behemuffin
Member
Hey all,
Pleased to be part of what seems like a wonderful, supportive community. <3
I've been considering a bearded dragon for some time now. To the point where, after a lot of reading on this site, I decided to get together all the equipment. I have an Exo-Terra Large Wide tank, a hide, several natural rock structures I ordered online, a hammock... even a plushie since I heard they like them. xD With a Reptisun 10.0 and a Zoo Med 100W bulb I got the tank temperature to be 80F on one side and 105 on the other. I live in Southern California so temperatures drop to tolerable levels at night. I got my reptile vitamins, my calcium, all of it. I know the number of a local vet who does beardies and the same local reptile store where I want to get my beardie also sells crickets. I feel like I'm on the right track.
So I went to the local reptile store. They had several beardies, but I fell in love with this one who isn't old enough to sell yet. About a month ago, the store owner said he would be ready in a month, but I went in today and he hasn't grown much at all since I last saw him. The other beardie in his tank grew and went home today. The store owner said that since the other dragon is gone, maybe he'll grow more now? And that he's eating well and there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with him, but that it might be another month before they can sell him.
Of course, I want him to be in the care of the experts if he isn't old enough to come home yet. But I worry because he's under a red bulb and all the guides I've read say the coloured bulbs are bad for them and don't give the right amount of UVB. There's not a lot of enrichment in the tank either. I want to give him the best possible home, but I have to wait! And the owner won't let me put a down payment on him either. I just want to know that he won't get bought by anyone else...
Pleased to be part of what seems like a wonderful, supportive community. <3
I've been considering a bearded dragon for some time now. To the point where, after a lot of reading on this site, I decided to get together all the equipment. I have an Exo-Terra Large Wide tank, a hide, several natural rock structures I ordered online, a hammock... even a plushie since I heard they like them. xD With a Reptisun 10.0 and a Zoo Med 100W bulb I got the tank temperature to be 80F on one side and 105 on the other. I live in Southern California so temperatures drop to tolerable levels at night. I got my reptile vitamins, my calcium, all of it. I know the number of a local vet who does beardies and the same local reptile store where I want to get my beardie also sells crickets. I feel like I'm on the right track.
So I went to the local reptile store. They had several beardies, but I fell in love with this one who isn't old enough to sell yet. About a month ago, the store owner said he would be ready in a month, but I went in today and he hasn't grown much at all since I last saw him. The other beardie in his tank grew and went home today. The store owner said that since the other dragon is gone, maybe he'll grow more now? And that he's eating well and there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with him, but that it might be another month before they can sell him.
Of course, I want him to be in the care of the experts if he isn't old enough to come home yet. But I worry because he's under a red bulb and all the guides I've read say the coloured bulbs are bad for them and don't give the right amount of UVB. There's not a lot of enrichment in the tank either. I want to give him the best possible home, but I have to wait! And the owner won't let me put a down payment on him either. I just want to know that he won't get bought by anyone else...