LovePink74
Member
I'm just sharing something that I just recently found out.
Like I've said before I am new to the reptile world. I've never had one, taken care of one, or bothered to even think I'd own one in the future. But In the last 2 months I've had my beardie, I think I'm a pretty decent owner.
I got my bearded dragon on July 2,2012. The day before my HighSchool Graduation. I had told a friend of mine who was wanting one for himself, and he was a former reptile owner to a snake and 2 tree frogs. I had said, they were selling them half price at the local petstore. He immediately went and bought the other, 2 days after. We considered them "related" due to them being the only ones left.
I earlier today, found out that his young bearded dragon had died today, probably due the lack of proper care, and over confidence in reptile ownership.
We've had them for about the same time. The day we got them, they were both exactly 5". Till today, his died stunted at 5" after 2 months.
Mine has grown to about 8 inches in those last 2 months.
My beardie suffered from pretty bad relocation stress, to almost dieing due to not eating for weeks on end. I had wrong lighting, and even kept him on sand. This was ALL recommendations that a "reptile person" told me at Petco. Clearly she was wrong. I'll admit to you you, that I was pretty well informed with information on keeping a beardie, but for some reason, my father caught me by surprise, and we just went along and got everything we were told to get. The excitement of having a reptile pretty much blanked out everything I really needed to get.
When I noticed his health was getting worse,
I immediately jumped online, and downloaded a ton of care sheets, looked up information and eventually ended up here. I was able to bring back my little guy from the slump he was in for almost 3 1/2 weeks.
He went from a 10 gallon to a 35. Brand new tile floors, a UVB and a basking light, which I did have but both lights were incorrect.
He went from a tiny sack of bones, to this hefty, and healthy looking dragon in about a month 1/2. I was surprised with the turn around he made.
My friends mistake. He didn't listen to any information I was trying to provide him with. The day I went to get my baby a brand new UVB light and basking light. He was with me. These were his exact words.
~ "Oh, I don't understand why people buy all these special crap for reptiles, when all you need is a light, a tank and a bottom, I'm not spending my money on that much stuff, they don't even need that much things"
He was there that day to change his beardies sand. Not bothering in removing it. He went home with Blue Peto Brand, Sand.
I asked him what lights he was using? His response
"Oh I put one of those old basking lights I had on my snake" I told him if he had a UVB light. He said "Nah, they don't need that" I addressed him, saying your beardies lacking the lights it needs, He told me "Oh i'll get them eventually" - After that I didn't hear of him for a few weeks.
Yesterday -July 11
I had just finished buying my little guy Wax worms, and finally a new digital thermometer. He loved the worms, and jumps at the glass when I go to feed him. I got a text message that afternoon from him saying.
"He's going through a sick stage" I immediately new his mistakes and carefree attitude got the best of him. His beardie was sick, and lethargic, not eating and eyes constantly closed. He proceeded to take him to the vet, In which they provided him with oral medication.
He told me they had to force feed it into the little guys mouth, and watch him to make sure he ate at night.
I hoped for the little guy to get better but, I wasn't so sure. That night He called me, saying he was heading out on vacation to the beach and asked for me to take care of the little guy for a week, I said yeah sure. (maybe I could help fix him that week) I know it ain't alot of time for progress but i could have tried? I was most scared in taking in a sick baby, and then him dieing while he was out, how was I going to tell him? Anyways, I said yeah, bring me all his stuff (lights and all). I was worried but than excited.
Today, He called me, and proceeded to tell me that I didn't need to take care of him anymore. I asked why? He bluntly said.
"He died" and laughed in the background with a few friends. I thought to myself, "gee this guy seriously did not care for this beardie's life!" I understand he went to the vet...but I would have tried harder, never mind vacation, I wouldn't just leave a sick beardie somewhere else when he's in need of meds.
He said to me "I'm done caring for reptiles, they all seem to die on me"
remember the snake? and frogs? Yeah. He's no reptile owner. He could be if he tried, but when your reptiles suddenly die on you, you know your doing something wrong. He's a good friend of mine, but i can honestly say, that he made the mistake in not caring properly for his dragon. And If he would have dedicated his time for him, he wouldn't have gone down that road.
I've spent all of my graduation money on caring for this little guy, and every penny I have, goes to buying new supplies, food, or anything I need to help him keep healthy and happy. And as a first time Reptile owner in general, I think I'm doing a hell of a good job. I seriously taught myself everything there is to know about a bearded dragons health, diet, behavior, you name it. I can help you with it.
Just so you know, that when your a little to over confident about owning an exotic pet, doesn't mean that reading a small care sheet is saying your ready for one. You have got to make sure you have time, dedication, and heart to own one of these creatures. They may say it's easy, but in reality, it really isn't as simple as getting a puppy, and teaching it to sit. They ARE high maintenance pets. All reptiles are.
Your better off in giving yourself a lesson in owning the reptile you are getting, even if its learning about the origins, or the environment they come from. Just become a mini expert in your reptile, so you know where your heading, and in the future help others with your experience and teach them of what you've learned yourself.
I just wanted to share this with you guys, because I was dumbfounded with how careless my friend was with his bearded dragon. Plus his previous reptiles, yet he continued in buying more.
And overconfidence isn't something you should have when dealing with an issue like this. That was his mistake.
