Agamas. Bearded dragon: friendly lizard in the house What does the bearded dragon eat

Most families have pets. Until 2000, these were, as a rule, cats and dogs. But for Lately the situation has changed a lot. Many have become interested in the exotic, preferring to enjoy the company unusual creatures taking care of them and observing their habits and activity. It's clear, rare representatives domestic animals that can comfortably coexist with a person are more expensive in terms of maintenance and purchase in general than public pets: hamsters, rats or rabbits. In addition, they need the proper organization of living space: equipment, cage or terrarium. But, as you know,

Today we would like to pay attention to graceful pets who have managed to conquer thousands of families in our country with their contact, independence and beauty. We will talk about bearded dragons, which are called bearded dragons abroad. We will try to tell you all the most interesting about this type of lizard, starting with their description and ending with recommendations for care and maintenance at home.

Measure seven times - cut one

Before getting a pet, not only an exotic one, the potential owner needs to weigh all the pros and cons regarding his stay in a human dwelling. If we are talking about reptiles, lizards and other heat-loving representatives of the fauna, then you can’t do without a terrarium equipped with professional lamps for heating and irradiating your pet with ultraviolet rays.

By the way, not every city can buy such a lizard without problems. If you can easily find them in large cities, but those who live in the outback and dream of a bearded agama will also have to fork out for delivery or for a trip for the cherished exotic creature.

The initial cost of an agama is significant, but it cannot be said that these lizards are too expensive to keep.

Description of the species

The bearded dragon is a lizard native to Australia. In Latin it is called Pogona vitticeps. Throughout the observation period, natural environment habitat, it was noticed that lizards are found in desert areas with a hot climate.

In nature, agamas are afraid birds of prey. It is believed that this lizard is quite tenacious due to the ability to adapt well to its habitat (dig holes in the ground, hide in stone crevices, in tree branches). The life expectancy of a bearded agama, the photo of which is presented in the article, is about 12-14 years. The reptile is active during the day, sleeps at night.

Bearded reptiles are omnivores, they prefer to feast on both plant foods (leaves, vegetables, fruits) and animals (insects and rodents of small sizes). By the way, at home, bearded dragons are fed depending on their age. For example, babies under 6 months of age are given an animal protein source (crickets, grasshoppers, cockroaches, or worms) every day, with occasional fresh greens. But for grown-up individuals, it is recommended to dilute the diet with green salad leaves and vegetables from a ratio of 50: 50%.

External data of a bearded dragon

The length of an adult agama in wild nature reaches 60 cm, half of which is the tail. She has an intimidating appearance. In case of danger, spikes swell on her neck, outwardly similar to a beard. A slightly flattened body, strong paws with sharp claws give the lizard a special extravagance.

IN normal state it is grey, peach and greenish brown. And when the mood changes, it changes its color. For example, when the air temperature drops, it will become darker. By the way, there are a great many morphs (colors) of agamas. A bearded dragon darkens when it is disturbed. By the way, during the mating season, the beard of males becomes almost black. Photos of bearded dragons taken during the courtship of a male for a female are the best confirmation of what has been said.

The mouth has sharp teeth, and the tip of the tongue is sticky for more confident capture of prey. The reptile has excellent eyesight and hearing. On the sides of the body, resembling a flat coin, sharp spikes are located in two rows.

Domestication of the Australian lizard

People paid attention to the calmness, funny behavior, grace and friendliness of the bearded dragons and began to make attempts to domesticate the reptile. It quickly became clear that the bearded descendant of dragons takes root quite easily in home terrariums. Currently, the owners of Australian Agamas are about a million people.

Benefits of owning a lizard:

• An interesting animal, unpretentious to the conditions of detention.
• Absence of aggression.
• Easily enters into a trusting relationship with the owners.

Expected difficulties for owners of exotic animals:

1. Must be strictly observed the necessary conditions content of bearded dragons. Even a few days without a special ultraviolet lamp for reptiles can be detrimental to the agama.
2. It is necessary to buy special feed, monitor the pet's diet.
3. It will be necessary to carry out special prophylaxis that supports healthy lifestyle reptile life (vitamin supplements, calcium supplements).

Terrarium Requirements for Bearded Dragons

As a home for an agama, it is best to prefer a special glass terrarium aquarium with ventilation. The minimum recommended terrarium size for one lizard is 1.8 meters long, 0.5 meters wide, 0.4 meters high. The minimum capacity of the terrarium is 500 liters.

