Alvin’s First Transformation: A Bearded Dragon’s Big Lesson!

Hi friends,

It’s me...Alvin!

Last time, I told you all about my mission to learn how to care for different animals by transforming into them. Well… I finally gave my magic a try, and wow, what an experience! With a wiggle of my gills and a little courage… POOF! I transformed into a bearded dragon.

At first, I thought I was totally prepared. I already had a tank, after all! But within minutes, I realized something didn’t feel right. My home, which was perfect for me as an axolotl, suddenly felt all wrong.

Instead of cool, refreshing water, I found myself needing warmth, a lot of warmth. I didn’t feel like swimming anymore (which was very strange for me), and I kept searching for a cozy, sunny spot that just… wasn’t there.

That’s when I knew I needed help.

Thankfully, the amazing team at Animal Medical Center stepped in to take a closer look at my setup. They taught me that bearded dragons have very different needs than axolotls, and my habitat needed a big makeover!

Here are some of the important things I learned:

_👐Bigger is Better: My enclosure should be big enough that I have space to move, explore, and climb. For adult bearded dragons, it is recommended that the enclosure is at least 4ft x 2ft x 2ft! 

🌡️ Temperature Matters: As a bearded dragon, I need a warm environment. During the day my tank was around 80-85ºF and at night the temperature dropped to 75ºF.  That warm spot I was craving is called a basking site, and the temperature there was a toasty 88-95ºF. The primary heat source should be an over head basking light or ceramic heat emitter. Never use electrical heating rocks due to the extremely likely chance the bearded dragon will develop thermal burns.

💡 Lighting is Essential: Proper lighting isn’t just about seeing, it helps my body stay healthy and strong. Bearded dragons require a special light called “UVB”. This special bulb mimics the sun and helps me absorb calcium! These bulbs do become less effective over time and should be changed every 6 months. 

🏜️ A Dry Habitat: No more water-filled tank for me! I need a dry enclosure with humidity ranging from 40-60%. 

🥬 A Different Diet: Let’s just say… my menu changed quite a bit! As an adult bearded dragon my diet mainly consists of salads made up of  romaine lettuce, Swiss chard, mustard greens, and turnip greens with a small amount of other produce such as carrots, peas, strawberries, blueberries, melon, and squash. I get salads daily, and bugs such as crickets, mealworms and dubia roaches every 2-3 days! 

Thanks to the great team at Animal Medical Center, my habitat was transformed into a space that actually fit my new needs, and what a difference it made! I finally felt comfortable, active, and like my true bearded dragon self.

This experience taught me something really important: Every animal has unique needs, and even small differences in care can have a big impact on health and happiness.

If you have a bearded dragon (or are thinking about getting one), making sure their habitat is set up correctly is one of the most important things you can do.

Want to learn more about proper bearded dragon care? Our team is always here to help!

And don’t forget, this is just the beginning of my journey. Who knows what I’ll turn into next?

Stay curious,

Alvin 🦎