Buying a pre-owned beardie

I have wanted to own a bearded dragon for a while now and I have done lots of research (I'm still doing more). I found a beardie on craigslist and it comes with all of the items (vivarium, light etc.) and I was wondering what question I should ask when I go check out the beardie. Should I ask about how the lizard was treated? If you could help me out that would be awesome!

I did reply with the link below but just in case i'll put here too
https://tampa.craigslist.org/psc/pet/d/new-port-richey-bearded-dragon-with/6989001302.html

Hi there,

I would definitely ask how the dragons history, how it's been raised, how much and of what it eats. That way you can get a feel for if he was treated properly.

I'd also look to see if the lighting he has is even proper. A lot of times it isnt.

If you're inexperienced, getting essentially a "rescue" from craigslist might not be the best first choice. Oftentimes they are on craigslist because the owner has lost interest and likely hasn't been caring for him well for awhile.
That being said, this site is a good resource and we will help you if there are any issues that arise. But I'd say first plan on having some money set aside for potential vet visits if necessary.

-Brandon

Definitely question the owner and ask for pics of them holding the dragon if possible. Can you post the ad here to show the dragon and it's set up ? It may be in good health, many people do lose interest and might slack off on handling but if the dragon is very chill then it may be that way when you get him.

I heard that putting water bowls in your dragons home because it raises the humidity so I would take that out if needed.

Here is the link
https://tampa.craigslist.org/psc/pet/d/new-port-richey-bearded-dragon-with/6989001302.html

Also thanks!

You're welcome. So the terrarium is an actual 55 gallon tank. The dimensions are O.K except for the 1 foot width but that's not really harmful so it will do. You can always build a bigger one but no hurry. He could use a taller basking log and a different flooring but other than that he looks healthy. You can't really tell about his health just from those pics of course. You'll almost certainly need a new uvb bulb unless they actually have the receipt to show that it's less than 2-4 months old. After 6-8 months the actual uvb rays diminish greatly although the bulb itself may give off light for 2 years or more.

AHBD":1g4ogsk1 said:

You're welcome. So the terrarium is an actual 55 gallon tank. The dimensions are O.K except for the 1 foot width but that's not really harmful so it will do. You can always build a bigger one but no hurry. He could use a taller basking log and a different flooring but other than that he looks healthy. You'll almost certainly need a new uvb bulb unless they actually have the receipt to show that it's less than 2-4 months old. After 6-8 months the actual uvb rays diminish greatly although the bulb itself may give off light for 2 years or more.

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That is helpful to know! Thank you so much!

IWantABeardie":2u5dfzbq said:

I was wondering what question I should ask when I go check out the beardie.

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First, if you haven't already, I'd like you to take a look at this:
A Realistic Look at the Cost of Owning a Bearded Dragon

Craig’s List

So we don’t really like this idea a lot, but it’s worth a quick mention. Many times beardie owners will want or need to find another home for their animal. Many of these folks will place an ad on Craig’s list.

While it’s admirable that they try to find a home for their pet, it’s the reason why that gives us pause. Many times, an expensive upcoming vet bill, a health problem, or behavioral issues are why people are getting rid of their beardie.

If you go this route, try to have a vet check the beardie first. Also handle them to see if they are okay with people. In other words beardie buyer beware!

As far as cost, Craig’s list will be all over the place. We’ve seen everything from free to over $100. It really just depends on what is posted in your area.

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In comparing the dollar amounts in the article with my own research, I would budget for the maximums shown, then add $100 for contingencies. If you make out better than that, GREAT!
If not, there (hopefully) won't be any rude awakenings (which could be why the BD is on Craig's List).

See also: cost of owning a bearded dragon

As far as questions, I would ask:

• Why are you selling him?
  How long ago was he last seen by a veterinarian?
  What is the veterinarian's name?
  What was the vet's opinion/report?

Here are a few articles that should help in formulating your own questions:
How to Tell If Your Bearded Dragon is Sick: 10 Warning Signs You Must NOT Ignore
14 Signs of an Unhealthy Bearded Dragon
Common Illnesses For Bearded Dragons
How to Know If Your Bearded Dragon Is Sick? Warning Signs

Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) in Bearded Dragons
Metabolic Bone Disease In Bearded Dragons – Identification And Treatment

There will be some overlap/repetition, but it's worth reading them all anyway--both to catch any shortcomings, and to help cement certain issues in your mind. Don't be shy about taking a list of questions with you, and something to write down the answers for future reference.

Perhaps the most important question you can ask is the one you need to ask yourself:
Why do you want a bearded dragon? :wink:

Best Wishes

O.P., some of the info in the previous links should be taken with a grain of salt. Many people who put dragons on Craigslist just find that they may not have time the dragon needs or just lose interest. [ some who love their dragons even post here in the free or for sale subforum ] Others are moving, have financial trouble, etc. Anyone buying a beardie from another person should find out as much as they can beforehand but don't need to be suspicious.