The entrance to the pet's home is at the discretion of the owner of the reptile, but it is best if the doors are located in front or on the side. The door must close securely. Need to artificially create duration daylight hours at least 14 hours. For this, lighting and ultraviolet lamps are used. Decorations are installed in it (you can build a hill from flat stones of medium size, put a large snag), where the agama will rest. All accessories must be natural, synthetics cannot be used.

bedding

The bottom of the terrarium is sprinkled with coarse sand or special cellulose filler for cat trays so that the animal has the opportunity to burrow into it. In no case should you use fine gravel, as the reptile can swallow it. There are frequent cases of death of agamas from keeping them on the sand of a fine fraction.

It is noteworthy that abroad the conditions for keeping bearded dragons in human home somewhat different from those fixed in Russia. For example, the Americans keep their reptiles on tiles, without sand or other fillers.

Temperature and UV radiation

The temperature regime in the terrarium of the bearded dragon deserves special attention. Due to the fact that the reptile is quite thermophilic, during the day the temperature under incandescent and UV lamps should not be lower than +35 °C. In the terrarium, it is also necessary to organize a cool corner with a temperature of at least +28 ° C.

Approximately 1-2 times a week, the reptile must be bathed in warm water or sprayed with a spray bottle, and then wiped dry with a napkin. There is constant controversy regarding spraying among reptile owners, however, in nature, every morning they run on the grass, on which there is abundant dew.

It is important to remember that temperature drops and drafts are contraindicated for a heat-loving lizard.

For comfortable conditions The bearded dragon requires a UV lamp with a minimum UVB value of 8-12. It is placed inside the terrarium at a distance of 25-30 cm from the bottom. A plafond is used, which protects the lamp from damage, does not limit or distort the spectrum of the radiation flux. By the way, oblong-shaped lamps are most suitable for such purposes than standard ones, because the former are able to spread light to large area.

Agama food at home

For a small pet up to 6 months, 80% of the feed should be of animal origin.

In order for the diet to be balanced, the diet should be constantly changed. It is recommended to feed the reptile 1 time in 2 days, mixing the necessary ingredients. But as practice shows, the agama requires food daily. The reptile drinks relatively little, professionals advise giving the bearded lizard filtered purified bottled water.

Breeding in a terrarium

The best option keeping one male and two females. Two males cannot be kept together, as they defend their territory with tough fights and can cause significant damage to each other (bite off a tail or paw, for example).

In order to avoid conflicts, it is desirable to keep the lizards separately and unite for the mating period. They reach sexual maturity at 2 years. Subject to temperature regime mating takes place in March.

Pregnancy lasts 1 month, after which the females lay eggs (about 8-20 pieces) and bury them in the sand.

The incubation period is about 2 months. The female is able to lay eggs 2 times per season. Young growth should be taken to special incubators in order to avoid its loss (agama can eat its own eggs).

Beginning exotic pet lovers should not get young bearded dragons under the age of 3 months, as they require special care.

It is also useful to remember that after communicating with a reptile and contact with it, you need to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water, because the Australian lizard can be a carrier of worms and other bacteria.

Remember that food from the human table should in no case end up in the terrarium of a reptile, otherwise negative consequences can't be avoided.

With good care, the maintenance of a bearded agama will only be a joy. The main thing is the observance of all the above rules, daily communication with the pet and affection. This lizard has great intelligence, gets used to the environment, remembers its name.

With enough communication, the bearded dragon will become a full-fledged tame family member, a beloved pet with which you can communicate and even play.

Reptile Lovers Bearded Agama Attracts unusual appearance. Despite the presence of threatening-looking spikes, this lizard has a very friendly character. It won't be hard to tame her. Agama easily makes contact with the owner.

Reptile lovers Bearded dragon attracts unusual appearance

History of the Bearded Dragon

Bearded dragon - a reptile that came to us from Australia

The lizard belongs to the Agam family. She got her name because of the bag located in the neck area, which swells when the animal shows aggression or tries to attract attention during the mating season. The natural habitat of the reptile is the Australian continent. Agama inhabits regions such as New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland. These lizards live in desert rocky areas, sometimes climb trees.

