It all started with a tarantula about a year and a half ago. I just wanted an interesting, low maintenance pet.
While surfing the tarantula forums I kept seeing stuff about crested geckos. Ohhh I think; "They're cute and easy to take care of!". Then I couldn't decide if I wanted a crested or a leopard or a gargoyle.... so of course by now I have 5 cresteds, 3 leos and a gargoyle. (plus a few of the tarantulas!)
With my new love of geckos I of had to hit up the local reptile expo that came to town a few weeks ago. That's where I fell in love all over again.
I'd read a little about bearded dragons, but honestly with the heating requirements, the veggies, the size of them I wrote it all off as too much effort and thought I'd stick to my geckos.
Then at the show there were beardies everywhere. I think I knew the battle was over when we were at a table that had a big adult just stretched out under a lamp. Everyone was petting him and all around, but he didn't care, he loved the attention. I picked up one of the babies in a tub next to him and the little girl just curled up in my hand and went to sleep. Right in the middle of all the noise and stuff!!
Figuring I have a empty 40 gallon long tank at home I gave in and started asking the breeder some questions. This is where I wish I'd thought more about what I've read online.
He tells me that with a 40 I should get a male and a female because I can just partition the tank with cardboard and when they get too big for that they'll live together just fine. I had my doubts, but figured a breeder would know his stuff and took home my new babies, Ony and Nef. (yes, I'm a video game geek)
Well!! I got them all set up and hit the internet to find out the guy was just trying to sell another baby because what he told me about living requirements was a plain old lie. Lucky for me I have a friend nearby who was in the market for another reptile pet and agreed to take one of them and give it a great home next month.
We got the tank all setup and have been getting schooled in beardies a little more every day. For example, no one tells you they can teleport!! Fast little guys when they want to be!
A week later they were both happy as can be, eating, pooping, sunning and running around. Then they discovered the cardboard. I looked over and they were on top of each other under the basking light. I chased Ony back to her side and fixed it. Looked over again and this time Nef was on her side hanging out. After try 3 where they just decided to switch sides I gave up and figured they should be OK together for a few weeks. Of course we've been watching carefully for any signs of aggression, thankfully they've been little angels.
It's been a busy, expensive 2 weeks but we're now just in love with them. It's going to be hard to give one up even, but there just is no room for another tank. We each take one out and sit on the couch and the little guys just burrow into our hands and relax there. They look so happy when they get attention! Oh and they LOVE getting sprayed. It's like the sound scares them for a second and then they feel the water and I swear they smile.
Anyway, sorry for the book! As you can tell I'm pretty fascinated with the little ones and I like to babble. Now for the good stuff - pictures!
They were finishing up a shed when I took these, so don't mind the lose scales lol.
Here's Ony, she's slightly bigger than her little brother.
And our little guy Nef. He gets a deathgrip on a finger and just will not let go. After these I sat around for a good half an hour with him just sitting there napping. We've gotten more attached to him, so when the time comes we'll probably be giving Ony to my friend and keeping him.
I'll have more soon I'm sure, and I'll probably use this as a place to babble about every adorable little thing they do on a daily basis
I also have a bunch of pictures of the gecko army if anyone is interested, I wasn't sure if I should include them in here.
While surfing the tarantula forums I kept seeing stuff about crested geckos. Ohhh I think; "They're cute and easy to take care of!". Then I couldn't decide if I wanted a crested or a leopard or a gargoyle.... so of course by now I have 5 cresteds, 3 leos and a gargoyle. (plus a few of the tarantulas!)
With my new love of geckos I of had to hit up the local reptile expo that came to town a few weeks ago. That's where I fell in love all over again.
I'd read a little about bearded dragons, but honestly with the heating requirements, the veggies, the size of them I wrote it all off as too much effort and thought I'd stick to my geckos.
Then at the show there were beardies everywhere. I think I knew the battle was over when we were at a table that had a big adult just stretched out under a lamp. Everyone was petting him and all around, but he didn't care, he loved the attention. I picked up one of the babies in a tub next to him and the little girl just curled up in my hand and went to sleep. Right in the middle of all the noise and stuff!!
Figuring I have a empty 40 gallon long tank at home I gave in and started asking the breeder some questions. This is where I wish I'd thought more about what I've read online.
He tells me that with a 40 I should get a male and a female because I can just partition the tank with cardboard and when they get too big for that they'll live together just fine. I had my doubts, but figured a breeder would know his stuff and took home my new babies, Ony and Nef. (yes, I'm a video game geek)
Well!! I got them all set up and hit the internet to find out the guy was just trying to sell another baby because what he told me about living requirements was a plain old lie. Lucky for me I have a friend nearby who was in the market for another reptile pet and agreed to take one of them and give it a great home next month.
We got the tank all setup and have been getting schooled in beardies a little more every day. For example, no one tells you they can teleport!! Fast little guys when they want to be!
A week later they were both happy as can be, eating, pooping, sunning and running around. Then they discovered the cardboard. I looked over and they were on top of each other under the basking light. I chased Ony back to her side and fixed it. Looked over again and this time Nef was on her side hanging out. After try 3 where they just decided to switch sides I gave up and figured they should be OK together for a few weeks. Of course we've been watching carefully for any signs of aggression, thankfully they've been little angels.
It's been a busy, expensive 2 weeks but we're now just in love with them. It's going to be hard to give one up even, but there just is no room for another tank. We each take one out and sit on the couch and the little guys just burrow into our hands and relax there. They look so happy when they get attention! Oh and they LOVE getting sprayed. It's like the sound scares them for a second and then they feel the water and I swear they smile.
Anyway, sorry for the book! As you can tell I'm pretty fascinated with the little ones and I like to babble. Now for the good stuff - pictures!
They were finishing up a shed when I took these, so don't mind the lose scales lol.
Here's Ony, she's slightly bigger than her little brother.
And our little guy Nef. He gets a deathgrip on a finger and just will not let go. After these I sat around for a good half an hour with him just sitting there napping. We've gotten more attached to him, so when the time comes we'll probably be giving Ony to my friend and keeping him.
I'll have more soon I'm sure, and I'll probably use this as a place to babble about every adorable little thing they do on a daily basis
I also have a bunch of pictures of the gecko army if anyone is interested, I wasn't sure if I should include them in here.