Taking your dragon outdoors

[Pugwinkle]

Do you take your dragons outdoors so they can benefit from the UVB? If so, what do you put them in so they will be safe from neighbourhood predators while being outdoors?

 

[daner923]

I take Max out. I normally just let him run around in the grass, with me very close by. You could also use a plastic rubbermaid storage bin and set up a perch and a shady spot in it. Just don't use a glass container as it will get much too hot very quickly.

 

[SaintJimmy]

We have a UVB bulb (required) but we still take the beardie outside.

Natural sunlight does wonders for all sorts of reptiles. I regret that I may not take my chameleon outside to benefit from the sun because he is a pissy chameleon, so I will take the beardie out instead

 

[Gail]

You can also use a reptile harness.

 

[SaintJimmy]

You can also use a reptile harness.

Oh wow. I will look that up

I wonder if my local mom and pop store has one of those!

 

[Esther19]

If you want to order online, there are some available here on the forum in the "For Sale" section.

 

[JangoMom]

I take Jango outside on a harness

 

[SaintJimmy]

If you want to order online, there are some available here on the forum in the "For Sale" section.

Thank you. I am currently kind of tight on money but I will consider buying my brother a leash for his beardie (well I guess it's "ours". I'm the auntie) as a late bday present.

I want to take it out when it is more comfy with us

 

[kelii]

I take mine outside. We live in an apartment so he rides on my shoulder while I walk to check the mail. If I had a yard I would set up a reptarium for him to sun in, but I do what I can

 

[SaintJimmy]

I take mine outside. We live in an apartment so he rides on my shoulder while I walk to check the mail. If I had a yard I would set up a reptarium for him to sun in, but I do what I can

I kind of want to carry the beardie on my shoulder but have they ever jumped off and hurt themselves?

 

[kelii]

I use a harness just to be safe, but he never tries to go anywhere.

 

[Ophiophilist]

I would love to do that with Iroh this summer, as I live in the south and goodness knows we have hot days with lots of sun, but obviously he's small and I have to be careful. Would taking him out in his big rubbermaid bathtub be okay as long as he was right next to me and I know he can't get out of the tub? I think the natural light probably does wonders for them and I wish I could give him that during his big growth period. I would have to watch him constantly but otherwise are there any issues with it?

 

[Mairzeedotes]

You have to be careful about dogs, cats, and even some birds will swoop down and get them if left unattended in an open container. Also if you leave them out in a screened enclosure, be sure provide a shady area in case they get too hot.

 

[jacody]

I've taken both of mine outdoors.. my vet told me 10 minutes in natural sunlight outdoors is equivalent to 24 hours under their UVB bulb.. I've gotten harnesses from ogleRpets and they looked great, but getting your dragon into one is quite stressful.. you need to be very watchful of them when they're "smelling" w/ their mouths and don't ingest a small rock or even an insect, pesticides in grassy areas and especially the 1st couple times they may panic w/ the air on their scales and the sounds amplified outside.. my male, Crixus, has been out a couple times this spring and does not want to be put down.. when Omni 1st went out she was all over he place and settled on a grassy stump and "made like a tree" and just chilled out..

 

[Ophiophilist]

Well, then, I guess I will get his bathtub (it's white plastic and big enough that he can't climb out) and sit beside him outside in the front yard. I take a lunch break just about every day and would like to spend the time with him, we can bond over things. But of course it's going to storm this week, so I think it's going to be cloudy. Maybe this weekend and next week we can catch some rays together. 10-15 minutes would be good for both of us.

Of course that's all dependent on whether he freaks out or gets too scared, in which case we'll just try again when he's older and bigger.