Thinking of getting a dragon

[Seachelle]

*pokes fingers together* I guess I'm posting this in the right forum... I tend to lurk on forums but figured I should post at least once and ask advice.

Petco had baby bearded dragons the other day and the girl there let me hold one for a few seconds. I fell in love! So I went home, started studying everything about bearded dragons. Decided in several months, maybe June or July, to maybe get one. But I'm learning everything about them and how to care for them before I even think about getting one. I read about how the habitat should be set up with uvb lights, hidey hole(s), and a basking area. I read about the food and what to feed them and what not feed them. I read how to hold them and to not touch their tail.

I was wanting to ask advice cause I gathered that they could be hard to care for and I want to do it right. I don't think there is a vet around here that looks at bearded dragons, I still need to call two places and ask, though.

But I was wondering how much a baby and an adult dragon eat? I have a 29 gallon right now, do I need bigger when they are a baby or can I wait a few eeks to get a bigger one?

I hope I'm not annoying but I'm wanting to do this right.

 

[Taterbug]

There isn't much we appreciate more than when people come researching and asking before they get a dragon that you are even checking for areas vets is fantastic, so don't worry, it's not annoying.

Babies are more work because they eat and poop more. They can go through 50-100 crickets per day or more (individuals do vary a lot). Adults eat much less live prey and do well on a mostly veggie diet, which is cheep and easy. Husbandry is basically the same and they are pretty docile reptiles. Habitats (and insects for babies) are the most expensive and challenging aspect, really.

A 29 would do for a little one, but will get out grown quickly. Smaller habitats are also more challenging to heat. A 48"x24"x24" is a good size for a juvenile up to a grown adult. It is a lot of space in a room, but these guys can be active and will use even more space if you give it to them. It's pretty easy to build an enclosure if you are at all handy.

As a word of advice, there are many good private breeders (online, at shows or possibly even local to you) where you stand a better chance at getting a healthy well adjusted baby. Pet stores have an aweful track record of ill lizards or ones that fail to thrive. Many stores don't feed them properly or give them proper lighting either

They really are wonderful critters, I love my guy to bits.

 

[Seachelle]

There isn't much we appreciate more than when people come researching and asking before they get a dragon that you are even checking for areas vets is fantastic, so don't worry, it's not annoying.

Babies are more work because they eat and poop more. They can go through 50-100 crickets per day or more (individuals do vary a lot). Adults eat much less live prey and do well on a mostly veggie diet, which is cheep and easy. Husbandry is basically the same and they are pretty docile reptiles. Habitats (and insects for babies) are the most expensive and challenging aspect, really.

A 29 would do for a little one, but will get out grown quickly. Smaller habitats are also more challenging to heat. A 48"x24"x24" is a good size for a juvenile up to a grown adult. It is a lot of space in a room, but these guys can be active and will use even more space if you give it to them. It's pretty easy to build an enclosure if you are at all handy.

As a word of advice, there are many good private breeders (online, at shows or possibly even local to you) where you stand a better chance at getting a healthy well adjusted baby. Pet stores have an aweful track record of ill lizards or ones that fail to thrive. Many stores don't feed them properly or give them proper lighting either

They really are wonderful critters, I love my guy to bits.

One of my best friends used to have one, he lived for a long time before he passed away from old age. She was giving me advice and telling me the stuff to buy, she studies reptiles and such so I trust her. Just wanted some more advice from other owners.

I'm going to be buying everything slowly as I study and such.

She said she let hers outside in their enclosed back yard a lot to play.

I don't know of any breeders around here but I'll look online, I don't trust the overnight shipping online stores.

Do bearded dragons have any kind of parasites that can hurt them and/or effect humans?

Also what kind of worms do they eat?

 

[Taterbug]

I'll take my guy out in the summer too, nothing beats natural sunlight. I keep a close eye on him, we have Hawks that I'm sure would love to try some lizard.

Parasites are common, unfortunately. Low levels are often considered "commensal" and a healthy dragon should keep them in check. Regular fecal tests and worming if neccisary can treat most of them easily though. Coccidia and pinworms are most common, though others aren't unheard of. Some are transferable to humans, but not many. Giardia is one, and salmonella (not a parasite) of course. Good hygiene goes along way.

There are a few worms/larvae on the market. Popular healthful options are black soldier fly larvae (pheonix, calci, repti -worms) silkworms and small hornworms. Popular less healthful options are super worms (morio worms) and larger hornworms. Good treats (but otherwise junk-food like) are wax worms and butter worms. Some keepers also offer earthworms (ones intended for pet food) but there is a variety of opinions on the matter (both keepers and dragons).

