
|
1.2%
|
.2%
|
3.8%
|
2.2%
|
94%
|
|
|
Squash, Spaghetti |
2:1
|
.6%
|
.6%
|
6.9%
|
2.2%
|
92%
|
High calcium and fiber |
|
Squash, Summer |
1:1.8
|
1.2%
|
.2%
|
1.9%
|
2.2%
|
94%
|
|
|
Starfruit (Carambola) |
1:4
|
.5%
|
.4%
|
2.7%
|
7.1%
|
91%
|
High oxalates (95,800 ppm) |
| Strawberries (fresh) |
1:1.4
|
.6%
|
.4%
|
2.3%
|
5.7%
|
92%
|
High vit. C, moderate oxalates |
|
Superworms |
1:18
|
17.4%
|
17.9%
|
6.8%
|
|
60%
|
High phosphorus, dust or inject
to increase calcium |
|
Swiss Chard |
1:1
|
1.8%
|
.2%
|
1.6%
|
1%
|
93%
|
High vit. A (33 IU/g), high
oxalates |
| Swiss
Cheese |
1.6:1
|
28.4%
|
27.5%
|
0%
|
|
37%
|
High vit. D and A |
| Tofu
(soft, raw) |
3.6:1
|
8.1%
|
4.8%
|
.3%
|
.4%
|
85%
|
High protein (hasn't been tested
for beardies...?) |
| Tomato,
Red (raw) |
1:5
|
.9%
|
.3%
|
1.1%
|
3%
|
94%
|
Moderate oxalates (263 ppm),
acidic |
|
Turnip (raw) |
1:1
|
.9%
|
.1%
|
1.8%
|
3.8%
|
92%
|
Moderate oxalates (4:1 ox:ca),
goitrogens |
|
Food Item
|
Ca:P
|
Protein
|
Fat
|
Fiber
|
Sugar
|
Water
|
Notes
|
|
Turnip Greens |
4.5:1
|
1.5%
|
.3%
|
3.2%
|
1%
|
91%
|
High vit. C (6%), high vit. A
(76 IU/g), mod. oxalates |
|
Watercress |
2:1
|
2.3%
|
.1%
|
.5%
|
.4%
|
95%
|
High vit. C (4%), high vit. A
(47 IU/g), high oxalates (6:1 ox:ca) |
| Watermelon |
1:1
|
.6%
|
.4%
|
.5%
|
9%
|
92%
|
|
|
Wax Worms |
1:7
|
15.5%
|
22.2%
|
7.7%
|
|
62%
|
High phosphorus, dust to
increase calcium |
| Wheat Grass |
1:1
|
25%
|
|
|
|
|
Very nutritious for reptiles and
humans. |
| Yams (raw) |
1:3.2
|
1.5%
|
.2%
|
4.1%
|
.5%
|
70%
|
|
| Yogurt
(with active cultures) |
1.3:1
|
4.4%
|
1.8%
|
0%
|
|
75%
|
Although yogurt can increase the
good gut flora, it is now believed that beardies
cannot properly digest dairy products. |
|
Yucca Root (Cassava) |
1:1.7
|
1.4%
|
.3%
|
1.8%
|
|
60%
|
|
| Zophobas Worms |
unk
|
19.0%
|
17.0%
|
unk
|
|
58%
|
|
|
Zucchini (raw) |
1:4.4
|
2.7%
|
.4%
|
1.1%
|
2.2%
|
93%
|
High phosphorus |
|
|
Information provided by Veronica at
www.Beautifuldragons.com.
Cage Cleaning
I recommend the following cleaning/disinfecting
products: Nolvasan (odors are not harmful) and bleach (odors are
harmful!). Do not mix the two chemicals.
Dilute bleach to a solution of 10% bleach and
90% water for a super strong disinfectant. Anything you spray with
bleach must be rinsed well with water and free of any bleach odors
before allowed to be returned to your Beardies cage. New cage
furnishings such as branches from your yard or rocks should be
thoroughly cleaned before added to the enclosure. To clean a branch or
rock, soak it in the bleach solution for 30 minutes then bake in the
oven at 250 degrees until nice and dry. Heating the wood will kill
anything that the bleach happened to miss.
It is a good idea to remove feces everyday as
Beardies are notorious for tromping through their poop and getting it
everywhere. Also, change the substrate at least once a month or as
needed.
Bath Time
Bathing is an important part in keeping a healthy dragon. Regular
bathing helps keep the beardie hydrated, clean, and helps to relax the
muscles thus making it easier for them to go to the bathroom.
Make sure that the bath water is warm to the
touch (95-99º F) and fill it full enough to reach their shoulders.
Remember if it feels too warm to you then it's definitely too hot for
them. Some beardies are comfortable bathing in the sink or the bath tub
and others may not like bath time at all. You can try placing a see
through Rubbermaid container on your countertop and gently placing your
beardie inside. He may feel more comfortable resting on your hand while
it is submerged in the water. Or you could try rolling up a wash cloth
and letting him rest his arms on it. They need to feel secure or they
will never enjoy bath time.
|
