Bearded Dragon Tips for a Beginner?

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So, a coworkers (adult) daughter is getting rid of her bearded dragon (probably). She feels she isn't giving the animal the time and attention that it needs, and offered it to me (knowing I take good care of my animals).
I am told she is currently alone in a 40 gallon tank (a 40 breeder I assume). She has a heat lamp and feeding dishes, a hammock, and rocks in her enclosure. I assume other things as well.
So, do you all have some tips for me on the care and feeding of bearded dragons? What do I need for her to be happy and comfortable?
 
So, a coworkers (adult) daughter is getting rid of her bearded dragon (probably). She feels she isn't giving the animal the time and attention that it needs, and offered it to me (knowing I take good care of my animals).
I am told she is currently alone in a 40 gallon tank (a 40 breeder I assume). She has a heat lamp and feeding dishes, a hammock, and rocks in her enclosure. I assume other things as well.
So, do you all have some tips for me on the care and feeding of bearded dragons? What do I need for her to be happy and comfortable?
Good luck, I was off loaded with 3 adult red slider turtles once🤣🤣🤣 It all worked out beautifully in the end, just a few sleepless nights.
 
Good luck, I was off loaded with 3 adult red slider turtles once🤣🤣🤣 It all worked out beautifully in the end, just a few sleepless nights.
I might need the luck, lol. Thankfully the dragon does come with a full $1000 set up, all at no cost to me. From what I have read so far, this might not be as hard as I initially thought. Depending on the actual tank size I might not need to upgrade it.
 
I might need the luck, lol. Thankfully the dragon does come with a full $1000 set up, all at no cost to me. From what I have read so far, this might not be as hard as I initially thought. Depending on the actual tank size I might not need to upgrade it.
The question I have to ask is does the Dragon know he is in a $1000 setup, because that could be a problem of his expectations of you.
 
The question I have to ask is does the Dragon know he is in a $1000 setup, because that could be a problem of his expectations of you.
Lol, it would be just my luck to ended up with a spoilt dragon. She will want diamond studded tree branches and gold plates crickets. My cats eat better than I do as it is.
 
Make sure there is an ultra violet light on the tank so the lizard can get vitamin D and not suffer from osteoporosis.

Feed them a variety of insects and earthworms. You can dust the insect in calcium powder before feeding them.

Don't keep them in a humid environment. They come from dry habitats and get fungal infections if kept in a humid environment.

Try to handle it every day so it gets used to being touched. Make sure you haven't handled any warm blooded animals or birds before you handle the lizard because they can smell the animal and some times try to bite it, then you get bitten on the hand or fingers.

If you do get bitten by a lizard and it breaks the skin, wash the wound really well and monitor it for infections. Lizards can carry some nasty bacteria on their teeth and their bites regularly become infected. Captive bred lizards are less of an issue as long as they haven't been fed raw meat.
 
My son had a bearded dragon years ago, he was huge! My son had a series of ramps so George could choose to go out of his tank in the evenings - he used to go and sit on the sofa with my son and he was very funny to watch if he caught sight of himself in the mirror!

I remember my son saying that George was ‘under the weather‘ and ‘sad’ and he persuaded me to take him to the vets (expensive and a long drive UK wise for a reptile specialist). It turns out George had an infection in a mass of blood vessels on the top of his head and the vet was impressed it had been noticed. I’d never have thought that you’d get that much ‘feedback’ from a reptile but it goes to show that spending time with them and really knowing them is beneficial to all parties.
 
They will apparently get 10+ inches, before their tail. I didn't realize they would get that big, but am now more prepared.
 
George must have been about 18” without his tail. My son would hold him on his forearm and he’d almost fill it.
 
So
Don’t use a glass tank or any thing under the size of a 100 gallon tank if you want it to be happy ( don’t use glass because they don’t have the best vison in the world and tend to rub they noses on the glass). They enjoy and need a heat lamp and rock. Don’t use sand in your enclosure bc they can end up eating it, carpet squares might work, but a lot of people use paper towels. Some beardies enjoy climbing on things like rocks, so you should but some in your tank. They don’t need hides, but I would recommend adding some if it gets timid. Wickends wicked reptiles on YT has some good care videos on them.
 
I have a bearded dragon who is suffering from a mouth disease He’s had since he was tiny. A 40g is too small. I have mine in a 65g tank for the night, and I built a 500g+ chicken wire cage outside for him to bask. Lettuce is not good for them! Feed them something that has more nutrients: Snap Peas, strawberry tops, and more. Tomato is BAD for them!!! Mine chases the vacuum. They need at least 30 minutes of natural Sunlight per day, but don’t fret if he Doesn’t get it. Make sure to keep humidity low. It can cause mouth disease and serious mouth infection as well as fungus. I have a colony of Dubio Roaches to feed him Meat. Make sure to look for illness and worms. Unfortunately, worms are very common in baby beardies, and as they get older, the worms get larger and larger. One worm to highlight is Lungworms. My aunts 2 year old Beardie died of lungworms. She noticed him not breathing well, and mucus all over the back of his mouth and around his nose. The vet took a look at it, and used tweezers to remove multiple lungworms up to 6 inches long. By multiple, I mean 10 or 20. So, it is important to bring him in for checkups every 6 months or so. My male Beardie does get mad at his reflection, so glass is not the best, but it has to do because we already bought the tank. He will not cohab with anything, including tortoises (been there done that). And lastly, he enjoys getting very high up. So when you take him out, he will want to be on your head or your shoulder. Make sure to trim his nails as well, or have bricks in his cage to wear his nails dowe. Good luck! Let’s see some pics!
 
Another thing is that he will not like being handled. Take him on a towel out, and have him on your chest and pet him To get him used to being touched. As i said, mine chases the vacuum around, and I regularly have him out while I’m cooking Or doing homework.
 

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