Thinking of getting a second beardie. Advice needed

[alagan182]

My bearded dragon is currently about 9 years old. And I have the opportunity to rescue a second bearded dragon whose age is unsure the labeled as a sub adult.

I've done lots of research into this but still can't find the answers to what I specifically would like to know. I don't plan on housing in together. I do plan on having them in the same room however if possible. So I know that I can always just put cardboard up for they can't see each others tanks if need be but currently I get my girl out about three or four times a day sometimes I let her roam and sometimes I just sit with her for a minute. She really enjoys being handled.

So basically I don't want to stop doing that and I would enjoy doing it with the other one as well and there's not much information on how well two bearded dragons can socialize outside of their tanks. So do you guys see any complications coming up? any tips or advice? do you think it's a good idea or not? Just looking for opinions.

 

[CooperDragon]

I think they're more likely to get along if they're both female. Their age difference may be an issue but it really comes down to their personalities. If you can keep their tanks isolated using a barrier like you mentioned it should be fine. I wouldn't have them out together, at least until you have a good idea of how they view eachother. Some of the folks on here with multiple dragons may be able to give you more specific advice on this.

 

[tengu1]

Yeh like Cooper Dragon says a barrier between them is most important thing. They will sense there is another beardie around so it doesn't matter if they see each other while one is out. Again like Cooper dragon says two females is a good idea! Males just want to have sex and show who is boss! :lol:

Also after a while maybe they will be nice to each other

I have one female beardie who is a princess but I have a very long ongoing conversation with a member on here who has 4 boys and a girl so I know from talking with her.

Good luck

 

[Pixall]

With this second dragon being a rescue with unknown history, I would strongly advise you to utilize proper quarantine protocol. Separate room if possible.

Beyond the initial period, you should be fine to house them in the same room. You likely will notice some bobbing and waving initially, but this should calm down with time and line-of-sight barriers.

 

[CooperDragon]

With this second dragon being a rescue with unknown history, I would strongly advise you to utilize proper quarantine protocol. Separate room if possible.

Beyond the initial period, you should be fine to house them in the same room. You likely will notice some bobbing and waving initially, but this should calm down with time and line-of-sight barriers.

This is good advice. Do be careful to provide extra sanitization and quarantine methods, especially at first, to prevent possible infections passing between the two. It probably won't be an issue but certainly not worth chancing it.

 

[alagan182]

Any good threads you guys would mind putting a hyperlink to for me?Thanksfor the replies guys I've never even heard of quarantine for a new bd.

 

[Toddzilla1108]

Any good threads you guys would mind putting a hyperlink to for me?Thanksfor the replies guys I've never even heard of quarantine for a new bd.

In a nutshell, it's...don't share anything (i.e. tools) between the two beardies without thoroughly washing them first. I wouldn't share food at all, probably wouldn't feed them to the feeders either. Not sure if it'd be transmittable from a feeder insect but I'd imagine some 'residue' or something would be able to spread if it was eaten by one of the dragons.

If you handle one beardie, be sure to wash your hands before handling the other, maybe designate one room for free space for one beardie and another room for the other.

Things like that.

 

[Pixall]

Any good threads you guys would mind putting a hyperlink to for me?Thanksfor the replies guys I've never even heard of quarantine for a new bd.

In a nutshell, it's...don't share anything (i.e. tools) between the two beardies without thoroughly washing them first. I wouldn't share food at all, probably wouldn't feed them to the feeders either. Not sure if it'd be transmittable from a feeder insect but I'd imagine some 'residue' or something would be able to spread if it was eaten by one of the dragons.

If you handle one beardie, be sure to wash your hands before handling the other, maybe designate one room for free space for one beardie and another room for the other.

Things like that.

Good stuff. Also, always move from established animals to new ones. That is- feed and tend and love on your "old" dragon before washing up and moving on to the new one.

I didn't quite follow the feeders part of the advice above tho, but I'm assuming they mean don't feed leftover salad from the new dragon to your feeder bugs or something like that, which is sound advice.

Qt enclosures should be as simple as possible so they can be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. White paper towel substrate is a good choice so any anomalous anything will be easier to spot.

I'm on a tabletso please forgive the shortness of the reply, and any typos

 

[akacazza]

If your girl is anything like my boy: she will think the whole room, not just the tank, is hers.
My boy spends a good portion of his days out gallivanting or basking by the window - but even before i started doing that, he hated me doing anything in 'his' room (aka anything he could see from his tank) that was an annoyance to him.

I would suggest - if you REALLY want them to interact outside the tanks - wait for them to get use to each other and for you to figure out the new ones personality and temperament - then let them roam together (supervised) in a different room. Not your existing girls room - i know my boy cracks it when even little skincs hang in 'his' lounge, but doesn't mind them in other rooms.

 

[Toddzilla1108]

Any good threads you guys would mind putting a hyperlink to for me?Thanksfor the replies guys I've never even heard of quarantine for a new bd.

In a nutshell, it's...don't share anything (i.e. tools) between the two beardies without thoroughly washing them first. I wouldn't share food at all, probably wouldn't feed them to the feeders either. Not sure if it'd be transmittable from a feeder insect but I'd imagine some 'residue' or something would be able to spread if it was eaten by one of the dragons.

If you handle one beardie, be sure to wash your hands before handling the other, maybe designate one room for free space for one beardie and another room for the other.

Things like that.

Good stuff. Also, always move from established animals to new ones. That is- feed and tend and love on your "old" dragon before washing up and moving on to the new one.

I didn't quite follow the feeders part of the advice above tho, but I'm assuming they mean don't feed leftover salad from the new dragon to your feeder bugs or something like that, which is sound advice.

Qt enclosures should be as simple as possible so they can be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. White paper towel substrate is a good choice so any anomalous anything will be easier to spot.

I'm on a tabletso please forgive the shortness of the reply, and any typos

Yeah reading back on what I wrote...rather terrible grammar.

I was bringing up the point that leftover food from a "contaminated" beardie's tank may then spread the "contamination" to the feeders if fed to them, which could possibly transmit to the healthy beardie. If that makes more sense. Not sure if it would be a likely scenario anyways, but I wouldn't run the risk