Appearance of a lizard with a photo

The bearded dragon has a unique appearance

The bearded dragon has an amazing appearance. The length of the body reaches 50–60 cm, with most of it falling on the tail. Lizards can weigh 300 grams or more. The head looks like a triangle. The lizard has a strong physique. The back, head and outer side of the limbs are covered with scales with sharp ends. Strong claws are located on short and thick fingers. When the dragon inflates its throat, the scales rise up, resulting in a formation that looks like a beard.

The bearded agama does not have such a property characteristic of other varieties of lizards as dropping the tail. For this reason, injured individuals are quite common. Agamas in childhood often bite off the ends of their tails to their relatives. Due to the limited ability to regenerate new fragments of organs in these reptiles are not formed. But this does not affect the quality of their life.

The color of the agama can be beige-brown, gray-brown or gray. The body of the lizard is covered with light spots and dark stripes. Jaws may be yellow or White color. Young individuals have a brighter color. Agamas are able to change their color depending on emotional state, as well as temperature. In hot weather, they brighten, and in cold weather they become dark. Eye color varies from golden to dark brown.

Important! A unique feature of the agama is to change its shade due to fright. In this state, the lizard turns pale, and the paws become bright orange or yellow.

Males can be distinguished from females by their characteristic external features: males have a thicker base of the tail. The beard of males during the mating season becomes black or dark blue, and in females it has a beige or orange color. Agamas live 7–10 years.

Video: key features of the Bearded Dragon

How to choose a Bearded Dragon?

The lizard must be alert

To choose a healthy animal, you need to pay attention to the following signs:

1. Examine the reptile and make sure that it does not have wounds and ulcers. The presence of scars is also undesirable.
2. Since the agama cannot regenerate lost body parts, do not purchase an animal that does not have a paw or tail. The lizard will remain so for the rest of its life, although sellers may convince you otherwise. But the absence of the tip of the tail or finger is quite acceptable.
3. Examine the area around the mouth. There should be no liquid or foam here.
4. A healthy lizard has clear eyes, and is also characterized by an alert demeanor. In its natural environment, the agama preys on fast insects, which requires alertness and mobility.

Features of maintenance and care

For the agama, it is necessary to create conditions as close as possible to its natural environment.

We create the necessary conditions

The terrarium for the agama must have heating, ventilation and decor

The terrarium is selected depending on the number of lizards. For one agama, you will need a container measuring at least 50 cm wide and 100 cm long. Choose a horizontal terrarium with a wall height of 60 to 80 cm. The best option there will be a terrarium with sliding windows on the side or front wall.

Important! For an agama, a container with a door at the top is not suitable. IN natural conditions lizards are attacked by birds of prey, so the reptile will perceive all movements above its head as a potential threat, which will negatively affect its emotional state.

You should also take care of ventilation. There should be openings in the bottom, top or side of the container that can be covered with a metal mesh. IN otherwise the agama will have difficulty breathing. The lizard can be kept alone or in small groups. The best option is one male and 2-3 females.

Can be used as decoration artificial plants, snags, stones. H It is not worth placing living vegetation in the terrarium, as the agama will quickly take it for food. In nature, lizards climb rocks and trees. So that the agama in captivity can fulfill this need, equip a special place for it. Apply a layer of PVA on the wall and fill the surface with small pebbles or sand. This will not only provide the lizard with the opportunity to climb the terrarium, but also become an original decor.

At the bottom of the container, pour a bedding 15 cm thick. Cat litter, sand, pebbles, gravel, shavings or crushed bark are suitable for this. IN natural environment reptiles hide from danger by burrowing into the ground, leaving their heads on the surface. Also, the container is equipped with shelters: houses made of stones, shelves. They must match the size of the reptile.

Take care of lighting and bedding for the lizard

Agama needs bright lighting, and it must also receive ultraviolet light. To do this, the terrarium is equipped with fluorescent lighting fixtures. Deficiency of ultraviolet radiation will lead to the development of rickets in the animal. The duration of lighting should be 12 hours a day.

Heat the terrarium with incandescent lamps, infrared devices or thermal mats. The temperature in individual parts of the container must be uneven:

1. It is necessary to organize a cool corner with indicators of 23–25 ° С.
2. You will also need a local heating area (40 ° C).
3. The general temperature background is maintained within 27–30°С.

