Travel and vacationing with a beardie

[aarontart16]

so I was jw. How does everybody on here travel with your bearded dragon? Do you pay someone to watch it or take a travel setup? Also if you have any advice on a good travel setup I would love to here it!

 

[CooperDragon]

I usually bring my dragon with me, especially if I'm going away for longer than a couple of days (and even then he comes along because he needs medicine). They all react a bit differently to travel, but in my experience they seem to like it well enough. On the other hand it can be stressful, so I'd take a few test rides around town just to see how yours reacts. I've had both of my dragons on 6+hr car rides with no issues. I pack a duffel bag or big shoebox with a towel in it and some hand warmers on standby for the car ride. A leash is nice for the car too so they don't scoot under your feet while they're wandering around. I also have a 20g wide travel tank that I bring along. It has repti carpet, a log for basking/hiding, mesh top, T8 UVB light tube, a basking light and a lamp stand. I use a duffel bag as a travel tote because it has pockets for things like medicine, extra towels, food, cleaner, temp gun, hand warmers, and other such stuff. As long as you can provide appropriate light when you're at your destination, it works out pretty well. You don't need to worry too much about light during the car ride but if the weather is nice you can make rest stops for natural sunlight.

 

[Taterbug]

I find it's easier to bring Pepper with us if we will be much more than a weekend. He seems to enjoy car rides - when he isn't riding in his cat carrier he will sit on my shoulder or up on the dashboard. He doesn't get to roam though, too many dangerous or inaccessible places for him to get up into.

If he isn't used to traveling your dragon might get stressed and go off food. Pepper has also gone off his poop schedule after some trips.

I have one of these: http://www.target.com/p/sterilite-clearview-latch-storage-tote-purple-110-qt/-/A-13794501#prodSlot=_1_12 as his temp housing. It fits in my trunk/back seat and just gets loaded with his stuff (cage of bugs, salad, paper towels, calcium) and anything else we pack into it. I have a 14" clamp dome that clips on the side for heat, and use paper towel on the bottom. I don't bring UVB, but we haven't traveled with him more than a week and do so infrequently. If you travel a lot/extendedly a UVB wouldn't be a bad idea. A roll of paper towel is good to have within reach should he decide to... unload.

 

[aarontart16]

Wow thanks for the info I use a plasti container almost exactly like that and it seems to work okay. I guess I'm mainly trying to figure if anybody ever leaves them with like a sitter. I'm looking into doing some touring with my band soon and can't decide how I'm going to have him taken care of but I don't want to have to sell him:/

 

[Taterbug]

There are licenced pet sitters who could come in and check on him on a schedule you set, I'm sure. You could ask your vet for a recommendation. Some vets will board reptiles for a fee, so do some pet stores but I personally wouldn't board at a store for health reasons.

I've had friends check in on my animals for trips when we can't travel with them. Do you have a friend or family member you can trust to take care of him?

 

[CooperDragon]

My friend and neighbors checked in on Dundee when we were traveling for 3 weeks. One of the technicians at our vet's office also stops by to check in on /take care of pets. If you leave for just a weekend, an adult dragon is fine unsupervised. If you go for longer than a few days, I'd get someone to stop by to take care of him. You can just write down your routine in an instruction sheet for them to follow and provide the url for this site for help if they get stuck.