Does anyone know what happens to pet store beardies if no one buys them?

[Sue E.]

I mean, if they get big enough (juveniles and above)? Im talking the big box stores like Petco, Petsmart, etc. Ive never seen one there larger than a baby...do they all get bought eventually as babies? Or go home with an employee? Or to a rescue? Really curious.

 

[AHBD]

Probably some of the things you mentioned, then there are always the sales to try to move them. Some stores do make room for bigger ones and I've even seen sub adults/adults on rare ocassions.

 

[ChileanTaco]

I mean, if they get big enough (juveniles and above)? Im talking the big box stores like Petco, Petsmart, etc. Ive never seen one there larger than a baby...do they all get bought eventually as babies? Or go home with an employee? Or to a rescue? Really curious.

In the pet store where I bought Taco - a small reptile store run by people who love reptiles - they have enough enclosures to keep larger ones. And they do not order new bearded dragons (or other reptiles) until the last of that species was sold, which also means sometimes they have none.
I got my Taco at 3 months old and a bit, maybe 3.5 months (older than most they sell, the last one and I picked him up 1 week after buying him). I once saw a significantly larger beardie there, I'd say 6 month or older that wasn't theirs (there are two who belong to the owners), but had not time to inquiry as most people there only speak Spanish and I was just quickly buying worms - could think of somebody brought him back, or it was boarding.

 

[AHBD]

That's the way it should be

 

[ChileanTaco]

@AHBD
I agree. And: A larger beardie is still a beardie. Why not buying it? (And if one there buys an older beardie, it's not a sick animal that lost toe and tail tip, but a nicely grown guy used to handling and of course eating his veggies.)
As they are quite rare here, I bet people buy them "nevertheless" when large and are not into "but I want a cute baby". Also, I see benefits of getting a larger beardie, especially for beginners. I'm also, to be honest, I got a 3-months-and-a-bit old beardie and not the tiny-tiny ones I see there right now for which I don't know if they sell them at all that young or one can just reserve one. Had I bought a sub-adult or adult beardie? Yes.

 

[AHBD]

More people are starting to buy or rescue larger ones now in the U.S. but there is still a surplus unfortunately.

 

[Hazel_Basil10]

Where I live specifically they usually just move them to a different store depending on their condition. When I got my beardie a few years ago they were going to euthanize the others if they couldn't get them sold because multiple of them weren't looking very great (We drove a few hours to look at them when we were going to get a Hamster and a leopard gecko, because where I live everything was out.... Obviously that wasn't the case as we walked out with a 2-3 month old bearded dragon ). I never knew if they were just saying that to get them to be sold or they actually did but I hope that they didn't.... They went out of business though after about a year so something must've happened

 

[ChileanTaco]

More people are starting to buy or rescue larger ones now in the U.S. but there is still a surplus unfortunately.

Why do you think this is the case?
I'd say a baby beardie is much more complicated: In the beginning often stressed out, all the worries will it eat, just more fragile and can get lost easier, and and and.
If I was offered a sub-adult or adult beardie vs. a small one, I'd gotten the larger one.
Not out of "doing something good" but also for reasons of an easier start.

 

[Hazel_Basil10]

Why do you think this is the case?
I'd say a baby beardie is much more complicated: In the beginning often stressed out, all the worries will it eat, just more fragile and can get lost easier, and and and.
If I was offered a sub-adult or adult beardie vs. a small one, I'd gotten the larger one.
Not out of "doing something good" but also for reasons of an easier start.

I agree babies are harder to take care of. But to be honest I think all babies are harder to take care of than adults.

 

[ChileanTaco]

But to be honest I think all babies are harder to take care of than adults.

Of course, that's the same in other species, and so e.g. the reason, why for first-time dog owners, instead of getting a puppy rather getting a (well-behaved, well-trained) adult dog. Or getting an at least almost adult cat, instead of trying to raise a kitten by bottle-feeding.

 

[Hazel_Basil10]

Of course, that's the same in other species, and so e.g. the reason, why for first-time dog owners, instead of getting a puppy rather getting a (well-behaved, well-trained) adult dog. Or getting an at least almost adult cat, instead of trying to raise a kitten by bottle-feeding.

I agree and then have more experienced people who wants the challenge they can get the little babies.

 

[xp29]

Babies are cute, look less aggressive, and size misleading. They are easier to sell. I'm seeing 3 and 4 week old hatchlings now. It makes me sick, they are setting newbies up for failure and setting hatchlings up for death.

 

[Hazel_Basil10]

Babies are cute, look less aggressive, and size misleading. They are easier to sell. I'm seeing 3 and 4 week old hatchlings now. It makes me sick, they are setting newbies up for failure and setting hatchlings up for death.

Oh really? That's really sad. Where I am I've been told you can get in huge trouble for selling anything under 8 weeks old. That is just sad and not only that but they don't give out correct information which makes it even worse

 

[ChileanTaco]

Babies are cute, look less aggressive, and size misleading. They are easier to sell. I'm seeing 3 and 4 week old hatchlings now. It makes me sick, they are setting newbies up for failure and setting hatchlings up for death.

With the size, I agree. (For this, the reptile store I got Taco from on purpose shows an adult beardie. But I know that reptile stores tend to hide this. Years ago in the US I had land hermit crabs, and I looked up everything online before, so was knowing I need a large tank (I had one that was half of the one I have for my beardie), but still, the chain pet store wanted to sell me a tank of the size of a shoe box.
When I went there to just inquiry about bearded dragons - my plan was: asking if available at all, get enclosure and all supplies, and once that's set up, actually get a dragon - , I was shown immediately their adult beardie, along with what to feed (to make sure I won't have a problem with insects), and that what I would get is a little one taking about a year to reach that size. That's IMHO how it should be done!)

Regarding cute: I doubt that anybody who would find a grown beardie "too aggressive" would find a beardie "cute" - as of then likely not being very much into reptiles. Also (but also sad), some people tend to buy reptiles for an "aggressive" look and might prefer a spiky big one.

 

[Sue E.]

Why do you think this is the case?
I'd say a baby beardie is much more complicated: In the beginning often stressed out, all the worries will it eat, just more fragile and can get lost easier, and and and.
If I was offered a sub-adult or adult beardie vs. a small one, I'd gotten the larger one.
Not out of "doing something good" but also for reasons of an easier start.

Me too!