Humidity should correspond to 35-40%. At night, the performance can be slightly increased. To do this, once a week, an hour before turning off the lighting, the container is sprayed with warm water from a spray bottle. The lizard needs to provide constant access to drink. For this purpose, a ceramic drinker is installed in the terrarium. Do not use containers made of light material. Agamas not only drink from a drinking bowl, but also bathe in it, so they immediately turn over a light container.

Feeding rules

Agama nutrition depends on the age of the individual

Agamas are omnivorous, which greatly simplifies their feeding. The diet should consist of plant and animal foods. In this case, the percentage of feed varies depending on the age of the animal. Young individuals up to 12 months old are given 80% of insects and 20% of plants. In the diet of lizards after a year, only 40% of animal food should be present. This is due to the fact that in adult animals the metabolic process slows down.

Agame is given:

• cabbage leaves, tops and roots of carrots, pumpkin, eggplant, squash, wheat leaves, sweet peppers, peas, green beans;
• parsley, spinach;
• alfalfa, clover, dandelions, buttercups, crocuses, cyclamen, narcissus, spurge, mint;
• peeled apples, grapes, bananas;
• mushrooms;
• crickets;
• flour worms;
• cockroaches;
• snails.

The lizard should also consume vitamin supplements such as Reptilife. Young dragons are fed daily. An adult lizard is offered food every other day. Feeding is done during daylight hours.

Important! For the agama, the food that it consumes in 15 minutes is enough, the remaining food must be removed to avoid overfeeding.

Video: feeding the Bearded Dragon

Agama loves water treatments

Agama sheds quite often. This process takes place in stages. The head sheds first, then the body and tail. Once a week, the reptile is bathed in warm water at a temperature of 30–35 ̊С. To do this, you need a deep basin. Keep an eye on the water level, it should be safe for the lizard. The duration of the procedure is 30 minutes. Then blot the animal with a paper towel and plant it in the terrarium. Avoid drafts after bathing your lizard.

Video: lizard bathing rules

Agama can be periodically released from the terrarium for walks around the apartment. But at the same time, you need to follow some rules. There should not be other animals in the room with the lizard. To a pet accustomed to communicating with the owner, he needs to be picked up once every 1-2 days. It is also advisable to release the lizard not on the floor, but on the surface of the sofa, so that the animal does not catch a cold from the draft.

Important! Agama should not move on a too fleecy surface, if the pile is wound around the fingers of the animal, this will cause necrosis.

Reproduction and breeding

Bearded dragons mate in spring

Agamas reach reproductive age by two years. To encourage mating, the lizards are first placed in individual containers. They must be at rest. In early December, agamas are seated in separate terrariums. Lighting is reduced to 8 hours a day, the temperature level is lowered to 25 ° C during the day and 20 ° C at night. The rest period lasts 11-12 weeks. After that, the indicators return to the original level.

Then the male is placed in a terrarium where the female is. Mating takes place in March. Agama pregnancy lasts 30-45 days. Females lay their eggs in burrows 40 cm deep. A layer of sand of appropriate thickness is poured into the terrarium for this purpose. The clutch contains from 8 to 25 eggs.

The incubation period lasts from 60 to 75 days at 28–30°C. During the season, the female can lay 2–4 clutches. Hatched babies begin to eat on the 2nd or 3rd day of life. They are fed cockroaches, small crickets, grated carrots, small pieces of fruit.

