Caring for Pet G Stripe Bearded Dragons: Habitat, Diet, Health

An Introduction to G Stripe Bearded Dragons

The g stripe bearded dragon is a popular pet reptile known for its docile nature, manageable size, and unique markings. G stripe beardies, as they are often called, are a genetic morph of the inland bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps). They get their name from the striking yellow or white stripes along the sides of their bodies.

Bearded dragons originate from Australia and its surrounding islands. They inhabit dry woodlands, deserts, and scrublands, basking on rocks and hunting for insects across open spaces. G stripe beardies retain the hardy constitution of their wild counterparts, making them relatively easy reptiles for first-time pet owners to care for with proper research.

Appearance and Size of G Stripe Bearded Dragons

Visually, g stripe beardies look much like traditional inland bearded dragons. They have a triangular head with accompanying beard and stocky, flattened body. Rows of spikes line their backs and sides. G stripe morphs are yellow, white, or gold in color with darker bands separating the stripes.

These reptiles reach 16-24 inches long as adults, weighing around 20 ounces on average. Males tend to remain on the smaller end of the spectrum compared to females. Regardless of gender, though, g stripe beardies are considered medium-sized lizards capable of living 10+ years with proper care.

Temperament of G Stripe Bearded Dragons

Due in large part to their handling when young, g stripe bearded dragons tend to be calm, personable pets. They rarely bite or scratch, instead sitting placidly on their owner’s lap or shoulder much of the time. Despite their relatively small brains, bearded dragons are considered intelligent for reptiles and can even be clicker trained.

However, frequent handling when young is key to ensuring a docile temperament. Like all reptiles, g stripe beardies are still instinctual animals that can become stressed if their needs are not met. Signs of stress include darkened colors, puffing out the beard, gaping mouth, and whipping the tail. Careful setup of their habitat and routine is essential.

Habitat Setup and General Care for G Stripe Bearded Dragons

Caring for g stripe bearded dragons requires carefully replicating portions of their native Australian habitat. While they originated in the wild Outback, domestic g stripe beardies have somewhat different needs as pets raised indoors. Their enclosures should still allow them to display natural behaviors like basking, feeding, and hiding.

Enclosure Size and Placement for G Stripe Bearded Dragons

Most owners choose vivaria or full-sized reptile tanks 60-75 gallons in size for an adult g stripe bearded dragon. These enclosures are large enough to create separate basking, hiding, eating, and potty spaces needed by beardies. The tanks should be placed out of direct sunlight and away from drafts or vents.

Setting Proper Temperature Ranges for G Stripe Bearded Dragons

As cold-blooded reptiles, g stripe bearded dragons rely on external heat to regulate body temperature. Their enclosure should maintain a cooler side around 75°F and a warmer basking side between 95-110°F. Nighttime ambient temperature can drop to 65-75°F to mimic natural desert patterns.

Use under tank heating pads, ceramic heat emitters, and incandescent bulbs to achieve needed temperatures. Place thermometers at each end to monitor the gradient. Turn off all heating at night or use lower-wattage red bulbs to avoid disruption of circadian rhythms.

Choosing Proper Substrates for G Stripe Bearded Dragon Tanks

Loose substrates like sand, wood shavings, or small pebbles pose major impaction risks and should never be used for g stripe bearded dragons despite looking like natural desert. Instead, pet owners should choose solid substrates like reptile carpeting, paper towels, or textured tile.

At a minimum, keep substrates out of the feeding area to prevent accidental swallowing. Remove and replace paper or carpet substrates regularly to prevent bacterial or fungal growth. Textured tile provides the most naturalistic and easily cleaned option long-term.

Adding Proper Lighting to G Stripe Bearded Dragon Enclosures

In addition to heat lamps, pet g stripe bearded dragons need long-tube UVB lighting for 12-14 hours a day to synthesize vitamin D3. Without proper UVB exposure, they will develop life-threatening bone disease and organ failure over time. Place UVB bulbs overlapping the warmest basking area for maximum exposure.

At night, all visible lights in a bearded dragon enclosure should go out or use red bulbs. As diurnal lizards, darkness helps cue proper sleep-wake cycles. Use a timer to ensure consistency with the day-night cycle. Natural sunlight through a window does not replace lighting needs.

Feeding pet G Stripe Bearded Dragons

Like all reptiles, g stripe bearded dragons are exclusively carnivorous. While juveniles under 12 inches need live insects daily, most adult beardies eat 80% vegetables/greens and 20% live prey. Their diet should include calcium-rich produce along with appropriately-sized bugs.

