How to Keep Your Bearded Dragon Comfortable During Travel: Tips for maintaining your pet’s well-being during a trip
One of the reasons bearded dragons are so popular, maybe even the most popular reptilians, is that they are so adorable. So it’s no surprise that many people choose to have a bearded dragon as a pet. Another fun fact about bearded dragons is that they have been on this planet since the time of dinosaurs.
So, if you are planning on acquiring a bearded dragon or you already have one, this article is right for you. We are going to cover how to prepare your bearded dragon for a trip. So both you and your bearded dragon can enjoy it and be stress-free.
Top 10 Picks for Transporting Bearded Dragon
Going on a trip with your bearded dragon can be a little overwhelming. After all, you need to take care of it. The main problem here is that you are bringing your little reptile pet out of his bearded dragon enclosure that has proper lighting and temperature control.
Remember that if you are traveling in the car, it’s for the best that you are a passenger and not a driver so you can take care of your pet. Every transportation is stressful for a bearded dragon so we are going to give you ten tips that will help you with it.
1. Use a Carrier
You should always use a carrier no questions asked. You will need to prepare a carrier for them to be in it. Some people even bring their original tanks and put them there for the duration of a trip, this is an unlikely scenario because some people have large tanks.
Others choose not to put their bearded dragon in any type of carrier. Even if it’s a short ride, it’s recommended that you put them in the carrier because they can experience a lot of stress from the movement.
2. Proper Ventilation
One of the more important tips on this list is this. Ventilation needs to be on point. If you bought a carrier it most likely has proper ventilation. But, if you do not want to spend money as traveling is not something you are planning to do often with your pet, you can just use a shoe box.
When it comes to the shoe box you will need to make air holes. Also, be sure to put some towels in the box so your pet won’t get hurt by all the movement in the car.
3. Small Carrier
When it comes to the sizing of the carrier, you don’t want something too big. For the simple reason that your bearded dragon can move a lot while you are driving. So you should get a smaller carrier that doesn’t allow for that much movement.
We can’t stress this enough, be careful when you are driving with a bearded dragon in the car. If you are driving recklessly it can be very bad for your pet. They are already stressed because they are not at their main habitat, no need to add to that.
4. Multiple Heat Sources
You should prepare multiple heat sources as beard dragons are reptilians and they are ectothermic. Meaning that they heavily rely on external heat for their body heat. This makes them extremely dependent on the temperature that’s in the car. This means that you need to pay attention to heat so you can create a safe environment for your pet.
You should always aim for 70-90 degrees Fahrenheit so your pet won’t have any stress during the ride.
5. Substrate
You will news a substrate in your carrier. This is important in case your pet needs to go to the bathroom. It’s easier for both you and your bearded dragon as you can clean it easily when it happens. If you don’t put any substrate in the carrier you are at risk of a potential mess when you want to let your bearded dragon out.
6. Feeding
You should always avoid feeding your bearded dragon for one full day before going on a trip. They are digesting food very slowly when they are under any stress, and the trip is going to bring them at least a little bit of stress.
You shouldn’t worry your pet is known for his ability to go a few days without water and food. But a bath after a road trip is always good and relieves stress.
7. Packing Food
They can start eating as soon as you arrive at your location. So you should have some food ready for that. You can serve them freeze-dried crickets, mealworms, and greens. The amount of food depends only on how long you are planning to stay away from home.
This also is one of the more important tips, you should always bring a little cooler with their food and serve them as soon as you finish the trip.
8. Monitor Stress Level
Your bearded dragon is certainly going to go under some stress. It varies greatly, if it’s a short trip it’s not going to be so stressful. But for any longer duration trips have a great potential to cause stress in your pet. You need to remember that bearded dragons are not fans of changes in their environment.
9. Avoid Direct Sunlight
You should always be with your pet, by that we mean don’t leave them unattended. As you already know, bearded dragons are ectothermic. So if they stay directly in sunlight they can’t control the temperature and it may reach a very high temperature.
You should always put your bearded dragon in a shady spot. Even if the temperature is okay it may change when you are not there. You can take them for a little walk just for a few minutes, but never in direct sunlight for more than that.
10. Heating and Long Trips
You should implement UV and heal bulbs for any long trip. This will make sure that you are maintaining a bearded dragon’s lifespan. As light and heat are essential for the living of your bearded dragon. You can most likely find the bulb with both UV and heating making your trip planning a lot easier.
Just don’t forget this as it’s essential for the well-being of your bearded dragon. Here is the list of the things you can do to make your bearded dragon more relaxed when traveling:
- Play some relaxing music.
- Buckle the carrier so it doesn’t move as much when driving.
- Before you leave, give them some treats and rub their back.
- If you notice that they experiencing some stress, you can try and pick them up. But if you notice that will make it worse, just leave them be.
- Always have your eye on them when in the car, it has a relaxing effect on them.
Closing Thoughts
If you closely follow our top ten picks on how to travel with your bearded dragon we are sure that you and your pet will have a pleasant trip. But, remember that bearded dragons do not love to change locations frequently. They are most comfortable in their bearded dragon enclosure.