If you’ve ever seen a blue bearded dragon with a vibrant blue hue, you might have wondered, “Can a bearded dragon be blue?” The answer is yes! Blue bearded dragons are rare but captivating reptiles that make for unique and fascinating pets. However, keeping them healthy and happy requires specific care. In this article, we’ll explore five essential care tips to ensure your blue bearded dragon thrives. We’ll also answer some common questions like “How much does a blue bearded dragon cost?”, “What is the rarest bearded dragon color?”, and “What is the most expensive bearded dragon?” to help you understand these magnificent creatures better.
1. Set Up the Right Habitat
Creating a comfortable and appropriate habitat is the first step towards having your blue bearded dragon in good health. A well-designed cage must simulate the natural environment of bearded dragons that is usually warm, dry and full of places for hiding.
Size:
It is advisable to have at least a 40-gallon tank for adult bearded dragons. Make sure you leave enough space for your pet to move about, bask, hide.
Temperature:
In order to allow body temperature regulation, there should be a temperature gradient within the tank, with basking spot around 95-110 °F and cooler spot between 75-85 °F.
Lighting:
UVB lighting is essential for calcium absorption as well as general health maintenance. UVB light should be provided to your blue bearded dragon for between 10 and 12 hours per day.
Substrate:
Avoid impaction by using safe substrates such as reptile carpet, newspaper or tiles rather than loose ones like sand which cause it.
2. Give them a Balanced Diet
Your blue bearded dragon needs a proper diet plan. They are omnivorous creatures, which means they eat both plants and animals in their diets, including some fruits on occasions.
Insects:
Feed your pet dragon with various insects that have been fed on a diet of aphids, darkling beetle larvae and brown banded cockroaches such as crickets, mealworms, and dubia roaches. It is recommended that these should be approximately 60-70% of their diet when they are young.
Vegetables:
Give them different types of greens such as turnip greens, spinach and escarole. This should form between 20-30% of their diet.
Fruits:
Use fruits for treats only; they should make up around 10% of your beardie’s dietary needs. Some good choices are strawberries, cherries and bananas.
Supplements:
Dust food with calcium and Vitamin D3 supplements to ensure optimal bone health, since blue bearded dragons suffer from metabolic bone disease easily.
3. Ensure Proper Hydration
Bearded dragons, although desert dwellers, still need to be hydrated properly. Severe health issues can result from dehydration, so it is important to keep your beardie well hydrated at all times.
Water Dish:
Place a shallow water dish inside the terrarium. The water must always be fresh and clean, which means you might have to change it every day just so it doesn’t get contaminated.
Misting:
Lightly mist either the food or the environment daily for your dragon’s sake. This attribute slightly boosts humidity levels, thereby aiding hydration needs.
Bathing:
Allow your dragon to take a bath in some shallow water twice or thrice in a week; this will help boost its hydration levels while also promoting shedding.
4. Regularly Monitor Health
It is important to conduct regular health checks in order to catch any possible issues beforehand. For symptoms of illness, blue bearded dragons and other reptiles can display no signs, so stay vigilant.
Behavior:
Watch for changes in your dragon’s behavior. Stress, listlessness, or weird eating habits can be a sign that all is not well with the pet.
Shedding:
Bearded dragons molt their skin on a regular basis. Make sure that shedding occurs normally, especially at toes as well as tail tips because they may lead to constrictions.
Veterinary Care:
Bring your dragon to see a reptile veterinarian regularly. They can perform health checks, fecal exams and offer dietary advice and care suggestions.
5. Handle with Caution
While blue bearded dragons can be loving towards humans and often enjoy interaction with us, it is important to handle them properly so as not to stress them out or injure them.
Start Slow:
It is good to let them get use to their new environment before trying to handle them if you are just bringing your dragon home.
Support:
Always carry your dragon using both hands, holding its limbs and tail together for support purposes so that it does not bend or fall apart.
Frequency:
But don’t go overboard; handle the creature often enough but not too much, otherwise it might suffer from stress due to excessive handling procedures.
FAQs about Blue Bearded Dragons
Can a bearded dragon be blue?
Yes, bearded dragons can turn blue, although this coloration is rarely observed and usually temporary. The reason behind this blueness may be genetic and sometimes change during growth periods or due to stress.
How much does a blue bearded dragon cost?
The cost of a blue bearded dragon can vary significantly based on its genetics, color vibrancy, and where you purchase it. Prices typically range from $200 to $400, but rarer specimens can cost more.
What is the rarest bearded dragon color?
The rarest bearded dragon colors include the zero morph, which is completely patternless and white, and the paradox morph, which features unique, unpredictable splashes of color. Blue bearded dragons are also considered rare due to their unusual coloration.
What is the most expensive bearded dragon?
The most expensive bearded dragons are often those with rare morphs, such as the zero, witblit, or paradox morphs. These can range from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on the breeder and the dragon’s specific traits.
Conclusion
Caring for a blue bearded dragon can be a rewarding experience, especially when you see your pet thrive in a well-maintained environment. By following these five care tips—providing the right habitat, feeding a balanced diet, ensuring proper hydration, monitoring health, and handling with care—you’ll help your dragon lead a happy and healthy life. This journey will show you how beautiful and unique these reptiles can be.
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