Intro and need convincing

[Laurmann2000]

Hi everyone. I just joined this forum today. My name is Laura and I am "thinking" about getting a bearded dragon. Currently I have a ball python and he has really gotten me to be a herp lover. I started looking into other herps and my son mentioned bearded dragons and I think I am in love. My snake is sooooooo easy to take care of though and I'm worried that a beardie is not so easy. So I need convincing. Tell me why you recommend a beardie or why you do not. Advantages, disadvantages, etc. Thank you.

Laura

 

[Mintea Drops]

Beardies are probably some of the easiest herps to take care of. They are incredibly hardy, and relatively calm.

If you love your python, you will most definitely love a beardie, they are incredibly interesting and fun to raise.

I suggest you get one!

 

[akingsley9000]

They are much less maintainence as adults.

Someone one here (sorry can't remember who) said "beardies are like potatoes chips, you can't have just one" at the time i had just gotten Chloe (she was 2 months) and i thought yeah right, i can't even handle the one i've got but then Orion came along and he needed a home so i took him and now i constantly keep an eye out for others that need adopting.

I find that i can't wait to get home at the end of the day to spend time with them and i love watching them run around.

 

[Laurmann2000]

Thanks guys. So far I'm liking what I'm hearing. akingsley Can you elaborate as to how they are less work as adults? Is it only in that they need to be fed less often or are there other factors too? Thanks in advance.

 

[akingsley9000]

Thanks guys. So far I'm liking what I'm hearing. akingsley Can you elaborate as to how they are less work as adults? Is it only in that they need to be fed less often or are there other factors too? Thanks in advance.

They need to have salad everyday but only get 30-50 feeders a week vs 30-50 feeders 2 or 3 times a day.

They only poop every other day or less vs 2-3 times a day.

Right now i have to feed my guys every enough so that the poop before i leave so its not sitting there all day and make sure that i am home no later than 7pm so i have time feed them and give them time to digest their food before the lights go out

I'm sure there is alot more that i am not thinking of at the moment :mrgreen:

 

[Laurmann2000]

Okay, thank you. Yes, now I can see the difference. Learning more and more by the minute thanks to this great forum.

 

[Bamberz1977]

The initial setup can be a bit spendy but after that my husband and I are looking at 50.00 a year for a new MVB.

 

[Laurmann2000]

What's an MVB?
As far as the initial set up, yep, I figure it's going to be pricey. This is one of the reasons I want to make sure that I REALLY want one before spending all that money. Also I'm not in a hurry and will probably get a little at a time until I have the whole setup together. At that time I'll get my beardie.

 

[vickson420]

I have to jump in on this because I love beardies To answer your question an MVB is a mercury vapor bulb.It emits both heat and uvb at the same time and is great for beardies as they need both.

Now the pros:
They are funny,wonderful attentive little animals.They are for the most part extremely sociable towards humans so much so that I believe they actually not only crave but thrive off human attention.Yes the hardest part is getting the initial setup correct in order to ensure proper growth and development but after that things get alot easier.I cannot tell you how many times my little ones have made my family and I laugh hysterically.

Now the cons(if thats what you want to call it)
They need your attention.You cant throw them in the tank and ignore them.They do require vet care as with any other pet.You will fall in love,become their slave and eventually yes you will want more just like pringles

They are a commitment.They are not goldfish.They need you but trust me if your willing to give a little you will get ALOT in return.I call my beardies my scaly puppies because thats what they are.

Vicky

 

[Laurmann2000]

LOL "Scale puppies". As long as I don't have to get up in the middle of the night to take them out for a walk, then I'm good. LOL You guys are doing a very good job of convincing me that I have to have one. Now the hard part...waiting for the right time.

 

[vickson420]

No you dont have to take them out at night since they sleep like the dead I guess you can put this on the pros side.One more pro is that if done correctly you can actually potty train them so they go either in the same spot or in the bath everytime w/o messing up their tanks .There is actually one member on here whos beardie will only go outside on the grass.It doesnt make the winter months easy for her though :wink:.

 

[Sp1ke]

LOL "Scale puppies". As long as I don't have to get up in the middle of the night to take them out for a walk, then I'm good. LOL You guys are doing a very good job of convincing me that I have to have one. Now the hard part...waiting for the right time.

LOL it's always the right time for a beardie! It really is a decision to be considered, but I kinda just jumped into it almost by accident, but I haven't looked back. I'm now a complete slave to my beardie and I can't help but buy him anything I think he MIGHT want :whip:

 

[Laurmann2000]

LOL it's always the right time for a beardie! It really is a decision to be considered, but I kinda just jumped into it almost by accident, but I haven't looked back. I'm now a complete slave to my beardie and I can't help but buy him anything I think he MIGHT want :whip:

Yep, it's getting harder and harder to wait. I actually just got a ball python a month ago and I want to make sure he is well established and eating well before I add another pet. My 9 year old son really wants a beardie badly so I was thinking of making it "his" pet, though I know I'll be the one taking care of it. The thing is I don't want to get him one for no reason. Wouldn't be fair to my other children so I think I am going to wait until Christmas, which is the next occasion. Grrrr, that seems like so far away. I don't want to wait that long but I really think it would be best if I did. Unfortunately his birthday isn't until January so that doesn't give me a better option. In the meantime I will collect information and "stuff" and enjoy my ball python.

Question, do you guys recommend getting a baby, juvenile, sub-adult, or adult beardie? :?:

 

[Sp1ke]

Personaly I got a sub-adult, they are alot easier to care for while still having some youthful behavior. But I really want to ge a baby beardie, I'm just waiting until my fiance and I are completely ready and have all the info we need and get the tank setup perfect before we bring him home.

 

[Laurmann2000]

Thanks sp1ke.