Reptile keeping raises a range of uniquely challenging situations.
Here are an assortment of tips that will help you tackle these circumstances.
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1) Cable Labels & Clips
Tangled wires are par for the course when your animal needs heating and lighting.
Practical organizing tips say to color coordinate cables and clip them so they don’t get tangled.
Additionally, cable clips are great for preventing wires from getting tangled and keeping them tucked out of sight.
2) Reflections
This may seem obvious but blocking your bearded dragon from seeing their own reflection in the glass of their enclosure will spare you a few dramatic glass-surfing tantrums and prevent accidental injury. Adhere your backdrop to the inside of their enclosure to make those stolen glances a non-issue.
Wrapping/wall paper is a great background option too! Kraft wrapping paper is a budget background that provides a clean desert look.
3) Life Raft
Put rocks and branches in the tub to make your bearded dragon feel safe in the bath.
Inflating their bodies or “pancaking” allows our bearded dragons to float so the stable geniuses don’t drown in a quarter inch of water. We know they won’t sink or be swept downstream but not every bearded dragon knows that. If your bearded dragon is not a natural born swimmer, an easy way to make them feel safe is by providing opportunities for escape.
Rocks Will Naturally File their Nails!
Have I beat this tip to death yet? Sorry, but I love sharing practical knowledge! Climbing over coarse slate rocks is a fantastic way to blunt your bearded dragon’s nails.
The rules of nail care are simple and finite.
4) Avoid Touching Bugs
I don’t trust bugs because I’m guilty of mass genocide against their kin, it’s only natural that they’d seek retribution. Looking for ways to bypass physical contact with crickets and roaches, I learned that they’ll crawl into dark spaces, because that’s where evil spawn feel safest.
Put some paper towel tubes in their tub, they’ll crawl inside to hide.
The crunchy idiots!
Use a rubber band to secure a strip of cloth over one end of the tube.
Leave the tube in with your feeders for a little while. When you’re ready, just pick the tube up and dump the bugs into whatever medium you use to take the bugs to your bearded dragon (Tupperware, plastic bag etc.) You can even use the tube to scoop them up.
5) Create an Outdoor Oasis With an Aquarium
Whether we’re grilling outside or sun-tanning by the pool, we could all be more safe with our reptiles outdoors. These safety tips will let your bearded dragon join the party!
If you don’t already have an outdoor enclosure, then put them in a spare and let them join the fun!
They’re totally safe from predators while getting natural sunlight.
DO NOT leave your bearded dragon outdoors in an aquarium unattended. Be sure to provide them with enough shade to keep cool and always use a thermometer/hygrometer to measure the temperature and humidity inside the aquarium.
I like to add some decorations and water for them to climb on and feel comfortable.
6) Industrial Strength Velcro
I usually forego the adhesive that comes with my command hooks and use this stuff instead. Be strategic where you attach the Velcro strips because it doesn’t come off easy and will leave marks.
7) Make Your Heat Source Portable
A dome lamp socket with a clamp can turn your ceramic heat emitter into a portable heat source for those cold days that your bearded dragon wants to be out of their enclosure.
I’ve definitely beat this one to death, so I’m just going to remind you that you can clamp onto just about anything, wherever your beardie decides to chill for the day can be heated, and leave it at that.
8) DIY Hides & Rocks
I love money saving tips and this one lets you design your reptiles entire home the way you want.
Here are the basking rocks I made:
My boys do like these, but I’ve conceived of less bulky and designs since I made them.
Head on over to my Pinterest to find the right tutorial for you.
9) Felt Pads for Easy Moving
Saving my table tops from scratches was a pivotal moment in my reptile awakening. Using felt pads under your enclosure not only protects your furniture if you need to shift the enclosure around, but it makes the shifting part a lot easier!
Now, if you have the opposite problem and don’t want your enclosure to move you can use non-skid shelf liners.
10) Dollar Store Versatility
Dollar stores are great places to go and find affordable treasures that can be useful for reptile owners. Organizing baskets like these are easy to clean worms can’t escape them!
11) Cleaning Tips: Diluted Vinegar Cleaner
Vinegar is a simple and natural acid that can be used to clean your bearded dragons messes! Additionally, it neutralizes odors.
I own a variety of reptile safe cleaning products that I use for different situations but I use a diluted vinegar solution most often because it is the cheapest option! Dilute your vinegar 50/50, put it in a spray bottle and voila, homemade cleaner.
Do not spray vinegar in your enclosure with an animal inside.
12) Put Bugs in a Glass Bowl
Usually, I feed the boys in a small aquarium and let insects loose for them to “hunt.” However, I will give them a glass bowl full of dubias or worms from time to time.
The poor little things can’t crawl up glass, so they’re stuck and easy pickings.
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