rescue a craigslist beardie or buy one at petsmart?

[beardeddragongirl]

This person is advertising a free beardie on craigslist. He a juvie, gets fed crickets, and is kept on sand. From what I was told, he is aggressive. He bit at least 3-4 people already. Should I rescue this little guy and try to get him friendly? Or should i get a a beardie at petsmart, they are 50% off, and all the babies there are friendly. Deep down I have no idea which one to get. And there is no personal preference. Could you guys help me pick?

 

[AHBD]

Hi there.....well, how do you feel about having to tame the biter ? It may take a while, and it may be pretty traumatized if the people mistreated it. This beardie may have a harder time finding a good home, or may end up with inexperienced people that abuse it since they are not investing anything in it. So.....you might be giving the little biter a much needed good home. Do you have pics of it, and is it a smaller or larger juvie ? Can you see it's condition ? Those may be factors as well. Ultimately it's up to you, so just think seriously before you make a decision, and try to imagine realistically what you are ready to handle. Hopefully you'll be happy with your decision.

 

[beardeddragongirl]

They said he's a year old. But looks like a four month old. I'm saying maybe 7-8 inches max. I never dealt with an aggressive beardie before. I never knew mean beardies ever existed lol.
Let me try to get the picture of him

 

[beardeddragongirl]

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[AHBD]

Cute little guy, looks so innocent + needy....probably about 10" , but at 1 year that is really small. He may have a few health issues down the road as well, but no one can say just how he would turn out. Whatever you think you're up for....I'm sure others will chime in with helpful suggestions.

 

[CooperDragon]

A rescue may be more work (time and patience) and cost more money in terms of possible vet bills as needed. If you are prepared to provide extra care, then the rescue may be a good option. He is probably aggressive because he isn't being treated well and isn't in a comfortable environment. It will take time and patience to make him feel safe and comfortable. In time, he may mellow out. It sounds like he needs a good caring home though. A rescue is rewarding and worthwhile if you have the ability and resources to provide proper care.

 

[beardeddragongirl]

Yeah I totally agree. But because of his dwarf like size, im afraid it may lead to problems in the future. I might go to petsmart in the next couple days to just look at what they got. I haven't been there in a while. ( meaning it's been more than 10 days lol).

 

[Taterbug]

If you are up to the challenge of a rescue then go for it. The only think I can add is to think about what you can afford for rehab or vet bills though. Exotic medicine is expensive. I agree the biting is probably husbandry related, but there is a chance it isn't.

If you prefer a dragon more likely to be healthy try to find a good breeder. IMO petsmart isn't really a good place to buy animals. Chain stores (and even some (ndie ones) sell animals at attractive prices and accompanied by often terrible advice and products. Buying from them (even to "rescue" an animal) does support their corporate practices, so they will continue to offer animals. These sorts of stores are why there are so many abused or abandoned reptiles out there.

There are crappy breeders too, so try to research them before buying - or meet them and their animals before buying. Some will even show you their facilities. Some will also be a good point of contact for questions and stuff like that after you buy, and can usually tell you what the dragons are eating etc. Breeder dragons may already be socialized to people and adjust better when you bring them home.

 

[PastelBeardie]

You'll probably have a better idea of which is the right choice if you go to meet the Craigslist beardie. Then you can see how he'll react to you and get a better idea as to whether or not you think you can handle his behavior.

Petsmart would not be my first choice for getting a beardie. I've seen how they care for them, giving them crickets that are way too large for the tiny babies and cramming them into a small cage. Someone who takes good care of them would be a better choice, IMO.

Or maybe you can find someone who rescues and rehomes beardies. That option worked for me.

 

[Taterbug]

You'll probably have a better idea of which is the right choice if you go to meet the Craigslist beardie. Then you can see how he'll react to you and get a better idea as to whether or not you think you can handle his behavior.

Petsmart would not be my first choice for getting a beardie. I've seen how they care for them, giving them crickets that are way too large for the tiny babies and cramming them into a small cage. Someone who takes good care of them would be a better choice, IMO.

Or maybe you can find someone who rescues and rehomes beardies. That option worked for me.

Also a great idea. If you don't have a rescue in your area (or can't find one) as a vet that sees dragons - they may know of some who are looking for new homes.