The link for " How to tell if a dragon is sick " has some decent points but right off the bat the info warning that there's something wrong if a dragon has not poo'd for a couple of days is no sign of anything wrong at all. For a small baby it could be but a great majority of adult dragons do not poo every day. It's after 2 weeks that you should get concerned, and then there usually natural laxatives to easily help out. Another bit of wrong info in that link is that if the dragon has red or orange tinted urate it's a sign of parasites. This is not correct, it may be from certain colored food eaten, from dehydration or from too much supplementation. So be careful with some of that info. You will get great info here from many long time owners and one of the mods. here is a specialist that can help deal with gout, ADV [ she works with the lab that researches atadenovirus ] and can read lab tests right here for you.

To me, buying a dragon on craigslist can be very rewarding. My last dragon "Peaches" was one of those cases. She had been housed with 2 other dragons and, was a bit malnourished when I got her. The actual act of getting her up to par was in "itself" very rewarding. She wound up being my best friend and, I hers. She new my voice over the phone.... "Another story"!
I guess what I am saying is...... There are dragons out there that have it pretty tough and, taking one in and, making their life better is well worth it.

Gormagon":y6soceto said:

I guess what I am saying is...... There are dragons out there that have it pretty tough and, taking one in and, making their life better is well worth it.

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I completely agree. I just hesitate to recommend this for a first time owner, as it can be a bit more complicated than starting out with a healthy dragon. But it can be done of course by a new owner, and definitely by someone with a bit more experience under their belt!

-Brandon

One other thing to consider is that a first-time owner will have access to some great advice here on the forum.

It is important that they understand that there may be reasons CL beardies are up for sale, and that dragons in general can be expensive pets. Some beardies are for sale because their current owners underestimated the money/time/care investment needed. As mentioned, there are also those with health issues, either diagnosed & that the current owner can't afford or as a result of things like poor husbandry. However, unless you are spending top dollar with a reputable breeder, any would-be beardie owner could have the same issues crop up from pet store beardies. At least in the case of CL, you can ask questions about care 1st.

My second dragon is a Craigslist beardie and, with the help I had here, he's now a happy, healthy little dubia munching machine. We all make mistakes with beardie care, but I believe that, rookie or no, someone like the OP who has taken the time to join a community like this one will do right by any beardie they choose, regardless of where it comes from.

Don't confuse suspicion with prudence. Caveat Emptor wasn't born yesterday; it's been a principle of common law since 1603 at least, and its roots go back much further.

AHBD":sz27yr5h said:

The link for " How to tell if a dragon is sick " has some decent points but right off the bat the info warning that there's something wrong if a dragon has not poo'd for a couple of days is no sign of anything wrong at all.

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That's not what the article said at all. It actually said,

If your bearded dragon hasn’t had a bowel movement in a couple days, you’ll definitely want to start considering what could possibly be causing them to be backed up.

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Start considering...possibly...

Best not to throw the baby out with the bath water. Subjectively declaring one or two faults doesn't invalidate the entirety of an article. Authors are bound to differ/disagree. That's why I posted multiple overlapping articles, and often post results of google searches--so a reader can get a variety of opinions/views, research further for themselves, and come to their own conclusions/decisions.

IMO, the best source for a first-time owner is a breeder, which the first link I posted acknowledges, and others have/will confirm. I asked a local herp vet for referrals (as the first article suggested); he didn't have any, but that's a whole 'nother ball-o-worms. I also went to a number of reptile shows (which I highly recommend) so I could:

• Meet breeders firsthand
  See how they cared for & treated their stock
  See how professionally they conducted themselves and their businesses
  Ask questions and gauge their responses and reactions (body language)
  Develop relationships

I posted a thread about it here. A good breeder will answer your calls and offer assistance, guidance, and suggestions after the sale--they'll be there for you. Buying from a breeder may cost a few bucks extra initially, but very little when compared to the initial & ongoing expenses of owning & caring for a reptile, and potential extra expenses of rescuing an animal with a history of problems. Bringing an animal back from a bad history can be rewarding, but may also be an unpredictable contingency (prudence/reality--not pessimism), and as many experiences posted on this forum illustrate, regrettably, not all have happy endings.

O.P.,did you decide either way on this beardie ?

Yes most respectable breeders will answer your questions and, yes it is best to go that route when possible but, do these dragons on CL deserve any less a chance at a better life than those from a breeder? I love these creatures and, will do "what I can, when I can" to help them. Everything is not black and white, there are grey areas in the dragon world.... I find myself in those areas at times!

AHBD":1ay3302k said:

O.P.,did you decide either way on this beardie ?

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I hope they took him in. He looked good and, healthy. He deserves a good life with someone who is willing to better his life!