Hello!! Potential new beardie owner!

[eezk]

Hi everyone,

I've recently been thinking about getting a bearded dragon.
I already have a leopard gecko who I absolutely adore but I've always been fascinated by beardies.
I was hoping to get a baby so that it grows up being aware of me personally, and so I can build a trust with it from scratch, however, I'm unsure of which gender/morph etc to go with as a beginner.

I was just looking for any general advice/tips from owners.
I've done research online and I've spoken to people in pet shops (but they don't always hand out the correct advice) but it's always best to speak to someone who has real experience

Thanks!

 

[Drache613]

Moved by Moderator from Introductions to General

 

[sweetiepie9]

For a new owner, you might want to consider an older dragon. But if you want a baby, please find a reputable breeder to get him/her from. Two months old is a good age to get a baby, make sure he/she is eating well, both bugs and greens and is socialized. Check out the Care Sheet above, too, lots of good info on set up, etc. There is also a Newbies Guide to the right that you should read as well. Good luck! As for morph, depends on what you want. There are so many types of dragons now, all colours and types. So much to choose from!

 

[Kingsalmonattack]

Females can lay a lot of infertile eggs. I wish I knew that when I got mine. She was suffering with 13 eggs nearly half the size of her head in her belly and I couldn't figure out why.
So whether you're getting a baby that's too small to sex or you fall for a dragon that happens to be female, take that into account. She'll need a lot of extra nutrition to help her through the harrowing but fascinating process.

 

[19940Holly]

First off I recommend obtaining your dragon from a reputable breeder. You'll pay a lot more than you would at a pet store but it's well worth it. I've raised both male and female babies and honestly the care was the same. Males will get bigger than females and have the potential to be more aggressive. Females run the risk of egg binding but it's not a common occurrence. Be prepared to spend a small fortune on feeder insects. Babies eat A LOT! Adults are easier to care for in that sense, as well as being less skittish. Whether you choose to get an adult, juvenile, male, or female, beardies are fantastic pets! I've been keeping them for 16 years and can't imagine life without them.