Diseases and treatments

1. One of the most common diseases is pneumonia. It develops as a result of the agama being in a cool room with high humidity air. You can recognize the disease by a runny nose, because of which the animal breathes through an open mouth. Pneumonia is divided into 2 types. In the first variety of the disease, the reptile has mucus in the mouth and wet whistles. Type II pneumonia is characterized by wheezing. In the first case, treatment is carried out with the antibiotic Ampicillin for 7 days. In the second type, this drug is administered from 9 to 15 days with an interval of 72 hours.
2. Salmonellosis is an intestinal bacterial infection that can lead to lethal outcome. It manifests itself in the form of refusal of food, diarrhea, regurgitation, weight loss. For the treatment of lizards, the antibiotic Chloramphenicol is used, which is injected into the stomach through a probe. The procedure is performed 2-3 times. Also use the drug Bactrim. It is introduced into the body of a reptile in a similar way for 7 days.
3. Cloacitis - inflammation of the cloaca. At the first stage of the disease, purulent discharge is observed during the defecation of the animal, at the second stage there is a violation of the defecation process. Treatment consists of inserting a catheter into the cloaca of the reptile and passing through it into the intestine. warm water with Tetravil. The amount of liquid depends on the weight of the lizard.
4. Stomatitis is an inflammatory process of the oral mucosa. It occurs as a result of a deficiency of vitamins A and C, as well as mechanical damage. Oral cavity becomes pale, takes on a bluish tint. Vessels are well visible. The oral cavity of the lizard is treated with a 1% solution of Dioxidine, Iodinol or Ectericide. Neosporin or Polysporin ointment is also used, which is used to treat the affected areas 2 times a day for a week. In addition, vitamin C is administered to the animal.
5. Calcium deficiency in the body of a reptile provokes fractures, edema, rickets. As a therapy, the lizard is given a special complex: a mixture of vitamins D3, A and calcium. The reptile complex is given for a week. If the agama gets hurt, treat the damaged area with turpentine liniment or a 10% solution of potassium permanganate.
6. Sometimes the lizard refuses to eat. The most likely reason for this is overfeeding. If she does not eat for two days, but drinks water in normal amounts, this is normal. Agama can thus arrange fasting days. If she refuses to eat for more than three days, start force-feeding. Also observe the animal for symptoms consistent with an intestinal infection.

In order for the Bearded Dragon to feel comfortable in captivity, you need to adhere to some maintenance requirements. The reptile needs a certain temperature and light regime. Throughout the year, she needs fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs and live insects. A lack of vitamins, as well as non-compliance with the rules for caring for a reptile, can lead to the development of a number of diseases in the Bearded Dragon.

The bearded agama (Pogona vitticeps) is a lizard that even a novice terrariumist can have. Nature endowed this creature with an amazing appearance and sufficient unpretentiousness for life at home. The bearded dragon is native to the Australian continent. At one time, the Australian authorities very strictly controlled the export of representatives of the local fauna, but still the relatives of the agama fell outside the mainland and began to successfully breed in other territories that were quite suitable for them in terms of habitat conditions. The bearded agama is amazing not only in its appearance, but also in the name directly associated with it. The Latin word Pogona in translation just means the presence of a beard, and vitticeps has an even more bizarre meaning - “bulb headband”. So latin name lizard indicates the presence of leathery spikes around the ears, on the head and throat of the agama. These spikes just imitate a beard. The British, because of this sign, even called the agama the bearded dragon - the central bearded dragon. And another unique ability of the bearded dragon is to change color when the lizard is frightened or worried. In this state, the bearded agama brightens, and its paws acquire a bright yellow or orange hue. The color of the lizard can also change depending on the ambient temperature.

Bearded Dragon Pogona vitticeps

Kingdom: Animals
Type: Chordates
Class: Reptiles
Order: Scaled
Suborder: Lizards
Family: Agamaceae
Genus: Bearded dragons

Appearance

In a different way, the bearded agama is also called running. This is a medium-sized lizard, its body is wide and slightly flattened. And the same head, a bit reminiscent of a triangle. Ahead on the neck of the bearded agama are prickly scales - "beard" - arranged in a wedge. The same processes surround the corners of the mouth and the ear openings. The bearded dragon has rather strong paws of gray, brownish or dark tone with short clawed fingers. The skin around the jaws is visibly lighter. Spiny scales cover inside belly between fore and hind legs. Bearded dragons are characterized by sexual dimorphism. Males are distinguished by a wider head and a thicker tail, especially at its base, around the hemipenis, the reproductive organ of lizards. The beard of males is also more prominent and darker in color, especially in mating season, while in females it is orange or beige. But determining the sex of a bearded agama, especially one that has not yet entered the breeding season, is not an easy task. The standard length of these lizards is 40-60 cm. The length of the tail is approximately 40% of the body size. The agama's beard becomes especially noticeable when the lizard inflates its throat and strongly pushes the throat fold forward. In this, she is helped by elongated processes of the hyoid bone, which protrude when the bearded dragon opens its mouth. Has a similar ability frilled lizard. On the sides of the body of the agama there are also spiny processes in several rows. When the lizard is worried or preparing to defend itself, it inflates its body, as it were, and these spikes are more widely distributed to the sides. The color of the back of the bearded agama can be green, bluish or with a yellow tint and can also change depending on the mood of the lizard.

