Hi again!
Last year, I had a bearded dragon that I inherited from someone who couldn't take care of him, and I learned a lot about bearded dragons from this forum. Sadly, he died of an infection last April. During the few months I had him, though, he was a class pet and he seemed to enjoy it. The students definitely did. We had "Reading to Reptiles" time when they practiced reading out loud and he listened intently. :study: We let him have free roam during quiet times, and it was a privilege to get to hold him that they took very seriously. He had so much personality!
I'm trying to decide if I want to get another one as a class pet. Frankly, he was a lot of work. On the other hand, I learned a lot about beardies and think maybe it wouldn't be as much work this time around because I already know about lighting and nutrition and size of the enclosure. I also plan to get a young one so that I can start him off right with nutrition.
What is the general opinion of beardies as class pets? Keep in mind that I am very much the sort of teacher that emphasizes respect for and care of animals. We don't even squish spiders in my class. If you're scared of spiders, you call someone else over to gently relocate it outside. The beardie's health and happiness would take priority over student desires, and I'd be the one taking him home on weekends and holidays.
My other concern is what to do with him if I go on vacation. I have a dog and a cat, and we usually have a pet sitter, but if there came a time when we couldn't have the sitter, they could be boarded for a few days. Can reptiles be boarded? Where does one find a good one?
Last year, I had a bearded dragon that I inherited from someone who couldn't take care of him, and I learned a lot about bearded dragons from this forum. Sadly, he died of an infection last April. During the few months I had him, though, he was a class pet and he seemed to enjoy it. The students definitely did. We had "Reading to Reptiles" time when they practiced reading out loud and he listened intently. :study: We let him have free roam during quiet times, and it was a privilege to get to hold him that they took very seriously. He had so much personality!
I'm trying to decide if I want to get another one as a class pet. Frankly, he was a lot of work. On the other hand, I learned a lot about beardies and think maybe it wouldn't be as much work this time around because I already know about lighting and nutrition and size of the enclosure. I also plan to get a young one so that I can start him off right with nutrition.
What is the general opinion of beardies as class pets? Keep in mind that I am very much the sort of teacher that emphasizes respect for and care of animals. We don't even squish spiders in my class. If you're scared of spiders, you call someone else over to gently relocate it outside. The beardie's health and happiness would take priority over student desires, and I'd be the one taking him home on weekends and holidays.
My other concern is what to do with him if I go on vacation. I have a dog and a cat, and we usually have a pet sitter, but if there came a time when we couldn't have the sitter, they could be boarded for a few days. Can reptiles be boarded? Where does one find a good one?
I would love to see a child walk into a pet store and tell the store owner they aren't properly set up which is all to common for these poor guys. I could go on and on but I wont.
