paranoid beardie owner

[kelseycg1917]

Where did you get your beardie from? And how old is he?



I just went through the memorials and am now being a paranoid beardie owner. I got my beardie from the petstore as there are no breeders in my area, and now am just over worrying about myself about my beardies life span. He is only a few months old...

 

[Taterbug]

My first dragon was from a petstore, and didn't have a super good life growing up. He lived to be 6 or 7 years old, and I bet would have been going longer if we had raised him ourselves. We were his second home.

Some babies don't make it, and there are lots and lots of reasons. Just as some hard luck dragons pull through, there are many success stories on this board.

If your husbandry is correct and you are conscientious about your dragons life and habits you will be doing what you can to ensure it has a good long life.

 

[Ralis]

My first was from PetSmart and in hindsight much too small to be sold. He simply didn't thrive and passed away a couple of weeks after I brought him home. My second is from Petco, much healthier and he was much bigger when I brought him home. I've had him about 6-7 weeks now I think. I think he's about 5-5.5 months old and is a whopping 13 inches long already.

I know a lot of people on the boards have picked up beardies from pet stores and had no problems with them

 

[kelseycg1917]

I'd like to post a picture of mine so I can show you guys his size. How do I do that?



The pet store said he's about 3 months old but I've seen super tiny ones and I think he is a decent size.

 

[Taterbug]

here is a guide to sharing photos.

I hate seeing pet stores selling little bitty babies, they can't be very old at all. They are adorable (and I bet sell fast) but unless you are ready for it, probably too hard for first time keepers to take care of. Especially with pet store advice.

I look forward to seeing your little one!

 

[diamc]

We rescued 4 pet store beardies and the oldest lived to be 11 years old, we had him since he was about 4 wks of age.

 

[kelseycg1917]

Thanks for the help!

Here are some pictures of Albus:

 

[jovski]

I got my baby from a 'breeder' - in all reality it was a guy with two beardies trying to make some quick cash. My baby is missing the back feet and part of the tail. I think pet shop babies can have just as healthy lives as ones from a breeder. It depends on their early care i think. So called breeders can be just as bad as pet stores for care of their animals.

 

[Taterbug]

Poor little guy!
I totally agree, there are just as many crummy breeders as pet stores.
It can depend on who is in charge of the livestock at the pet store too. Some get the cheep "normals" breeders don't want regardless of lineage or health. Others get good healthy animals.

 

[chromesaurus]

Poor little tyke! Yes, some breeders classify themselves as "professionals" just to get money. It's nice to research the breeder first. (I'm also a month late on this. Oops.)

 

[jovski]

My local pet shop breeds his beardies himself and they are fed very well - he has his own dubia colonies to feed his stock. They're all super healthy, housed well and none have nips. I'd be happy to get a beardie from him. But at the same time i know of another local pet shop that doesn't look after theirs and they live in terrible conditions. It depends on the individual shop

 

[chromesaurus]

Yes, it does. At my local shop, they look completely healthy, but the terrarium has a bit too much humidity. I brought this up and I believe they changed it There's also another shop that has beautiful beardies in peak living conditions.