Hello, I am new to the forum. I am thinking about getting a bearded dragon in the spring. I have been doing a lot of research and have found this forum to be most helpful as it deals with real issues from real beardie owners.
I do have one concern, though. Every information site or book I've read, I find that people who are pregnant or have children under 5 just shouldn't own reptiles. My husband and I currently don't want any children. We're both trying to finish our respective degrees and our careers are just starting to go somewhere. However, bearded dragons from what I've read live upwards of ten years. That's not to say in the beardie's lifetime we won't change our minds and decide to have kids.
I'm concerned because I'm having difficulties trying to gauge how serious the salmonella threat is to someone who is pregnant or has a young child. I've had several species of pets throughout my life: cats, birds, dogs, rodents, ferrets, fish, amphibians...pretty much the only thing I haven't had is a reptile. No one in my family has ever gotten sick from any of our pets.
From what I've read on this forum, it seems that beardie owners are of an opinion that this threat for normal, healthy people is blown out of proportion. That one is more likely to get sick from undercooked food than a dragon. So, if my husband and I should decide within the next ten years to have children, would it be safe to still have the reptile in the home if he handled the cage cleanings and/or I wore rubber gloves if for some reason I had to do it? (All other hygiene practices would still be followed). Any opinions would be greatly appreciated as as much as I wanted a bearded dragon, I don't want to bring an animal into my home that I may end up having to give up during its lifetime.
Thank you.
I do have one concern, though. Every information site or book I've read, I find that people who are pregnant or have children under 5 just shouldn't own reptiles. My husband and I currently don't want any children. We're both trying to finish our respective degrees and our careers are just starting to go somewhere. However, bearded dragons from what I've read live upwards of ten years. That's not to say in the beardie's lifetime we won't change our minds and decide to have kids.
I'm concerned because I'm having difficulties trying to gauge how serious the salmonella threat is to someone who is pregnant or has a young child. I've had several species of pets throughout my life: cats, birds, dogs, rodents, ferrets, fish, amphibians...pretty much the only thing I haven't had is a reptile. No one in my family has ever gotten sick from any of our pets.
From what I've read on this forum, it seems that beardie owners are of an opinion that this threat for normal, healthy people is blown out of proportion. That one is more likely to get sick from undercooked food than a dragon. So, if my husband and I should decide within the next ten years to have children, would it be safe to still have the reptile in the home if he handled the cage cleanings and/or I wore rubber gloves if for some reason I had to do it? (All other hygiene practices would still be followed). Any opinions would be greatly appreciated as as much as I wanted a bearded dragon, I don't want to bring an animal into my home that I may end up having to give up during its lifetime.
Thank you.