Is it ok to buy a Bearded Dragon off Craigs List?

[Txshprgal]

My son is 15 and has wanted a Bearded Dragon for some time now. I found a couple on Craig's List for $100 everything included. One claims they do not know the sex and it is two years old. I asked them if it had been socialized....Im still waiting to hear back. Can someone please give me advice if we go the previously loved route? Maybe things to avoid and questions to ask? Also is there a wait time before it should be handled if we keep it in the same enclosure just different location?

Thank you

 

[Taterbug]

My biggest concern about craigslist is that most of the animals I see on there are in pretty bad shape. They can come to you with serious health. It's fine if you are ok with rescuing a pet, but if you aren't prepared it can be a huge shock and frustrating to get a sick pet. Not to mention vet bills can be costly. It can be hugely rewarding to rescue a pet, so please don't get scared off by that, but be prepared.

Familiarize yourself with what a healthy animal should be like, and what an appropriate setup is. Hopefully you can find one that just needs a new home. Older animals in poor setups are likely to have been in them a long time and could be sick from it. I'd also encourage a check up from a good reptile vet so they can help you understand the lizards condition.

Ask about how long they had the animals, about the UVB lights used, how often they are changed and what supplements are used. How often it is fed and poops. If it has ever been sick. Get as much history as possible incase something comes up you can at least have an idea of the animals background. Also, a good deal on an unsuitable cage isn't a deal, as you may need to replace much of it. Read up on the care sheets if you haven't and consider how you would keep the animal as part of you decision.

 

[CooperDragon]

I agree with what Taterbug said. You'll want to be prepared for a dragon who hasn't been kept in ideal conditions. I would try to get as many details about the setup that comes with it as possible. You will want to have a setup that is tuned as well as possible so that the dragon can have a good start and try to get healthy if needed. Having a good herp vet nearby is also a huge bonus, as routine checkups with the vet are recommended. Ask the questions that Taterbug outlined, trying to get as much history as possible to help you make your decision. Be prepared to purchase new/updated equipment and have a stash for vet bills if needed (routine visits aren't too much, $45 at my vet, but specialty treatment and medicine can add up). That said, rescuing an animal who needs a loving home can be incredibly rewarding and I recommend it if you're prepared. We will be happy to help you with any questions you have and to put together a proper setup for your new buddy. Please keep us posted.

 

[timisimaginary]

i wouldn't recommend it. unless you're experienced with bearded dragons and can make an informed determination of its health based on a visual inspection, which i'm guessing is not the case if this is your first beardie, then you just don't know what you're getting yourself into. like they say with used cars, you're probably just buying someone else's problems. and especially since this is for your son, you want to get the healthiest beardie you can find, nothing is sadder than buying a pet for a child only to watch that pet suffer and die. so that means buying from a reputable breeder, not craigslist or a pet store. breeders will be more expensive, but in the long run that's cheaper than buying a sick pet and then having to spend a ton on vet bills and medicines, and worth the money to avoid future heartache.

 

[Taterbug]

Unless you are after a rare or high color dragon, breeder normals are often cheaper than pet store ones. I second not buying from a pet store, especially a chain.

 

[KarenInCA]

If you want to save money, get the enclosure on craigslist (40 gallon breeding tank is the smallest for one BD that you want to get). Sanitize it thoroughly with bleach and water. And purchase everything else new, including the BD. You want to get one that you KNOW how he was handled and taken care of, and you can't really do that off of Craigslist. They can be very sweet socially, but you still won't know how they were taken care of health wise, unless you know what ill health signs to look for. If you do know what to look for in their bones, eyes and skin, then that could be different. But if you are very new to being a BD owner, I don't think I would chance it.
If I could do it all again, I would get one from a reptile show. But I agree, getting one from a reputable breeder is good. Next best would be from a pet shop that specializes in reptiles only, which is where I got ours, but that also had it's downside. It depends on who you talk to and the sales rep you get, that will or will not know a lot for a first time BD owner. I've run in to both at the same reptile shop.
If you get one from a pet shop, try to get one that is at least 4 months old, otherwise the younger they are the more problems you can run in to…they are more skittish and easier to get lost when outside of their enclosure when they are younger. And slower to move (therefore less easily lost) as they get older. The furniture I would also precaution about getting used. They can carry parasites, etc. If you do get the furniture (basking logs, etc) used, be sure to wash fake plants in hot water and bleach, and wash then bake wooden items in very low temp in the oven for about 30 mins to kill any parasites.
Lastly, if you do get anything from Craigslist, no matter what they tell you about the age of the UVB lighting, toss it and get a new one (not the fixture, obviously, but the light itself. The UVB lights should be changed out every 6 months to a year, and you really have no way of knowing WHEN it was last replaced, except for what they tell you.
BDs are very sweet, usually, and are very sociable with their humans.

 

[Taterbug]

Aside from maybe enclosures and light hoods, it's not worth risking buying used equipment. If you get a used enclosure I would also wash it well with a 10% ammonia solution (rinse very well between bleach and ammonia) as some pathogens aren't killed by bleach.