Should I?

[Enderess]

First off, thanks guys!

A few months ago, if you asked if I were a reptile person, I would have said "NUUU! EW!", but ever since I opened up, and eventually joined this wonderful community, I now have a deep love for these awesome reptiles, so, thanks for all your help!

Anyways, thanks to you guys, I am preparing a tank for my first bearded dragon! (In fact, my first reptile ever..) and am now searching for one. I currently am looking for one, and am also considering an adult, since the price for food is a lot cheaper than that of a juvie/baby. On craigslist I found two listings in my area of male adult beardies for sale. One person never got back to me, and the other person did.

My main issue is that the setup doesn't look very good, and I don't know if the bearded dragon is supposed to be so dark like in the picture, and it doesn't look like the people are using a tube UVB light. The beardy is also 6 years old, and I am wondering if that is a good or bad age to adopt one at. I am currently hoping for a response from the other person, hopefully they get back to me.

I am going over to see it tomorrow.

What do you guys think?

Thanks!

Regards,

Enderess

 

[Chanza]

Ask them if they handle the dragon regularly, as this will mean he has a good temper. Bearded dragons usually live for about 10 years, so 6 years is a decently good age but you'd only have him for about four years. Personally, I would reccomended getting a juvie or 2yr old dragon as you have more time to bond with it and it will probably be in better care as you are taking care of it yourself. As for the darker coloration, it could just be it genetics or it grew to become that color. It's probably a good idea to buy a beardie from a exotic petstore or qualified breeder, but if you can find a healthy beardie for sale and the people are nice and have taken good care of it, it'll be a good beardie. Hope this helped!

 

[Gormagon]

This is an older post but,

Sounds like you are going to be rescuing this dragon. Depending on his health, it could be easy to straighten up or, it could be dificult. Either way it sounds like you are going to be doing him a big favor in the long run.

 

[Chanza]

Sounds like you are going to be rescuing this dragon. Depending on his health, it could be easy to straighten up or, it could be dificult. Either way it sounds like you are going to be doing him a big favor in the long run.

Yes it does sound like he would enjoy a new owner. Perhaps you can owner a younger dragon in future if you enjoy this dragon if you do adopt him.

 

[Reptilelady]

I think you should as it seems you might be rescuing this dragon. It will be beneficial for the both of you in my opinion. He needs a good home and sounds like you are willing to do that. Even if they did not provide the right UVB lighting you can fix their issues and you can feel good about yourself that you are saving a dragon from harm. You have people like us to help you and guide you through nurturing this dragon to its full health potential. Yes you should save this beardie and beardie will love you too! <3 <3

 

[AHBD]

This is actually a brand new post Gormagon, if I'm seeing the date correctly.
Enderess, can you post the ad + all the pics here ? It would be great to give a needy dragon a home but you want to try to be sure he doesn't have major health issues.

 

[Gormagon]

This is actually a brand new post Gormagon, if I'm seeing the date correctly.
Enderess, can you post the ad + all the pics here ? It would be great to give a needy dragon a home but you want to try to be sure he doesn't have major health issues.

Ya, I miss read the date, I though it said Jan 7, ooooops! It was late and, I was up past my old peoples bedtime, lol!!!

 

[AHBD]

Oh well, I can see that happening very easily if you were past the recommended senior bedtime, especially if you might have missed a mid-day nap. :lol: I'm pretty near that age myself.

 

[Gormagon]

Oh well, I can see that happening very easily if you were past the recommended senior bedtime, especially if you might have missed a mid-day nap. :lol: I'm pretty near that age myself.

Nap??? What's that? Lol!

 

[SHBailey]

I think getting an adult for your first one is a good idea. I also recommend that you find yourself a good qualified experienced reptile vet before you get the beardie, and if you decide to take this particular one you might want to have the vet check him(?) out as soon as possible, maybe even before you take him if that can be arranged, so that you can find out if you are going to have any major health issues to deal with, and make an informed decision about whether or not you want to take that on.

