4Real Forums: anyone have a Bearded Dragon??

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Topic: anyone have a Bearded Dragon??

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KackyK
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Joined: May 22 2007
Location: Virginia
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Posted: Aug 09 2007 at 10:23am \| IP Logged

My kids have been dying for a pet and unfortunately various combinations of us have various degrees of allergies to all things furry and feathery...which leaves our reptile and fish friends!

So...they want a lizard and we have decided on a bearded dragon...and we have already learned A LOT about them and we are going to be going to the NoVA Reptile Show on the 25th to find one!

However, now I am in the process of setting up his cage/habitat. Does anyone have any experience with lizards or even beardeds? Got any pointers or tips on equipment or feeders? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

We have bought at 75 gallon tank (we went for the big one!)...but now we need to buy a screen top and then our lighting. The lighting has me a bit confused trying to decide what would work best. Any suggestions in that department would be really helpful.

And as for feeders...obviously we need crickets...but how do you keep them? I know they have cricket keepers, but I'd rather buy in bulk online and keep them alive than run to the Petsmart over and over and I think...the Petsmart doesn't have the tiny ones we'll need.

I've read so much online but it would be great to get a first hand experience from someone who's-been-there-done-that!

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KackyK

Mom to 8 - 3 dd, 5ds & 4 babes in heaven

Beginning With the Assumption

Tina P.
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Joined: June 28 2005
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Posted: Sept 01 2007 at 4:21pm \| IP Logged

It's hard to keep crickets alive, muchless reproducing. One thing I know is that Beardies become more vegetarian as they mature. They don't mind carrot peelings or celery tops and a little bit of lettuce, chopped. I'm handing over the keyboard to our resident expert.

Let's start with the food. Crickets are easy to keep, the require a small cage, a sponge for water, and bread crumbs for food. You can buy crickets at almost any pet store. Beardies also eat carrots, celery, and lettuce, and live meal worms. You should buy three dishes: one for veggies, another one for meal worms, and a third for water. Beardies need a basking spot. Put a UV light over (dragons like to climb, so put some wood in his cage) his log(s) or a grey or black rock. Another light is recommended, so his cage is heated well. A heating pad is needed; you can put one on the bottom or side of his tank. For a substrate, put sand in the tank. Get a heating gauge so you know what the heat is (my tank is about 80-105 digries most of the time). Beardies are the best pet lizards, especially for kids. They are medium sized, 1-3 ft in length, they are great to handle, and they are easy to feed.

Hope this answers some of your questions. If you have more specific questions, fire away.

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Tina, wife to one and mom to 9 + 3 in heaven
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KackyK
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Joined: May 22 2007
Location: Virginia
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Posted: Sept 01 2007 at 8:37pm \| IP Logged

Thanks for responding.

But since my original post...we've since decided to not do the bearded dragon. Too much cost for us! The choices of lighting and such and the cricket size and other stuff, just made my head spin!

So check out this post about our newest member...

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KackyK

Mom to 8 - 3 dd, 5ds & 4 babes in heaven

Beginning With the Assumption

5athome
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Joined: Oct 01 2005
Location: Texas
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Posted: Sept 01 2007 at 8:59pm \| IP Logged

Glad you found a pet. We just got our bearded dragon a few months ago and I have been surprised at the amount of care/cost involved. (You would be shocked to know how much it cost to kennel when we went out of town!:( Luckily my 13 ds is in charge of its care (and it is fun to watch). I can't imagine getting a rat.

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Margaret
ds '93, dd '96, ds '99,
ds '01, dd '04, ds '06,
ds '08

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