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Up to four months old a bearded dragon is still a baby and needs special care.
Heat

A baby bearded needs a very warm area reaching 95 degrees during the day and cooling to 70 degrees over night. The enclosure should have a warm side and a cool side so the dragon can move to regulate body temperature. This is best accomplished using a heat pad under half the cage floor. Never use a heat rock as many dragons have burned themselves on these.

Light

All bearded dragons love to bask in warm light. Sunshine has vitamins a beardie needs to grow and live. If the dragon cannot be exposed to natural light a UV light bulb will provide these. Under this light a basking area should be provided. This can be rocks or branches, something the dragon can climb on. The light and basking area should be on the warm side of the cage.

Cage

Although baby dragons are small, they grow incredibly fast. And they need room to grow. A single dragon needs at least a 20 gallon long tank by the age of 4 months. A secure cage top is always a good idea with any animal, to prevent escapes.

Food

Baby dragons eat a lot. Until they reach their full size beardies need daily feedings. A baby dragon will need small crickets every day and a good serving of finely chopped veggies. This can included spinach, parsley, carrot, zucchini, radish, and green leaf lettuce (NOT ICEBERG). Crickets should always be dusted with a calcium and vitamin supplement (available at your local pet store). A baby dragon diet should be about 70% crickets and 30% veggies. Through their juvenile stage (4 months to adult) this ratio slowly shifts so that by the full adult stage, at about a year to a year and a half, the ratio is 70% veggies and 30% crickets. At this point cricket feedings should be 2-3 times a week and veggies daily. Also, water should be placed in a shallow dish so a baby dragon can easily walk in and out of the water. Water should be changed daily. Water and food should be placed on the cool side of the cage.

Recommended Reading

Your Bearded Dragons Life – by Liz Palika
The Bearded Dragon Manual – by Vosjoli, Mailloux, Donoghue, Klingenberg, Cole

Download Baby Care Sheet
Adult Care Sheet        Juvenile Care Sheet
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