What is the best way to bring a beardie baby home?

[DearNismo]

Hello,
My name is Ciara and I'm new here.
Last night I bought a baby bearded dragon from pet smart. They put it in a small container with holes on the top. I have about an hour drive home. I check on him every few minutes and he seemed fine, I even turned the floor heat on in the car to try to keep him warm since it was in the 70s.
A few minutes before I got home, I check on him and he was dead.
I don't know what happened.
I am going tonight to get another one, but I just need to know the proper way to get him home safe.
I am not new to reptiles, but I am new to Beardies.
Thanks for your time.

 

[Mistyck]

I doubt it was the way you brought him home, (though you didn't need to turn the heat on...) I'm betting it was because it was a pet store beardie, and they don't take care of them properly.

 

[DearNismo]

I doubt it was the way you brought him home, (though you didn't need to turn the heat on...) I'm betting it was because it was a pet store beardie, and they don't take care of them properly.

That's sad. :/
I am going to get another one tonight. Any advice? Should I put him in a critter carrier?

 

[Gail]

I would get a shoe sized box, line it with a hand towel and have another towel to lay on top of the baby. Make sure to use a lid and that it has air holes poked in it. You can lay another towel over the top of the box to help hold in heat.
I doubt your baby died from they way it was being transported, more likely it had something wrong with it already. You didn't put it on the floor next to the heater vent did you?

 

[Mistyck]

That's sad. :/
I am going to get another one tonight. Any advice? Should I put him in a critter carrier?

You could do that...

How long are the beardies?

 

[DearNismo]

I would get a shoe sized box, line it with a hand towel and have another towel to lay on top of the baby. Make sure to use a lid and that it has air holes poked in it. You can lay another towel over the top of the box to help hold in heat.
I doubt your baby died from they way it was being transported, more likely it had something wrong with it already. You didn't put it on the floor next to the heater vent did you?

I like that idea, reassures me he will stay warm. And I had his container sitting on my hoodie... He was fine the entire ride until I was almost home.

 

[DearNismo]

That's sad. :/
I am going to get another one tonight. Any advice? Should I put him in a critter carrier?

You could do that...

How long are the beardies?

They are about 4 inches long.

 

[Mistyck]

OMG! WAY too dang small to even think about being sold. Should be no smaller than 6 inches before being sold...

Got to love greedy pet stores these days that will buy in bulk just to flip for profit. UGH

 

[AHBD]

Hi there...I'm so sorry that you had this experience and the baby died. A 4" baby is pretty much a hatchling, but if he seemed healthy + active at the store then you may have overheated it. All the same, you might want to look for a place that sells larger babies.A temp.in the 70's is fine, it's better to be slightly cool than to overheat them even for a short time. Tiny babies overheat in minutes, so if the heat was blowing near the box it may have been the problem. Nothing at all fancy is needed, the box they gave you is fine. I've transported my baby beardies to shows for many years in the dead of winter by having the temp. in the van comfortable enough for us to be in a t-shirt, right around 72F but not over heated. Not one of 1000's of babies ever died during transport. What's comfortable for you is fine for the baby.

 

[DearNismo]

I was wondering if it was too much heat. I feel awful. I was worried that he was getting too cold.
I'm going to see if they have any bigger ones at the store.
Thanks for the replies!

 

[Gail]

Yes, a 4" baby is way to small to be selling. They are quite delicate at that size and can have a high mortality rate. The smallest you want would be 6" and even then they need dedicated care. If you do get a tiny baby, make sure he has a good heat gradient in his cage and bath daily so it doesn't get dehydrated.

Personally, I would ask for a refund and look else where for a beardie.

 

[Sauzo]

Like others have said, comfortable temperature for you is fine to transport a baby home in. I'd just put him/her on the passenger seat in the box. And yeah 4 inches is pretty small. Be prepared to pretty much take care of a baby. I got Harley at 6 inches and between feedings, poop clean up, baths and letting her get used to me, it was a full time job But it is rewarding when they grow up and want to sit on you or next to you and cuddle.

 

[disturb3d0n3]

I'm with Gail, ask for a refund and try to buy from a breeder. Beardies from pet stores are usually overcrowded in a tiny tank, causing them unneeded stress and a higher rate for parasites. Not to mention the fact most of the time they are on calcisand and probably already on the way to impaction due to the sand and the fact they feed them mealworms.

 

[Jackhenry01]

Maybe the beardie was ill cuz along as it's got holes in the box so it can breath it should be fine , my was fine wen I took him home. But wen u get in your house put him straight in your viv. Good luck