Hello!
Two nights ago my kids and I took two bearded dragons from a family that wasn't able to care for them anymore. TBH, it doesn't seem like they've been very well cared for at all. I'm told they are 2.5 years old. Pretty large. They do look healthy though... They've been housed together in one 20 gallon tank the whole time. It's a male and female pair. I have never owned one of these, but I have a very large and sweet ball python, so I guess I thought I could handle the lizards... It turns out they're very different! :lol:
Their current tank set up is very minimal. Only one light. I purchased 2 UVA basking lights and 2 night heat lamps. I will get the long UVB bulbs online (they're $40 each at the pet shop!). Initially, after reading everything, I thought I should separate them. I have secured two 30 gallon tanks to move them into separately -- if that's the right decision. I can do that today, but now I'm wondering if it's the right move if they've been together all this time anyway?
The male does display some aggressive mating behavior toward the female. The previous owners told me that she once laid a clutch of 19 eggs, but none hatched.
Should I definitely separate them? Finding space for the tanks will be an issue until I can build something more permanent, however, I am confident even these temporary 30-gallon tanks will feel like the taj mahal after living together in a 20 gallon. I also got them felt mats to use instead of sand (what they're on right now), hammocks, some dried worms and crickets, a cricket box full of tasty bugs, and some pellets to feed supplementally. The previous owners fed them crickets once a month, and otherwise just fed them kale or occasionally fruit.
I really need someone to tell me it's the right thing to separate them because now I'm feeling sentimental or like they may be lonely without each other?
Two nights ago my kids and I took two bearded dragons from a family that wasn't able to care for them anymore. TBH, it doesn't seem like they've been very well cared for at all. I'm told they are 2.5 years old. Pretty large. They do look healthy though... They've been housed together in one 20 gallon tank the whole time. It's a male and female pair. I have never owned one of these, but I have a very large and sweet ball python, so I guess I thought I could handle the lizards... It turns out they're very different! :lol:
Their current tank set up is very minimal. Only one light. I purchased 2 UVA basking lights and 2 night heat lamps. I will get the long UVB bulbs online (they're $40 each at the pet shop!). Initially, after reading everything, I thought I should separate them. I have secured two 30 gallon tanks to move them into separately -- if that's the right decision. I can do that today, but now I'm wondering if it's the right move if they've been together all this time anyway?
The male does display some aggressive mating behavior toward the female. The previous owners told me that she once laid a clutch of 19 eggs, but none hatched.
Should I definitely separate them? Finding space for the tanks will be an issue until I can build something more permanent, however, I am confident even these temporary 30-gallon tanks will feel like the taj mahal after living together in a 20 gallon. I also got them felt mats to use instead of sand (what they're on right now), hammocks, some dried worms and crickets, a cricket box full of tasty bugs, and some pellets to feed supplementally. The previous owners fed them crickets once a month, and otherwise just fed them kale or occasionally fruit.
I really need someone to tell me it's the right thing to separate them because now I'm feeling sentimental or like they may be lonely without each other?