Best Produce Options for G Stripe Bearded Dragons

High calcium, low oxalate leafy greens offer the healthiest salads for g stripe beardies. Good choices include collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, dandelion greens, bok choy, and squash. Moderate options like kale and broccoli should be more limited. Fruits are sugary treats.

Chop produce into bite-sized pieces to prevent choking. Dish sizes should allow easy finding and catching of food items. Remove uneaten salad within a few hours before it wilts to prevent bacterial or fungal issues. Offer fresh vegetables daily.

Top Insect Feeders for G Stripe Bearded Dragons

Crickets, mealworms, hornworms, silkworms, butterworms, and occasional waxworms provide fitting insect feeders for g stripe beardies in captivity due to nutrition, movement, and size. All insects should be gut loaded with high calcium and vitamin diets beforehand to boost benefits.

Insects should be as long or slightly longer than the space between a bearded dragon's eyes. Only offer bite-sized feeders to prevent impaction or choking risks. Remove uneaten insects within an hour to avoid bites on a sleeping dragon at night.

Supplementing with Calcium and Vitamins

Even with a balanced diet, indoor lighting cannot fully replicate the vitamin D3 activation g stripe beardies receive from long hours basking in natural sunlight. As a result, most pets need supplemental powdered calcium with D3 and a multivitamin added to feedings 2-3 times weekly.

Lightly dust insects and salad with supplements immediately before serving to encourage intake. Check product labels for proper dosage recommendations based on your dragon's age and weight. Over supplementation can cause toxicity over time.

Common Health Issues for Pet G Stripe Bearded Dragons

When cared for properly, including housing, heating, lighting, substrate, and diet, g stripe bearded dragons typically remain fairly healthy pets into old age. However, they can still develop certain common captive reptile conditions over time or due to genetics.

Metabolic Bone Disease in G Stripe Bearded Dragons

Metabolic bone disease (MBD) results from long-term calcium, vitamin D3, and/or phosphorus deficiency. Early signs in g stripe beardies include weakened bones and muscles, uneven jaw growth, lethargy, and difficulty walking or eating. Advanced MBD causes fatal organ and nervous system disorders.

Ensuring proper UVB exposure from lighting, supplement dosage, and diet containing calcium-rich greens prevents development of metabolic bone disease in g stripe bearded dragons before it starts.

Gastrointestinal Issues in G Stripe Bearded Dragons

Common gastrointestinal issues for pet g stripe beardies include intestinal parasites, impaction from substrate, improper temperatures preventing digestion, infection, overgrowth of bad gut bacteria, or rarely actual ulcers. Symptoms involve loss of appetite and weight, unusual droppings, bloating of the belly, and lethargy.

Annual fecal parasite testing, avoiding loose substrates, ensuring correct heat gradients for enclosure, and providing proper diet helps minimize GI issues in captive g stripe bearded dragons. But rapid vet care is still vital at the first signs of illness.

Inclusion Body Disease (IBD) in Bearded Dragons

Inclusion body disease (IBD), also called Walborg protothecosis, involves infection by an unusual fungus or algae, suspected to come from feeder crickets. IBD often causes fatal neurologic symptoms in g stripe beardies like circling motions, seizing, limb quivering, and partial paralysis.

Currently there is no known cure for inclusion body disease in g stripe bearded dragons, highlighting the importance of early detection. IBD testing prior to purchase reduces risks further. Careful breeder selection remains key, as genetics underlie part of this complex disease.

With attentive care, though, g stripe bearded dragons can provide enjoyable pet reptile companionship for over a decade. Their unique markings and generally docile temperaments make them interesting additions to any herp collection.

FAQs

How big do g stripe bearded dragons get?

G stripe bearded dragons reach 16-24 inches long as adults and weigh around 20 ounces on average. Males tend to max out on the smaller end compared to females.

What vegetables can g stripe bearded dragons eat?

Good vegetable options for g stripe bearded dragons include collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, dandelion greens, bok choy, and squash since they are high in calcium and low in oxalates.

How often should I feed insects to my g stripe bearded dragon?

Juvenile g stripe bearded dragons need small insects like gut-loaded crickets or worms daily. Adult beardies only need insects around 20% of the time, 2-3 times per week. Offer vegetables daily.

What temperature should a g stripe bearded dragon's enclosure be?

Maintain a cooler side of the enclosure at 75°F and a warmer basking area between 95-110°F. At night, temperatures can drop to 65-75°F. Use under tank heaters, ceramic bulbs, and lamps to control gradients.

Why is proper lighting important for g stripe bearded dragons?

In addition to heat lamps, g stripe bearded dragons require long tube UVB lighting 12-14 hours a day for healthy bone development and organ function. Without UVB exposure, they develop metabolic bone disease.