Looking for a new home for my 2-year-old bearded dragon Mushu in Atlanta, Georgia

Hello, I'm currently looking to rehome my bearded dragon Mushu. I got him in November 2024 as a rescue from my cousin because she hadn't been giving him the proper care. I've been taking care of him ever since and have made a special connection with him and had lots of fun and bonding time with him but unfortunately, I don't have the time to give him the proper and constant care he deserves. I'm a full-time college student and I'm also going to start working and won't have enough time to check in on him and give him the enrichment and attention he needs. I've contacted a couple of rescues but I also wanted to explore other options as well and I figured someone on here could be a great candidate to care for him. Mushu is very calm, adventurous, and sweet. He loves running around and exploring the house as well as chilling in his basking spot, on his hammock, or in his cat bed in front of the window. He also enjoys taking naps snuggled up against you or in the crook of your neck. He's very well-behaved when it comes to things like trimming his nails or handling him. He loves being pet in between his eyes, right behind his ears, or under his chin. He loves his greens and is not afraid to tackle a big salad. Of the insects I've given him so far he loves dubia roaches and the occasional superworm as a treat. He behaves well when he gets baths although he does try to jump out sometimes, he prefers to poop in the bath but he doesn't mind the occasional poop in his enclosure. I've taken him outside a couple of times since it's gotten warmer and he does prefer either being in his tent enclosure or laying on your chest. Overall he's a sweet pet and is still full of lots of energy.

If anyone is interested I am also willing to supply any of these supplies free of charge:
40-gallon enclosure, 3 digital thermometers, tank background, tank liner, basking platform/hide, slate basking platform (with bricks), calcium with and without D3, lightbulb fixture, reptilian 10.0uvb bulb with fixture, led growlight, digital probe thermometer, kitchen scale for weighing, 2 escape proof insect dishes, reptile hammock, cork bark, timed extension cord for lights, 100w basking bulb, 75w basking bulb, 2 silicone tipped feeding tongs, 1 metal food bowl, 1 plastic food dish, 1 large water bulb, reptizoo insect calcium duster, medium sized pet carrier, small sized pet carrier, and outdoor pet enclosure tent.

 

[RylandBrown]

Hi I'd love to take him if you do shipping and if its free I have no money to buy a bearded dragon, email me at [email protected] I also might need some of the supplies

 

[Sue E.]

Hi I'd love to take him if you do shipping and if its free I have no money to buy a bearded dragon, email me at [email protected] I also might need some of the supplies

Forgive my horning in here, but you may want to consider a different type of pet if you cant afford the beardie itself. Reptiles are VERY expensive to maintain right; think special uvb lighting that must be replaced every 6 to 12 months, vet visits for fecal exams and wellness checks, special feeder insects like dubia roaches and superworms, hornworms, etc that are not cheap and eaten like crazy, the equipment you will need to supplement what you've been given (digital probes, hygrometer, etc), fresh greens of certain types like collards, mustard greens, kale, arugula which can add up unless you have a pesticide-free garden...they need greens daily. Calcium and multivitamin supplements. If you dont give them what they need, your beardie will get very sick very fast, possibly even die. If you are set on a beardie, please take some time to read through the guides and advice on this forum, and get what you need BEFORE you get the dragon, in order to make sure it stays happy and healthy. Best of luck to you.

 

[ChileanTaco]

I just saw this, and I totally agree!
There have been (many) times when I just could not afford a pet. As much as I love pets, and because I love pets, then I got: no pet. The cost of buying it is one thing, but then there are the cost of supplies. And the supplies here include a rather small tank - a larger one would need to be bought.

 

[RylandBrown]

Forgive my horning in here, but you may want to consider a different type of pet if you cant afford the beardie itself. Reptiles are VERY expensive to maintain right; think special uvb lighting that must be replaced every 6 to 12 months, vet visits for fecal exams and wellness checks, special feeder insects like dubia roaches and superworms, hornworms, etc that are not cheap and eaten like crazy, the equipment you will need to supplement what you've been given (digital probes, hygrometer, etc), fresh greens of certain types like collards, mustard greens, kale, arugula which can add up unless you have a pesticide-free garden...they need greens daily. Calcium and multivitamin supplements. If you dont give them what they need, your beardie will get very sick very fast, possibly even die. If you are set on a beardie, please take some time to read through the guides and advice on this forum, and get what you need BEFORE you get the dragon, in order to make sure it stays happy and healthy. Best of luck to you.

I have supplies bc I used to own one but I just need to get feeder insects calcium and some of the extra not needed intirely things

 

[ChileanTaco]

77 is a bit too small.
You would have to buy supplies such as lamps regularly - they burn out more often than lamps for humans. I just bought this week a new UV tube (cost me 40 USD), I buy almost each 2 months another bulb for approx. 20 USD, and then really the food, that's for a healthy dragon.
If you already consider a bearded dragon is too expensive, then I would very strongly suggest to not get one. My personal rule is: If I want a pet for free as I think it's too expensive otherwise, then I at least should have enough money to have bought it, and save the money I had not to spend on pet and supplies - for my pet (so I then save it for my pet).

 

[RylandBrown]

I have a lot of experience with reptiles I just don't have the money to buy one I can afford supplies and I already have the expensive things needed I hope its available to me if not its okay but I just wanted to care for a beardie again

 

[RylandBrown]

77 is a bit too small.
You would have to buy supplies such as lamps regularly - they burn out more often than lamps for humans. I just bought this week a new UV tube (cost me 40 USD), I buy almost each 2 months another bulb for approx. 20 USD, and then really the food, that's for a healthy dragon.
If you already consider a bearded dragon is too expensive, then I would very strongly suggest to not get one. My personal rule is: If I want a pet for free as I think it's too expensive otherwise, then I at least should have enough money to have bought it, and save the money I had not to spend on pet and supplies - for my pet (so I then save it for my pet).

77 is too small? I used to have one in that and it lived quite a while

 

[ChileanTaco]

They can survive in a 77 gallon, but it really is better for many reasons having a larger one, about 120 gallons is recommended and in some countries it is even more otherwise it's against the law.
For comparison, the enclosure I use for my dragon is more than twice the size of the 77 gallon.

 

[RylandBrown]

plus the fact it wont always be in there it will probably be out most of the time and only in there when its anxious or stressed or night or when I'm not home

 

[ChileanTaco]

Giving a beardie the ability to be outside of his enclosure is good. However, your bearded dragon requires heat and UV (during day for many hours), which it would not get outside the enclosure - that outside time thus needs to be limited.
For this reason, a large enclosure is not only to enable a dragon to move around, but also to maintain a temperature gradient. Doable with a 77 g but not optimal.

 

[RylandBrown]

Id like to try if any isn't working out I'll find him a better home but if not then its fine