Distribution and habitation

The bearded dragon is a native Australian animal. She lives mainly in the interior, and not the coastal regions of the mainland, in particular, in the state of Queensland, New South Wales and north-west Victoria, as well as in the east of South Australia and the south-east of the state with interesting name- Northern Territory. Preferred bearded dragon biotopes are mostly desert and semi-desert - stony or covered with dry vegetation areas, thickets of shrubs. The lizard lives on the ground and sometimes in trees. It is especially active during the day, and at night and in extreme heat hides in burrows that she digs herself, or in other people's burrows, as well as in stone rubble and under the roots of plants. The bearded agama is also looking for coolness on trees, in places that are well ventilated. Each lizard has its own territory, which it tries to keep. Sometimes a bearded agama can also be found in cities, next to people.

Behavior and lifestyle

Threatening appearance a bearded dragon can be confusing. In fact, this creature, if tamed, is very affectionate, easily given in the hands and enjoys scratching the neck. However, during the mating season, males show a frightening outfit - they inflate their necks and protrude their scales, which immediately noticeably darkens. The lizard behaves in the same way when it defends itself. By the way, the bearded dragon is quite fearless. She is in no hurry to run away from the enemy, but tries to scare him. In addition to external changes during aggression, the bearded agama can snort, actively move its tail, hiss and jump, squatting on its paws, which is very reminiscent of a frog. By the color of the beard, it is easy to determine the mood of the lizard - the darker it is, the more worried the agama is. And in terrariums you can hardly meet bearded dragons with long tail, although this natural sign animal. When several lizards are kept together, collisions are possible between them, in which the agamas bite off each other's tails. And although the site of injury soon heals, the tail itself, alas, never grows again. Therefore, experienced terrarium keepers try to keep bearded dragons separately, which is obtained only in well-equipped nurseries.

Nutrition

The diet of the bearded dragon is mixed. From animal food, these are various small vertebrates and invertebrates, and from plant food - leaves, shoots, fruits and flowers various plants. In captivity, bearded dragons are happy to eat crickets, cockroaches, mealworms, and other insects. Snails, bird eggs, small rodents can also become a source of animal protein for lizards. And among the succulent foods of the bearded agama, various grated vegetables and fruits are useful - carrots, apples, cabbage, pears, bananas, tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, lettuce and dandelion leaves. Breeders recommend putting this food in special low but wide bowls, and when the lizard is full, take them out of the terrarium. And yet, the main share in the diet of the bearded agama is occupied by animal food. For young lizards, similar feeding is recommended, only in smaller portions. The number of meals for a bearded dragon should be at least once every two days, and it is better to diversify the foods given to her. In the drinker must be constantly pure water. And to maintain the health of the bearded agama, it is recommended to periodically give special mineral supplements, for example, crushed egg shells, calcined powders, etc. By the way, mineral water can be added to ordinary water in a drinking bowl. As for vitamins for the bearded agama, it is better to offer them to the lizard no more than once a month. You can also feed her with special reptile food, but only in accordance with the instructions that come with them.

reproduction

Bearded dragons, like other lizards, are egg-laying creatures. They become able to reproduce offspring two years after birth. In nature, bearded dragons make large clutches - 9-24 eggs. They lay them in a hole dug by the female and then bury her entrance. And after about 3 and a half months, small agamas appear. At home, the reproduction of bearded agamas is subject to certain rules. The mating season for lizards begins after the end of wintering. They are prepared for this by feeding them with special preparations with vitamin E. And when the males "dress up" in a bright wedding attire, they are planted with the females. Male bearded dragons also have their own ceremonies for attracting "girls". They show them the bright color of their neck, rise on their paws and, as it were, nod their heads. And the females respond to them with similar nodding and tail movements. Then comes the time of marital persecution. The male bearded dragon catches the female and, grabbing her with his teeth, proceeds to mate. A month and a half later, the females lay eggs. To do this, girls of bearded dragons are planted in a special terrarium, where they can dig a hole for a nest. The bottom of such a terrarium is abundantly covered with sand, so that the female's hole can be up to 40 cm deep. But the masonry does not remain in the nest. Then she is transferred to an incubator, where she is kept at a temperature of about +28 degrees, sufficient for the offspring to hatch in a maximum of three months. If the temperature is slightly higher, then small bearded dragons appear earlier. During the season, the bearded agama lays eggs up to 2 times.

