My office pet and buddy is a female bearded dragon, which my daughter named Ki-Lan. Ki-Lan is almost 5 years old and measures 13” inches from her head to the tip of her tail.
I adopted Ki-Lan from a family that could no longer attend to her because they were moving. She was given to me in an aquarium that measured approximately 20L x 10W x 12H. This home was no place for a growing and active dragon like Ki-Lan. Today she lives in an aquarium that measures 48L x 12W x 16H. Her home is redecorated every few months and she frequently gets to walk around with me on my shoulder.
Bearded Dragons are one of the best lizards to keep as pets. They are easy to care for, and are very friendly. Ki-Lan loves to be taken out of her aquarium to roam freely on my desk. However, if you put her on the ground, she may make a run for it, so you must be quick on your feet to catch her. She primarily eats vegetables and pellets which are specifically formulated for bearded dragons. Occasionally as a treat, I give her live crickets lightly coated in calcium. She drinks a lot of water and can be found frequently bathing in her large dish.
Ki-Lan sheds her skin in patches every few months. During this time frame she usually eats less if at all. In passing you may catch her rubbing her body on her heating rock or a branch in her home. This behavior is quite normal.
Often times, I am asked, “Why did I choose a reptile as a pet?” I don’t think people realize that lizards are as playful and loving as a cat or a dog. All animals need love and I believe my bearded dragon Ki-Lan is the coolest pet in the office.
Mirella, Marketing Coordinator for Training, Birds & Small Animals and Aquatics
