Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Year: 1999, 2001
ISBN: 1-58245-012-9 Description: Hardcover: 128 pages. The text is enhanced with many color photographs.
Author: Steve Grenard
Review
"The Bearded Dragon" (part of the "Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet" series) is authored by Steve Grenard, an experienced herpetologist and author of several other herp care books. Like others in this series, it is enhanced by many good color photographs. These books tend to have a lot of information (about species, natural history, anatomy, etc.) not directly related to care and husbandry of the animals covered. However, this book is somewhat unique in that it gives a real sense that the background information on bearded dragons is provided primarily to emphasize the importance of proper captive care and husbandry, rather than as interesting trivia.
Organization
"The Bearded Dragon" is divided into 4 sections: "Welcome to the Wonderful Lizard of Oz (species information and natural history), "Your Pet Bearded Dragon" (mainly about choosing a bearded dragon), "Caring for your Bearded Dragon" (housing, feeding, medical concerns, breeding), and "Beyond the Basics" (more resources).
Information
"The Bearded Dragon" nicely combines general information about bearded dragons with detailed specifics when it comes to their care. The general information about bearded dragons would give somebody considering a bearded dragon for a pet a good sense of what bearded dragons are like as pets and also what kind of commitment is required to care for them. In addition, the book goes a step farther than many other care books in providing quite detailed instructions. New owners will find this book particularly helpful due to the inclusion of useful details. For example, the section on heating concisely compares different methods and when you might choose them, how to use them, and also provides a few helpful safety tips. Similarly, the feeding section discusses exactly what to feed, how often to feed (differentiating juveniles from adults), and how often to add supplements. The author did a good job of thinking what it might be like to be a complete beginner to keeping bearded dragosn in providing basic but very necessary information.
The information is presented in a logical progression and with helpful tips along the way. The advice on picking out a bearded dragon was straightforward and helpful. The medical chapter does a good job of providing very basic information about major medical concerns. I never like to see home treatment advice included in books like this (minimal here) since I am afraid of novices inadvertently doing something harmful, but that might just be my own bias. The breeding chapter was concise and practical.
If you live in an agreeable climate, this book is quite unique in its inclusion of quite detailed information about housing bearded dragons in outdoor cages.
Most of my complaints about the book are relatively minor. The author disagrees with Australia's restrictive wildlife export laws where bearded dragons are concerned but I think this is given a bit too much attention. Several of the web resources listed are moved or no longer active, and the the sources listed for breeders and equipment are almost entirely US-based.
Summary
Overall, I would consider this quite a good book about the care of bearded dragons. Like other of its kind, "The Bearded Dragon" is primarily aimed at beginners, particularly where the care information is concerned. I suppose experienced owners would find some of the information superficial, but still, I think any fan of bearded dragons would find parts of this book interesting and helpful. The author's his fondness for bearded dragons is certainly evident in the book. I would recommend it as an addition to the library of any bearded dragon owner.