 

[Seachelle]

I had to move back home (*failure*) with my grandmother and she isn't very fond of reptiles. I still have to talk her into it, the whole 'my house, my rules' thing. She is a neat freak and hates bugs too.

What can you do about their little claws? I'd be scared to actually clip them. Is there a natural way to wear them down a bit?

 

[CooperDragon]

Nail clippers are actually pretty effective. You can also use an emery board to file them a bit. As for natural ways of trimming them, you could put a slightly rough stone in the enclosure as a basking spot or use a ceramic tile substrate which should keep the nails filed down pretty well.

 

[Seachelle]

Do bites hurt?

 

[Taterbug]

Bites are pretty uncommon and seem to be mostly accidents related to feeding or giving medicine. They can do damage though, a few members have had their finger nails bitten through.

Edit: so, that sounds way creepier than I intended. Bites are pretty rare and usually inconsequential. There is a chance if you get chomped on though.

 

[CooperDragon]

Not really. Bites are usually accidental (associate your fingers with or mistake them for food). If they catch you with the sharp front tooth it can cause a pinch or a little bleeding (think pin prick) but other than that its not a big deal at all. They don't mean any harm to their people.

 

[premammalian]

Bearded dragons are one of the easiest diurnal lizards, otherwise they wouldn't be so common. A larger juvenile or adult is preferable, as it will be established and eat larger items. Babies are fragile, the smaller ones need feeding two or three times per day with as many insects as they can, insects should be small, all their conditions must be monitored constantly. Because they grow so fast, nutrient balance in food and calcium levels are very important.
Natural sunlight is the best, if you can pen them outside in summer safely, do it.
The potential of parasites and bacteria harming both dragons and humans can be minmized if your dragon is healthy, well cared for, and feces are removed as soon as they appear. For that reason, and because these dragons are overall healthier, please buy from breeders, either professional or hobbyist.
Bearded dragons nearly never bite, and if you are bitten, it would not be a serious issue.
Bearded dragons eat nearly everything, but that doesn't mean that everything is healthy for them. Try to have a variety of foods, not only worms and a few vegetables.

 

[Seachelle]

Do they only eat crickets one day them worms the next or can you mix it up where they eat crickets and worms? I also saw on one site that it can be hard to get them to eat the salad stuff.

Is it okay to buy the salad and fruits and vegetables at a store like Walmart? Or does it have to be home grown with no pesticides or anything? What's the best thins to feed them? *actually taking notes on paper*

 

[NattyB]

Firstly - get one!! I got my baby at 6 weeks and she just turned one!! I work at a wildlife sanctuary and as much as I see koalas and squirrel gliders etc I am always lured towards the cold blooded side.

Just do the basics and they will - be fine. Get the following things right and all will follow. The terrarium at least 40 gal, heat lamp, uv light. Use newspaper not sand - not good to digest. Calcium powder (I put on her salad - she loves it), bath twice a week - more if shedding.

lots of lizard cuddles. My girl has run of the house most days and loves spending her time bathing on the kids window sills.

She is definatley a great part of the family!

 

[Seachelle]

I told the grandmother today and I was asked to ask about secure bug containers, cleaning advice and if they can be trained not to poop on you

 

[NatashaFatality]

I told the grandmother today and I was asked to ask about secure bug containers, cleaning advice and if they can be trained not to poop on you

There are many secure bug containers. You can get cricket keepers for your crickets. Dubia roaches won't climb smooth sides. I have a colony in a rubbermaid container with no escapees. Most worms come in containers that you can keep them in and they can't get out.

 

[Ofthelime]

I'm not going to go over everything with you because I know others will. What I want to say to you as a buyer beware, Petco does not take care of their dragons properly. Make sure he is healthy when you get him. I have seen mouth rot, tail rot, yellow fungus, attacks, MBD, the guy feeding them oats, and many lehargic dragons there. When I got mine there he seemed the healthiest, he indeed was (one week later the rest of them had yellow fungus). After I had brought him home I noticed he was just starting to show signs of MBD, I corrected this before he got deformed. About a month later as he grew I had also noticed the very tip of his tail was staying the same diameter, this was because it was necrotic. Eventually it fell off and never spread (thank goodness). I would say Lenny is a lucky dragon.
I have actually gotten to the point where I don't ever want to shop there again.