torn

[ohazombie]

I just went to PetSmart to buy bedding for my three mice, but while I was there I stumbled upon a young bearded dragon. I'm going to be getting my first bearded dragon soon, and I've been talking to a breeder for quite some time about purchasing a beautiful orange hypo dragon from her, but I've fallen in love with this bearded dragon at at PetSmart. My heart say to go with dragon I just saw, but I still adore the bearded dragon from the breeder.

I know its generally not a good thing to buy from pet stores, but I think this PetSmart takes better care of its animal than even the reptile store near my fathers house. The bearded dragon looks pretty healthy, aside from stess marks. Its not on loose substrate, fat, very alert (came right up to the glass) and is caged by itself (has all its toes and a full tail)

Should I go with what my heart tells me or should I stick with my intial choice and not disappoint the breeder I was talking to? I don't know what to do.

 

[mickeysmomma]

I would get the one you have your heart set on. Because, once you have one beardie, you will want another! LOL

I got one of my beardies from pet smart, and he is gorgeous orange/yellow!

 

[bambichik39]

A lot of people who get reptiles from breeders have done a lot of research and are serious about providing the proper care needed for a bearded dragon. A lot of people who buy from Petsmart buy on impulse- so it seems more of them go to poor homes because the owners are less/wrongfully educated on how to care for the animal. So, I'd go for the one at Petsmart. More than likely the one from the breeder will find a great home, while the one at petsmart is less likely to get someone truly passionate about supplying the proper care. So, I'd say go with your heart and get the one from Petsmart!

 

[catUK]

A lot of people who get reptiles from breeders have done a lot of research and are serious about providing the proper care needed for a bearded dragon. A lot of people who buy from Petsmart buy on impulse- so it seems more of them go to poor homes because the owners are less/wrongfully educated on how to care for the animal. So, I'd go for the one at Petsmart. More than likely the one from the breeder will find a great home, while the one at petsmart is less likely to get someone truly passionate about supplying the proper care. So, I'd say go with your heart and get the one from Petsmart!

thats a good way to look at it. go with your heart and "save" the beradie from petsmart

 

[EShell]

This topic came up not long ago: http://www.beardeddragon.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=133571

In short, I'd only buy from a pet shop if I had enough experience to select an animal that that is likely to survive and even flourish. Otherwise, the reputable breeder is the safest bet for a healthy and happy lizard.

Some pet store animals, even if they do "make it", are stunted before they're sold, through poor care, insufficient UVB (if any at all), bedded on loose substrate and being fed incorrect food items. Not so great buying a little guy that is already becoming impacted from living on sand and eating mealworms (pet store's most insidious abuse), but won't die until you've fooled with him for a week or so.

 

[mickeysmomma]

One of my beardies is from Pet Smart, and he is a happy, healthy beardie! Nothing wrong with him. They seem to sell them when they are very young at Pet Smart...so they don't have to much time to 'ruin' them.

And, mine was not an impule buy. I already had a beardie,and wanted another. I didn't know about breeders/repitle shows, etc.

Believe me, I have seen some very sick, even dead beardies at Pet Smart....but don't think buying one from there is a bad decision. I would buy all of them from there if I could...just to save them from that small tank they live in, and give them a better, healthy life.

 

[DoDaMAn]

I have one from Petsmart and another from a breeder. The BD from petsmart is the most gentile BD I have seen. I can walk through the house with Her on my shoulder. Never had anything wrong with it yet ( knock on wood ) and the one from the breeder I am still trying to get it to be gentile. Cant even touch it. She will try and bite, she runs and hides whenever I put my hand in the tank, not saying it's the breeders fault. I just think the BD's from Petsmart are used to being handled more! Just my .02

 

[ohazombie]

I think I'm going to go with the one from PetSmart. I think I can take better care of the bearded dragon from there, since I'm only sixteen and I'm paying for the bearded dragon's needs myself. I really like both, but like bambichik39 said, the bearded dragon at PetSmart will probably go to someone who doesn't know much about bearded dragons, while the one from the breeder will probably go to good home. Hopefully its still there when I go later today.

Thank you everyone who replied.

 

[catUK]

hope he's still there. Post some pics when you get him