Lots of other good advice has already been said.

BTW, Gormagon, a "nap" is something you do in the middle of the day when you don't have enough energy left to do much of anything else anymore. If you're lucky, you get your "second wind" and then you can get up and do a little bit more later in the day. If not, you end up sleeping until the next morning and still have a hard time dragging yourself out of bed. At least, that's how it seems to work for me lately. Getting old sucks. :bleick:

 

[Gormagon]

I think getting an adult for your first one is a good idea. I also recommend that you find yourself a good qualified experienced reptile vet before you get the beardie, and if you decide to take this particular one you might want to have the vet check him(?) out as soon as possible, maybe even before you take him if that can be arranged, so that you can find out if you are going to have any major health issues to deal with, and make an informed decision about whether or not you want to take that on.

Lots of other good advice has already been said.

BTW, Gormagon, a "nap" is something you do in the middle of the day when you don't have enough energy left to do much of anything else anymore. If you're lucky, you get your "second wind" and then you can get up and do a little bit more later in the day. If not, you end up sleeping until the next morning and still have a hard time dragging yourself out of bed. At least, that's how it seems to work for me lately. Getting old sucks. :bleick:

Oh, that, lol!!!

 

[Enderess]

Ask them if they handle the dragon regularly, as this will mean he has a good temper. Bearded dragons usually live for about 10 years, so 6 years is a decently good age but you'd only have him for about four years. Personally, I would reccomended getting a juvie or 2yr old dragon as you have more time to bond with it and it will probably be in better care as you are taking care of it yourself. As for the darker coloration, it could just be it genetics or it grew to become that color. It's probably a good idea to buy a beardie from a exotic petstore or qualified breeder, but if you can find a healthy beardie for sale and the people are nice and have taken good care of it, it'll be a good beardie. Hope this helped!

Sorry for getting back to you so late!

I did ask, and they said that their daughter was handling him regularly, and they seemed like nice people, so hopefully he is tame

As I said in the post I am going to go see him later today with my parents. Wish me luck!

 

[Enderess]

I think getting an adult for your first one is a good idea. I also recommend that you find yourself a good qualified experienced reptile vet before you get the beardie, and if you decide to take this particular one you might want to have the vet check him(?) out as soon as possible, maybe even before you take him if that can be arranged, so that you can find out if you are going to have any major health issues to deal with, and make an informed decision about whether or not you want to take that on.

Lots of other good advice has already been said.

BTW, Gormagon, a "nap" is something you do in the middle of the day when you don't have enough energy left to do much of anything else anymore. If you're lucky, you get your "second wind" and then you can get up and do a little bit more later in the day. If not, you end up sleeping until the next morning and still have a hard time dragging yourself out of bed. At least, that's how it seems to work for me lately. Getting old sucks. :bleick:

Thanks for the advice!

I was originally considering getting a baby, but with past experience from rodents (and pretty much any other animal), they get sick easier (I remember a while ago my parents got me a baby rat, and it died a week later from a sickness that it was hiding), not to mention, the pricing for their diet is ridiculously expensive, and I'm newer to reptiles

I'll talk to my parents about the vet visit, and try to get him in as soon as possible.

Thanks!

Enderess

 

[Enderess]

This is an older post but,

Sounds like you are going to be rescuing this dragon. Depending on his health, it could be easy to straighten up or, it could be dificult. Either way it sounds like you are going to be doing him a big favor in the long run.

I totally agree! I was just wondering your input on it!

By the way... are their scales normally a darker shade? It might just be the picture, but it looks very dark..

 

[Gormagon]

This is an older post but,

Sounds like you are going to be rescuing this dragon. Depending on his health, it could be easy to straighten up or, it could be dificult. Either way it sounds like you are going to be doing him a big favor in the long run.

I totally agree! I was just wondering your input on it!

By the way... are their scales normally a darker shade? It might just be the picture, but it looks very dark..

This happens when the heat is to low. They darken their skin to absorb heat.