Should i own a bearded dragon???

[evie123]

Okay, so i’m 13 and i have recently fell in love with bearded dragons. Every spare minute i have i am learning about them and how to take care of them. I have spoken to my Mum about it and she said i could have one - but i’m not sure if i’m a fit owner. I stay at my Mums house on a weekday (i am also at school during that time) and my dads on a weekend. If i were to get a beardie, would i be able to get an enclosure at my dads? Would it be okay for the bearded dragon to travel every week?

Thankyou for your feedback

 

[lizardmom25]

Could your mom care for it when you are at your Dad's? that would probably be the best solution, rather than having 2 setups and transferring it constantly.

 

[Ellentomologist]

Hi Evie,

I would talk to your dad about your pet as well, though as LizardMom suggested, if your mother can take care of her "grandlizard" over the weekends, that might be the best solution. The fact that you are not certain if you are a fit caretaker implies that you have likely put a lot of thought into it already...

Here's me advice - Go through and make sure you have the funding for everything your beardie might need, including food and yearly veterinary visits. Make a beardie budget and talk through it with your parents, maybe post it on here to make sure you aren't forgetting anything. If you are a responsible kiddo - and it sounds like you are - making this list will likely reveal anything you aren't prepared to handle.

On that note, at 13 you're ~5 years from potentially going to college... Depending on where you go, lizards may not be allowed on campus. You should prepare for that eventually as well, since these guys can live longer than that, and/or anything similar like if your family is moving or if you have interest in working/studying abroad or joining the millitary, etc. Again, if your parents can care for the lizard for a couple years if need be, you're probably good.

My guess is that you would be a perfect beardie owner, though. Do keep us updated either way! And if you have any questions, let me know.

 

[evie123]

Hi Evie,

I would talk to your dad about your pet as well, though as LizardMom suggested, if your mother can take care of her "grandlizard" over the weekends, that might be the best solution. The fact that you are not certain if you are a fit caretaker implies that you have likely put a lot of thought into it already...

Here's me advice - Go through and make sure you have the funding for everything your beardie might need, including food and yearly veterinary visits. Make a beardie budget and talk through it with your parents, maybe post it on here to make sure you aren't forgetting anything. If you are a responsible kiddo - and it sounds like you are - making this list will likely reveal anything you aren't prepared to handle.

On that note, at 13 you're ~5 years from potentially going to college... Depending on where you go, lizards may not be allowed on campus. You should prepare for that eventually as well, since these guys can live longer than that, and/or anything similar like if your family is moving or if you have interest in working/studying abroad or joining the millitary, etc. Again, if your parents can care for the lizard for a couple years if need be, you're probably good.

My guess is that you would be a perfect beardie owner, though. Do keep us updated either way! And if you have any questions, let me know.

Thankyou so much for your advice!! I am saving up any money i have and am very close to being able to get everything (like the tank, UVB lights, heat lamps and other essentials) and i am talking to my parents about the best possible situation for owning a bearded dragon. So for they both seem supportive of me owning one - so i’m very excited!! Again, thankyou for the feedback - and will post a picture of my beardie if i do get one (fingers crossed!!)

 

[QuinnF]

I have a friend who has a similar setup two tanks at espérate houses and he brings his beardie back and fourth and as far as I know it works fine. Beardies are a big commitment but they are soooooo much fun

 

[Martadragon017]

Just thought to show you this thread: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=241185
It really shows how expensive beardies are, so you can prepare ahead of time! I hope that everything works out and you get a dragon!