College speech

[Magicmed]

Hey all I'm doing an informative speech in my public speaking class, general reptile awareness was too broad of a subject for my teacher to accept, but she said a bearded dragon care speech might be really interesting for the class. I had a couple questions for you guys.

First and foremost she said I could bring bambam into class as a visual aid. Now I had a couple of worries before I went ahead and took him in. I've checked the weather for the day of the presentation and the time slot I would have him out would be 60-65 degrees. Would you guys even advise attempting to take him in with those temps? I could obviously warm up my car and cover whatever I take him in with towells, and take a heat lamp in for while I'm not presenting him? Which brings me to another question, what would I transport him in? Anything smaller than a 20 long would just seem cruel, since he will be in it for about 3 hours. (Unless I just let him chill on me during class?) So any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

If you guys don't advise taking him in, I could always take some pics/ videos and use those, I just think it would lose affect. Buy I would like to get some opinions on my topics and subtopics.

1.personality
A. socialization process
B. Non vocal communication
C. intelligence

2.husbandry
A.temps and humidity
B.uvb lighting
C.substrates, decor, tank size

3.diet
A. Salads
B. Insects
C. Vitemins and minerals

4.health risks/ symptoms
A. Vitemins/mineral deficiencies
B. Metabolic bone disease
C. Mouth rot
D. Respitory infections

5. Where to get?
A. Breeders
B. Pet stores
C. Adoptions and rescues


This is just a very rough draft of an outline for the speech. I'm up to any suggestions you have that I may have overlooked, or that you think might make it more interesting. I think it will be a great opportunity to not only educate people about these amazing animals, but to show people proper care guidelines in case the presentation does inspire a new beardie owner, or maybe there's a beardie owner in the class that didn't do the right research.

Thank you in advance!

 

[AHBD]

Hi there.....sounds like taking him in might be an exciting + interesting experience for the class. Is your dragon calm enough for the adventure ? Transporting him in those temps. will be no danger at all, I've transported dragons in much colder weather. Just warm your car to a decent room temp. that you'd be comfortable in, it doesn't have to be in the 80's, 75 or so will be fine. Take him in a large plastic tote, possibly a clear one but it could be a colored one. No need to cover it up on the short walk from building to the car. Bring one lightweight basking platform that isn't too high that he could jump out of the tote. Bring a heat lamp that could be rigged over the side of the tote or somehow on top. A few layers of newspaper folded in sections for the bottom....if he poos you can lift out the section that is soiled and keep a double plastic bag to dispose of it. Keep a few paper towels handy as well as hand sanitizer....that's to show the importance of sanitizing your hands if he DOES go poo + you clean it up.

Other posters will probably [ hopefully ] offer advice + suggestions on your other questions. It looks like you have a very good range of topics for discussion.

 

[Magicmed]

Thank you very much! I feel much better about transporting him now. I like the plastic tote idea, I think I will go with that. He's actually really calm after I pull him out and let him relax on my lap or shoulder. He just dances a bit with his feet for a second before he chills. I think that's because he wasn't handled before be came to me. Which is another reason I wanted to show this particular beardie, when I took him in just about 6 weeks or so ago he was very lethargic, and had a calcium/thiamine deficiency from being fed only pellets and un dusted insects with improper uvb. Which caused tremors/seizures multiple times a day. Now he readily accepts salad, eats from my hands, and hasn't had a seizure in weeks. I think it shows something amazing about these animals that they can bounce back so quickly physically and socially, and bambam is a shining example of that.