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Hi there! I just found this site. I have one adult male bearded dragon, named Buddy. We don't know his exact age, but estimate him to be around 7-8 years old. He lives a unique life, and I am always looking to improve it. Right now, he is a free range beardie. He has free reign of our home and taps his claws on the glass to go outside when he needs to relieve himself (or just wants to sunbath in the fresh air). We've had this arrangement for almost 2 years and he seems very healthy and well adjusted....but we realize we've picked up a lot of misinformation over the years, and are actively seeking better knowledge so he STAYS healthy.
Buddy came to us out of the blue. A neighbor found out she was pregnant and didn't have room for her 2 large tanks. There was a male beardie in each that didn't get along. She knew we took in rescue animals to rehome and asked us to help. For some reason, no one wanted either of these sweeties, though! They were both great with kids and friendly with our cat and dog, and seemed to enjoy being handled and played with. We did eventually find a home for the other male, but Buddy became a part of the family.
About six months after taking them in, I was offered a job that would put me on the road for the next six months straight. So, my husband and kids and I all packed into an RV and hit the road together. We had a lead on a good home for Buddy that would be ready in "just another week or so", but we couldn't set his tank up in the RV. We agreed to just wing it for a week and take him along without a tank. Luckily, we were traveling mostly in the south, so temps weren't hard on him and he had the time of his life. His potential home flaked out, but by then Buddy had adjusted very well to RV living. He scratched at the door when he wanted out, or climbed up on a seat or bed and head bobbed at someone then ran to the door for them to follow. I think we had about one accident per month, and they were clearly intentional. If we didn't let him out when he asked, he would relieve himself at the feet of the person he had asked. He still does that. I think he thinks he's part cat sometimes. In the RV, he would crawl into bed with myself or my son at night. Snuggle right up against us under the covers for the heat, but get up to find a sunbeam at the crack of dawn.
When we finally landed again, he continued these behaviors. We were living in AZ and he would sun bath in the window or on the patio, and was digesting his food just fine without the help of a heat rock. Now, we're in a colder climate so we have a heat rock in his favorite window. That way, he can lounge in his favorite place even when it's not that warm. I read on this site that heat rocks aren't a good idea and he needs more UV than he's getting on days that are too cold to go outside. He loves playing in the rain, and will go outside for short periods even when it's a little chilly, but then comes back inside and lays under the heater vent for a bit. He has always (even when he lived in a tank) thought the dog's water dish was his personal hot tub, but hates it with a passion if we put him in the sink or tub. He won't eat anything that isn't moving or a plant, and spits his food back out if we dust or inject or soak it. He's not fond of crickets but will eat them if nothing else is available. His favorite live food we've found are superworms, but now that I know about Pheonix Worms, I'm excited to see how he likes them. I put in an order this evening. =D He likes the crunch of iceburg lettuce as a treat sometimes, but his favorite plants are snap peas and orange peels. We basically share whatever fruits/vegetables we buy for ourselves with him, and eat a diet heavy in fresh, varied, organic produce - so he has just as healthy and varied a diet as us. He would only eat our other foods if he was starving, I think, so we never even offer those to him. I found a link to nutritional info on this site, and am LOVING the solid info about what's good, bad, and just ok to give him!!!
Now that we're in this colder climate, we are going to get him a new tank. We haven't decided which one to buy for him yet, and I found this site in my research. We do plan to let him come and go from it as he pleases (building a ramp so he doesn't have to ask), but he needs his own space if nothing else.
Buddy came to us out of the blue. A neighbor found out she was pregnant and didn't have room for her 2 large tanks. There was a male beardie in each that didn't get along. She knew we took in rescue animals to rehome and asked us to help. For some reason, no one wanted either of these sweeties, though! They were both great with kids and friendly with our cat and dog, and seemed to enjoy being handled and played with. We did eventually find a home for the other male, but Buddy became a part of the family.
About six months after taking them in, I was offered a job that would put me on the road for the next six months straight. So, my husband and kids and I all packed into an RV and hit the road together. We had a lead on a good home for Buddy that would be ready in "just another week or so", but we couldn't set his tank up in the RV. We agreed to just wing it for a week and take him along without a tank. Luckily, we were traveling mostly in the south, so temps weren't hard on him and he had the time of his life. His potential home flaked out, but by then Buddy had adjusted very well to RV living. He scratched at the door when he wanted out, or climbed up on a seat or bed and head bobbed at someone then ran to the door for them to follow. I think we had about one accident per month, and they were clearly intentional. If we didn't let him out when he asked, he would relieve himself at the feet of the person he had asked. He still does that. I think he thinks he's part cat sometimes. In the RV, he would crawl into bed with myself or my son at night. Snuggle right up against us under the covers for the heat, but get up to find a sunbeam at the crack of dawn.
When we finally landed again, he continued these behaviors. We were living in AZ and he would sun bath in the window or on the patio, and was digesting his food just fine without the help of a heat rock. Now, we're in a colder climate so we have a heat rock in his favorite window. That way, he can lounge in his favorite place even when it's not that warm. I read on this site that heat rocks aren't a good idea and he needs more UV than he's getting on days that are too cold to go outside. He loves playing in the rain, and will go outside for short periods even when it's a little chilly, but then comes back inside and lays under the heater vent for a bit. He has always (even when he lived in a tank) thought the dog's water dish was his personal hot tub, but hates it with a passion if we put him in the sink or tub. He won't eat anything that isn't moving or a plant, and spits his food back out if we dust or inject or soak it. He's not fond of crickets but will eat them if nothing else is available. His favorite live food we've found are superworms, but now that I know about Pheonix Worms, I'm excited to see how he likes them. I put in an order this evening. =D He likes the crunch of iceburg lettuce as a treat sometimes, but his favorite plants are snap peas and orange peels. We basically share whatever fruits/vegetables we buy for ourselves with him, and eat a diet heavy in fresh, varied, organic produce - so he has just as healthy and varied a diet as us. He would only eat our other foods if he was starving, I think, so we never even offer those to him. I found a link to nutritional info on this site, and am LOVING the solid info about what's good, bad, and just ok to give him!!!
Now that we're in this colder climate, we are going to get him a new tank. We haven't decided which one to buy for him yet, and I found this site in my research. We do plan to let him come and go from it as he pleases (building a ramp so he doesn't have to ask), but he needs his own space if nothing else.
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