Going against the common misconception that lizards as pets are distant and aloof, bearded dragons are friendly and love being handled-in fact, in most respects, bearded dragons aren't your typical lizard. Hardy, sociable, and relatively low-maintenance, they're a fabulous pet for a first-time lizard owner, and can give you up to a decade of loving companionship. Whether you're living alone in an apartment or have a household full of children and other pets, a bearded dragon will quickly become a part of your family once you bring it home. But how can you tell if a bearded dragon is the right animal for you? And once you get one-how do you care for it? This book will answer those questions and more, giving you an in-depth look at bearded dragon care and ownership, from where to find your new pet (and how to pick a healthy individual) to setting up the terrarium and formulating the perfect diet-and even giving you an introduction to breeding practices. Once you have it in the right home with a good basking light, regular care of a bearded dragon is surprisingly fun and easy. Provided they get regular care and attention, bearded dragons aren't prone to illness or injury-but just in case, this book also introduces you to some of the more common ailments affecting this species and the proper ways to diagnose and treat them. You'll also learn how to prevent these illnesses from occurring with a clean and properly heated enclosure and a proper balance of vegetable and protein food and regular administration of calcium supplements. With their dramatic spiked heads and variety of colorations, bearded dragons have taken the pet world by storm since becoming a world-wide option in the early 1990s-and with the information provided in this book, you too can become a proud dragon owner.