Bearded Dragons
Discussion
The wife and I had a wander around one of the local aquarium and reptile suppliers on the weekend, and were pretty taken by the bearded dragons.
We've both had dogs over the years, and I kept freshwater tropical fish for a few years, but niother of us have kept reptiles.
BDs appeal as I honestly can't be doing with the masses of faff of another freshwater tropical tank (cycling the tank, the weekly cleaning, the mystery illnesses etc)... they sounbd relatively easy to care for and seem like friendly and inquisitive little guys.We also live in a small 1 bed flat, so a compact pet like a lizard seems like a good alternative to having no pets at all.
Would be really interested to hear from bearded dragon keepers, any advice and general tips for a first time keeper gratefully recieved!
We've both had dogs over the years, and I kept freshwater tropical fish for a few years, but niother of us have kept reptiles.
BDs appeal as I honestly can't be doing with the masses of faff of another freshwater tropical tank (cycling the tank, the weekly cleaning, the mystery illnesses etc)... they sounbd relatively easy to care for and seem like friendly and inquisitive little guys.We also live in a small 1 bed flat, so a compact pet like a lizard seems like a good alternative to having no pets at all.
Would be really interested to hear from bearded dragon keepers, any advice and general tips for a first time keeper gratefully recieved!
I don't have a Beardie - always wanted one though. The message I consistently received when doing my research was that most of the vivarium set ups that you'll see in the pet shops are too small and a 3 foot viv should be taken as the very minimum size, which blows the whole "compact" thing out of the water. You know what pet forums can be like sometimes though - lots of well meaning but very opinionated enthusiasts. I was put off, as I just didn't think our flat at the time had the space.
So I would prepare to be told that you'll need to give up a tonne of space, and get used to hearing crickets through the night.
So I would prepare to be told that you'll need to give up a tonne of space, and get used to hearing crickets through the night.
As far as space goes we have a pretty decent corner of the lounge that can be repurposed... should be able to fit a 4ft wide x 2ft tall x 2ft deep vivarium in without much bother....seems like that should be a comfy size right? I want a happy dragon.
Ah yes, the crickets... my ex had geckos so i'm familiar with the racket they can make... thinking I could stash them in the boiler cupboard in the kitchen...or do they need to live in a fridge before they become food?
Ah yes, the crickets... my ex had geckos so i'm familiar with the racket they can make... thinking I could stash them in the boiler cupboard in the kitchen...or do they need to live in a fridge before they become food?
I've had a few beardies over the years.
Make sure that if you have more than one in the same vivarium, that they aren't fighting each other. Loss of limbs can be common. My setup was a 4ft viv with heat lamp. I was advised not to use heated floor matting as this could burn them. They are pretty easy to look after, keep them a bowl of water. I few mine mealworm and locust as the crickets were noisy and too fast and would hide in the log crevasses. Bit of greenage in the bowl (not iceberg lettuce!). Also avoid woodchip substrate as this can cause impaction if they accidentally eat it chasing food.
Make sure that if you have more than one in the same vivarium, that they aren't fighting each other. Loss of limbs can be common. My setup was a 4ft viv with heat lamp. I was advised not to use heated floor matting as this could burn them. They are pretty easy to look after, keep them a bowl of water. I few mine mealworm and locust as the crickets were noisy and too fast and would hide in the log crevasses. Bit of greenage in the bowl (not iceberg lettuce!). Also avoid woodchip substrate as this can cause impaction if they accidentally eat it chasing food.
Easiest pet in the universe - mine is possibly the grumpiest looking too.
Do need to make sure they get enough UV and calcium - but both are easy.
I buy silent crickets and unless they escape their tub they seem to remain silent. Weirdly escapees then develop a voice....tho fairly briefly as we have some awesome house spiders.
That said, i mostly feed mealworms and locusts for the same reason as STe and some bits of veg and fruit. She hasn’t drunk anything in 5 years. I’ve given up putting water in
Do need to make sure they get enough UV and calcium - but both are easy.
I buy silent crickets and unless they escape their tub they seem to remain silent. Weirdly escapees then develop a voice....tho fairly briefly as we have some awesome house spiders.
That said, i mostly feed mealworms and locusts for the same reason as STe and some bits of veg and fruit. She hasn’t drunk anything in 5 years. I’ve given up putting water in
I have several BD.
As said easy to keep, heat lamp not floor heating. 4' vivarium.
Crickets escaping are the problem, stick to locusts and mealworms.
I have sat in the garden during the summer, listening to the escaped crickets singing. Very Mediterranean, not sure the neighbours approved though
Good starter Reptile
As said easy to keep, heat lamp not floor heating. 4' vivarium.
Crickets escaping are the problem, stick to locusts and mealworms.
I have sat in the garden during the summer, listening to the escaped crickets singing. Very Mediterranean, not sure the neighbours approved though
Good starter Reptile
designforlife said:
We also live in a small 1 bed flat, so a compact pet like a lizard seems like a good alternative to having no pets at all.
Is it a privately owned or rented flat? I ask because bearded dragons can be er.... https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...Rented...but I've kept tropical fish in rented accomodation down the years and just never bothered mentioning it.
It's not like they bark or drop hair so I can't really see what impact they would have that would pose a problem... Due diligence in making sure the "food" doesn't escape aside.
It's not like they bark or drop hair so I can't really see what impact they would have that would pose a problem... Due diligence in making sure the "food" doesn't escape aside.
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