Introduction
This Caresheet is dedicated to the inland bearded dragon (Pogona viticeps). The bearded dragon is an easily kept reptile; this because of it’s calm as well as its friendly character. By handling and giving attention to your bearded dragon it will get used to people and therefore reduce stress.
An adult bearded dragon will grow up to +/- 50 cm. Bearded dragons can live up to 7-12 years. The most common coloration is light brown, grayish. The color around the eyes is orange or yellow and the beard can also be orange or yellow. There are a lot of different known colorations.
Before purchasing a bearded dragon you should carefully look around. The bearded dragon should be alert and have clear eyes. When this is not the case it is almost certain to have a disease. Also look if its on weight (should have a round belly) and that the hipbones don’t show. Commonly seen are bearded dragons with missing toes or pieces of the tail. Check the mouth for mouth-rot and the body for unusually looking marks and traces of diarrhea on the cloaca.
When you’ve decided to keep just one bearded dragon it’s best to go with a male. A female kept alone can develop laying distress; this is something that can kill her.
Origin
The bearded dragon is a native reptile from Australia, from dry and dessert like territories, but also from the open forests. The are day active and go straight to sleep when it gets dark. The bearded dragon spends most of his life on the ground but is also an accomplished climber. Because the habitat of the bearded dragon can vary a lot there are many different colorations. Each one has the colors of the environment where it lives. For example there are the Red bearded dragons who live on the red sand. A normal bearded dragon (who’s light brown like grayish) wouldn’t be able to survive in the same environment as the red because it would stand out to much to the rest of its surroundings, and there for be an easy pray.
Pogona vitticeps