Like I've said before I am new to the reptile world. I've never had one, taken care of one, or bothered to even think I'd own one in the future. But In the last 2 months I've had my beardie, I think I'm a pretty decent owner.
I got my bearded dragon on July 2,2012. The day before my HighSchool Graduation. I had told a friend of mine who was wanting one for himself, and he was a former reptile owner to a snake and 2 tree frogs. I had said, they were selling them half price at the local petstore. He immediately went and bought the other, 2 days after. We considered them "related" due to them being the only ones left.
I earlier today, found out that his young bearded dragon had died today, probably due the lack of proper care, and over confidence in reptile ownership.
We've had them for about the same time. The day we got them, they were both exactly 5". Till today, his died stunted at 5" after 2 months.
Mine has grown to about 8 inches in those last 2 months.
My beardie suffered from pretty bad relocation stress, to almost dieing due to not eating for weeks on end. I had wrong lighting, and even kept him on sand. This was ALL recommendations that a "reptile person" told me at Petco. Clearly she was wrong. I'll admit to you you, that I was pretty well informed with information on keeping a beardie, but for some reason, my father caught me by surprise, and we just went along and got everything we were told to get. The excitement of having a reptile pretty much blanked out everything I really needed to get.
When I noticed his health was getting worse,
I immediately jumped online, and downloaded a ton of care sheets, looked up information and eventually ended up here. I was able to bring back my little guy from the slump he was in for almost 3 1/2 weeks.
He went from a 10 gallon to a 35. Brand new tile floors, a UVB and a basking light, which I did have but both lights were incorrect.
He went from a tiny sack of bones, to this hefty, and healthy looking dragon in about a month 1/2. I was surprised with the turn around he made.
My friends mistake. He didn't listen to any information I was trying to provide him with. The day I went to get my baby a brand new UVB light and basking light. He was with me. These were his exact words.
~ "Oh, I don't understand why people buy all these special crap for reptiles, when all you need is a light, a tank and a bottom, I'm not spending my money on that much stuff, they don't even need that much things"
He was there that day to change his beardies sand. Not bothering in removing it. He went home with Blue Peto Brand, Sand.
I asked him what lights he was using? His response
"Oh I put one of those old basking lights I had on my snake" I told him if he had a UVB light. He said "Nah, they don't need that" I addressed him, saying your beardies lacking the lights it needs, He told me "Oh i'll get them eventually" - After that I didn't hear of him for a few weeks.
Yesterday -July 11
I had just finished buying my little guy Wax worms, and finally a new digital thermometer. He loved the worms, and jumps at the glass when I go to feed him. I got a text message that afternoon from him saying.
"He's going through a sick stage" I immediately new his mistakes and carefree attitude got the best of him. His beardie was sick, and lethargic, not eating and eyes constantly closed. He proceeded to take him to the vet, In which they provided him with oral medication.
He told me they had to force feed it into the little guys mouth, and watch him to make sure he ate at night.
I hoped for the little guy to get better but, I wasn't so sure. That night He called me, saying he was heading out on vacation to the beach and asked for me to take care of the little guy for a week, I said yeah sure. (maybe I could help fix him that week) I know it ain't alot of time for progress but i could have tried? I was most scared in taking in a sick baby, and then him dieing while he was out, how was I going to tell him? Anyways, I said yeah, bring me all his stuff (lights and all). I was worried but than excited.
Today, He called me, and proceeded to tell me that I didn't need to take care of him anymore. I asked why? He bluntly said.
"He died" and laughed in the background with a few friends. I thought to myself, "gee this guy seriously did not care for this beardie's life!" I understand he went to the vet...but I would have tried harder, never mind vacation, I wouldn't just leave a sick beardie somewhere else when he's in need of meds.
He said to me "I'm done caring for reptiles, they all seem to die on me"
remember the snake? and frogs? Yeah. He's no reptile owner. He could be if he tried, but when your reptiles suddenly die on you, you know your doing something wrong. He's a good friend of mine, but i can honestly say, that he made the mistake in not caring properly for his dragon. And If he would have dedicated his time for him, he wouldn't have gone down that road.
I've spent all of my graduation money on caring for this little guy, and every penny I have, goes to buying new supplies, food, or anything I need to help him keep healthy and happy. And as a first time Reptile owner in general, I think I'm doing a hell of a good job. I seriously taught myself everything there is to know about a bearded dragons health, diet, behavior, you name it. I can help you with it.
Just so you know, that when your a little to over confident about owning an exotic pet, doesn't mean that reading a small care sheet is saying your ready for one. You have got to make sure you have time, dedication, and heart to own one of these creatures. They may say it's easy, but in reality, it really isn't as simple as getting a puppy, and teaching it to sit. They ARE high maintenance pets. All reptiles are.
Your better off in giving yourself a lesson in owning the reptile you are getting, even if its learning about the origins, or the environment they come from. Just become a mini expert in your reptile, so you know where your heading, and in the future help others with your experience and teach them of what you've learned yourself.
I just wanted to share this with you guys, because I was dumbfounded with how careless my friend was with his bearded dragon. Plus his previous reptiles, yet he continued in buying more.
And overconfidence isn't something you should have when dealing with an issue like this. That was his mistake.
