Life Span - reality

[mrstuart75]

I know dragons can live up to 20 years or so...but I'd love to hear how long - actually - people have had their dragons for or how long previous ones have lived. Also, if you could mention if your dragon has passed, why it passed. Just curious really.

We have a super guinea pig that is 9 and that's out of the ordinary! I'm really hoping our dragon has the super genes too!!! In 20 years I'll be 54. Here's to hoping!!!

 

[NightmareDisco]

Well, I'm not sure where you got 20 years, usually 8-10 years is realistic with good care. I have head of a few cases of beardies living to be 13, but that is the oldest I have personally heard of. Many people on this site have had beardies for a "full" lifespan. I certainly hope my boy makes it that long, and yours, too!

 

[sweetiepie9]

The oldest beardie I've ever seen on this site was 15 yrs old, her name was Mama. Usually 8-10 yrs, 10 being old for a dragon. Our Lonzo just turned 8 yrs old. He's still very active but he was falling alot, then we changed his furniture around and took out anything high up and he's not falling anymore. He still runs alot, does security checks on his outside time. He's still full of energy, eating well, pooping well, so we're hoping we'll have him for a few more years. Our other beardies are 5 yrs old, 4 yrs old and 2 1/2 yrs old. So if they stay healthy they'll hopefully be around for a few more years.

 

[ziggy23]

20 years has happened, or so I've heard but it's extremely rare. What the previous poster said is more accurate. My first dragon died at 7ish of what was assumed to be old age. But that was a long time ago, we didn't know as much about proper care back then. genetic quality was probably not as good. He was born during the time color phases were still newish and all the rage. As a result there was a lot of inbreeding in an attempt to cash in on the trend.

 

[reptilemaster]

I thought that bearded dragons could only live a maximum of 16 years.

And wow your guinea pig is 9 years old my pig lived like 7 years and I thought that was a long time, I always mised him until I got Basil.

 

[athenacp]

Digger was 8 years 2 months old when he died, its been a month today, sigh

 

[TheWolfmanTom]

8 to 10 is the average.
Most extreme I have come across was 17 years old, or so the claim went.

 

[AlanHJ]

Apperently in the wild they only live 1-2 years. Not the hardiest of creatures I must say, evolution kind of left them behind...
Still quite cute though

 

[Livey]

I have been told of one living to 20 years or so, but i see them pass at 12 years or so normally..

 

[mrstuart75]

AlanHJ: Really, 1-2 years in the wild?!! Evolution didn't leave them behind, they just didn't adapt very well - no survival of the fittest there but still...some days I look at my dragon (and the mere fact I refer to her as a dragon LOL) I don't know how you can not believe in evolution!!! I love it!!


AthenaCP: I'm so sorry, I can't imagine having one for that long and then having to say goodbye did anything precipitate it specifically?


reptilemaster:
yes, Kelvin is OLD - and I looove guinea pigs even though I'm deathly allergic, I could just never part with him. however, had I gotten a bearded dragon first, I can't even say I'd even have dogs. I love the dragon so much and has really turned out to be the best pet I've ever-EVER had!!! (is that bad to say?) I love my poodles - true - but my dragon...has captured my heart!!!
We put our gp in Ormie's house and Ormie flared up her beard and that was the first time and only time I've ever seen her so pissed. hahaha!

everyone else: thank you so much for your replies - I was so bummed out to really hear they don't live as long as I was told. I have to go reread that pet pamphlet that was given with our dragon. I swear it said 20 years. I'll have to inform them.... :mrgreen:

 

[zeppy123]

Zeppelin was five days shy of his estimated eighth birthday. He had lost interest in eating and attention in his last few months and had a small tumor on his left lower abdomen. We don't believe in invasive treatments for older animals due to the low sucess rate and prolonging suffering. I base treatment of animals on what my wishes would be in that situation because they cannot verbally tell me. His last night, he went downhill very quickly. When I picked him up, he was unable to walk purposefully or recognize me (doing attacks which a friend who is a neuroscientist who studies animal consciousness said were at a complete brain stem level with no upper brain function when I described the episode to her (i.e. reflexive so he wasn't suffering at that point). He quickly progressed to complete unconsciousness and passed about an hour later. Zeppy always ran on the skinny side due to being a picky eater, but enjoyed relatively good health for most of his life. This was the first time I was able to write about how I lost him without breaking down since it was so recent and Zeppy was very special to me. My religious beliefs (universalist/believe all mortal beings are restored to God) tell me I will be reunited with him someday and that God will take care of him until then.