Content

Keeping a bearded dragon in captivity is a fairly simple task, but some features should still be remembered. If we divide them into several types, then we get rules related to different aspects of the life of a lizard.
You should start with the equipment of the terrarium. It is desirable that it be horizontal, with a volume of 400-500 liters. Young dragons can be placed in a smaller space, but over time it will become cramped for grown lizards. And in a glass terrarium, there must be good ventilation and not very high humidity, no more than 30%.
For "bedding" some experts do not advise taking sand or small stones, as a bearded agama can easily swallow them with food. But large stones will not work either, since the lizard needs to burrow into the ground. Therefore, it is best to choose some kind of non-clumping litter, for example, specially designed for lizards in pet stores. Rodent filler may also be suitable.
The bearded dragon is a heat-loving creature, so you should create ultraviolet lighting for it, for example, using special reptile lamps.
And, of course, it is very important to provide the bearded dragon with the right temperature. It would be nice to install some kind of heat source in the terrarium, next to which the lizard can warm up, and find coolness in other corners. At night in the terrarium should be kept at least +20 degrees. As additional heat sources, for example, heating mats, cables, warm stones can be used. Stones are the most preferred option as they are the same natural material, which bearded agamas use in the wild.
Water is very important point for the lizard. Bearded dragons, accustomed to droughts, drink little. But in order to avoid dehydration, the lizard is recommended to bathe a couple of times a week. And while bathing she can drink.
And, finally, like any initially wild creature, the bearded dragon needs freedom at least sometimes. The lizard can be allowed to walk around the room, but only on condition that there are no others in it, possibly representing a threat to the reptile or capable of frightening it. A heat-loving agama should not be lowered to the floor so that it does not catch a cold. It is better to let her move around the furniture. But it is not recommended to plant it on a fleecy carpet either, since the pile can get tangled around the lizard's fingers and cause tissue necrosis.

The lizard justifies its name by the presence of a bag on the neck, which has the ability to increase in size and swell in case of danger or during the mating season. The organ also changes color and becomes darker.

Appearance of a bearded dragon

An adult agama reaches 60 cm in length. The shape of the body resembles an ellipse, and it is also slightly flattened. The tail is almost twice the length of the body.

The bearded agama has a very unusual and peculiar scales, giving a frightening predatory look. There are also prickly spikes that line up in rows on the sides of the body, this visually increases the size of the body. The head is triangular in shape, the lateral corners of which are crowned with auditory canals. When the agama feels that danger is approaching, she inflates her bag around her neck, opens her mouth, and also makes her body less flattened - in this way she tries to intimidate the enemy with her appearance.

The color is largely dependent on temperature. environment And general condition animal. Adults practically do not show a pattern, young agamas have spots and stripes on their sides or back. There are differences between male and female. The tail of the male is thickened at the base. The so-called "beard" in females in the mating season beige colour, while males have black or deep blue.

Habitat of the bearded dragon

Dwells in in large numbers in Australia. Inhabits semi-deserts, rocky areas or sparsely planted forests. The population is high in eastern South Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland. However, the boundaries of the habitat never go beyond the territory of the coast.

Lizard lifestyle

The biotope is represented by semi-desert or desert, shrub thickets (arid scrubs).

The lifestyle is mostly terrestrial, but can also be semi-arboreal. Activity is shown in daytime days. For shelter, they use the holes of other animals, they can dig a hole on their own, hide in a crevice of tree roots. Agamas tend to live in their usual territories and do not wander from one habitat to another.

Nutritional features of the bearded agama

The bearded dragon is mostly a predatory animal. The diet consists of insects. However, the diet of a young individual consists of 20% of plant food, and the remaining 80% include animal food. When the agama becomes an adult, the proportions are reversed.

Due to the severe aridity of the places inhabited by agamas, they also receive moisture from food. During the rainy season, she drinks the water that flows from her body.

Reproduction and breeding of agamas

An adult bearded dragon is considered when it reaches the age of two. Males ready for sexual reproduction show off their brightly colored neck pouch, stretch out on their front legs and nod their heads. If the female is ready for copulation, she makes her characteristic movements with her tail and head. The process of fertilization of the female lasts about 5 minutes.

After about 70 days, she is ready to lay her eggs. To do this, she digs a hole about 40 cm deep, in which she then lays 9 to 25 eggs. After 90 days of us, little agama babies appear, first they digest the yolk reserve, and then proceed to their normal diet. In one season, the female can lay two identical clutches.