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Bearded Dragon Heat Pad

A so-called Bearded dragon heat pad, or any other under tank heating equipment like heat strips are a piece of equipment that is used to heat these lizards from the bottom. It usually comes in the form of a high resistance wire element coated with a foil-type material.

These heating elements are actually never to be used as primary heat source for Bearded dragons! There is still a lot of pet shops selling baby and juvenile Bearded dragons with a small cage and heat pad making the owners believe that it is sufficient for them.

Bearded dragons are natural sun baskers and it is strongly recommended that heat should be emitted from the top, i.e. an overhead spotlight shining on a rock, heating the Bearded dragon from both ends.

Bearded Dragon Brumation / Hibernation

Brumation, or so called Bearded dragon hibernation, is the irreversible state in which these lizards go during the colder winter months of the year. It is characterized by a reduced habitus, appetite (sometimes even complete anorexia), weight loss, hiding and digging behaviour. This is all normal.

Some Bearded dragons won’t even go into this so-called slumber, for example some juveniles will skip their first winter brumation and only start in the next one. Some adults might also be unpredictable and follow this route.

Because Bearded dragon brumation is believed to only follow the colder winter evenings, instead of winter days, I believe that no lighting to temperature should be altered to induce, during or after this period. At the end of the hibernation period, food should gradually be increased to build up the body condition again.

Cheap Crickets Website Launched!

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Bearded Dragon Bathing

Although Bearded dragons are naturally dry desert animals, there are a few cases where it might be beneficial to actually dip them in a shallow tub of water. Three of the most common scenarios include to aid in the Bearded dragon shedding process, constipation and for rehydration.

The Bearded dragon shedding process are most of the time incomplete (meaning that they shed piece by piece), and problems rarely occurs. In the case of a so-called hard shed one can give daily lukewarm baths until all the skin is removed. The water will penetrate the dead skin layer and help to soften and remove skin in difficult places.

A daily swim in lukewarm water will also help to stimulate muscle contraction and the expulsion of stubborn faeces. This process will also rehydrate a Bearded dragon up to a point where the stool gets softer and easy to be expelled.

Daily baths can also be used solely as a rehydration method for example in a recently sick or anorexic Bearded dragon.

When bathing a Bearded dragon, always make sure that the water level is just deep enough for the dragon to stand in when the legs are stretched out. Lukewarm water works the best. When you feel the water temperature you must actually feel no cold or heat sensation. Daily baths should not take longer than thirty minutes and should always be under full observation to prevent drowning.