Questions from a Newbie

[PlantQueen]

I'm sure I'll have a lot more questions as I go along, but here are the two that I'm wondering right now.

I have no idea how old my little Stanley is. The pet store wasn't much help in that area. He's just over three inches long from the tip of his nose to the base of his tail. Anybody have an idea of how old he might be?

Also, I'm really interested in getting him used to being on a leash. I'm assuming that the sooner you get them used to being on a leash, the better. Do they make leashes for a beardie his size? Where do I go for one? The pet store where he came from had large size leashes for when he gets full-sized, but nothing for as little as he is.

 

[Lena]

Hi there! Maybe I can help.

3 inches head to tail - Given that he's been eating properly and nothing has stunted his growth - leads me to believe he couldn't be more than a month old. But of course, growth rate depends on heredity as well!

As for the leash, to avoid any injuries, I'd suggest you don't start working on that until your bearded dragon is maybe 12-14 inches and comfortable with being handled.

 

[PlantQueen]

Bummer. I was hoping to leash him sooner. But he has just started a shed, so he's growing.

And thanks for the age help!

 

[peera]

Actually, in my experience, older dragons deal with being leashed better than babies just because they're calmer about most things. A baby will freak out about smaller things.

 

[Freeie]

Yep babys are alot more skiddish about everything and everything the older they get the calmer they are about stuff.

 

[lacy_black]

Three inches sounds like a newborn unless there's some type of midget gene like a few pictures i've seen springing up lately.

 

[PlantQueen]

They've got some for sale right now at Petsmart who are half the size of my little beardie. Maybe they're the dwarf type. I couldn't believe how little they were!

 

[Lena]

They've got some for sale right now at Petsmart who are half the size of my little beardie. Maybe they're the dwarf type. I couldn't believe how little they were!

Petsmart always sells them too young. Far younger than most breeders hold their hatchlings before sale.