Originally Posted by MissG

I have a 2 year old Beardie, which I take to schools, birthday parties etc with my business - along with all the other exotic animals I have.

I would highly recommend Beardies if you are thinking of buying a Lizard. They are full of character, generally very calm and docile, easily handled and relatively easy to look after.

An adult will need a minimum of 4ft x 2ft x 2ft vivarium, which will need to be split in half for when it's a baby, as they will feel lost and insecure in a large viv, plus they will find it more difficult to catch their food.

You will need a high output UVA/UVB tube - preferably Exo Terra 8.0 and also a reflector light bulb - which will need to be on a dimming thermostat.
Basking temp should be around 105 - 115f, hot end around 90f and cool end around 70f. Night time drop - not below 60f

The mistake that lots of people make is putting these lizards on a substrate of sand. In the wild these animals live on compacted clay and stone. The bottom of my viv is lined with floor tiles.
Some people do use play sand with adults but any particle substrate should not be used at all with babies. The reason is because of impaction, which is where sand or the like can build up in their stomachs/intestine and it can be fatal.

I feed my beardie on locusts - I favour these as they have a higher gut loading that crickets. He also enjoys spring greens (high in calcium) cucumber, grated carrot and very occasionally banana.

It is incredibly important to dust locusts with calcium powder and also vitamins (Nutribal)
Soooo many beardies suffer from calcium deficiencys (mbd) which basically makes their bones crumble inside them. A lack of UV can also contribute to this.

I don't provide my beardie with water bowls. It's not necessary as these lizard have adapted to not need much water as they live in that kind of habitat. I offer him a shallow dish of water about once a week, usually he refuses it. I don't leave it in as it will always get spillt!

That's about the basics. If you are really serious then there is tons of stuff on the internet and in books, or I can give you any advice you need.

I can probably put you in touch with a breeder too - please don't buy from a pet shop.