They may not fetch slippers, but they might be right for you

Never in a million years would I have guessed that I would one day have a reptile, and yet here I am, the proud "mother" of a bearded dragon. My bearded dragon, Clark, came to me after being left in a box on someone's doorstep. An older guy with bad eyes, he was anything but "happy and healthy". Now that he has moved in with me, though, he is getting the care he needs and is on his way to a better life. I had zero reptile experience before Clark. The more time I spend with him, though, the more I find myself wondering: "Why didn't I get a bearded dragon sooner?"

Sadly, bearded dragons - and reptiles in general - are very misunderstood animals that are often dismissed by potential pet owners because of their appearance. Sure, Clark may look a little different than a cuddly kitten, but that doesn't make his personality any less amazing. Bearded dragons fit easily into most households, are relatively easy to care for (even for us beginners!), and make wonderful pets. Here are some basics about bearded dragons that may help you decide if they are the right match for your family.

Feeling hot, hot, hot

Bearded dragons come from the dessert, so they need a very warm environment. Your bearded dragon will need a basking light to provide heat and keep the temperature of his tank between 95 and 110 degrees. Monitoring the temperature is easy with a simple tank thermometer. In addition to a heat source, your bearded dragon will need UVA/UVB light to mimic natural sunlight and keep your pet healthy. It is important to make sure you are using a proper light meant for reptiles as a regular household light bulb is not sufficient for your pet's needs.

A bearded dragon (Courtesy image)

Bathing beauties

Every couple days, Clark has what I like to call "tubby time". Bearded dragons need to soak in water for at least 15 minutes every week to, not only to keep them hydrated, but to help them with shedding. Bearded dragons tend to drink their bath water, so it's important to keep it clean and soap-free. It's also important to keep it warm - like bath water for a person. You can use anything for a tub that will hold water - a plastic basin, the sink, your real tub, or anything else that works for you. Some bearded dragons will splash around in the water while others will be content to just sit there and let you pour water down their backs.

Feeding time

Bearded dragons are omnivores, so they eat a mixture of bugs, like crickets and superworms, and plants, like collard greens. While young bearded dragons eat more bugs than plants, adult bearded dragons are the opposite. I'll admit it - I was initially reluctant to take Clark home because I didn't like the idea of feeding him live insects. Full disclosure, though - Clark is practically blind and needs to be hand fed. Unlike Clark, a typical bearded dragon is capable of catching insects on his own if given to him in his cage. Remember, though, that feeder insects also require care to keep them alive and healthy for your bearded dragon. Each insect is different, so be sure to research whichever feeder insect you chose for your pet to make sure you are caring for them properly. It is important to never feed bearded dragons bugs you find around your house as they may have parasites.

Are they the right pet for you?

This is just an overview of some of the basics of owning a bearded dragon, but it's easy to see that they require a different type of care than more traditional pets. As with any pet, there are some initial costs to bringing home a bearded dragon. Your pet will need a large tank, special lighting, branches to climb on, and plants and insects to eat. Although the care and feeding they require is very different from a dog or a cat, it is not difficult or overly expensive to provide. If anything, I've found that caring for Clark, even with all his ailments, is far easier than caring for my dogs! So what do you think? Is a bearded dragon the right pet for you?

Alaina Goodnough is the Promotions Coordinator at Cocheco Valley Humane Society in Dover, NH. She lives in Sanford, ME with two parrots, two cats, a bearded dragon, and two dachshunds. She can be reached at CVHS at devassist@cvhsonline.org. To learn more about Cocheco Valley Humane Society, go to www.cvhsonline.org or call 603-749-5322.