Bearded Dragons

[Pitbullgirl16]

I've been thinking about adding a different kind of reptile to my pet collection besides corns and other snakes. Recently I became interested in bearded dragons, and have started to study up on them little by little. I think I'm quite interested in acquiring on in the future. So my question is who all has experience with them and how do you feel about them as pets? Ups and downs of owning one? Just wanting to hear from some people who have experience with them.

 

[Chip]

I love them and they are the best handling lizard there is, IMO. Downsides would be -High maintenance, expensive to feed/light, and need fairly roomy enclosures. The longer I keep herps, the less I seem to care about handling, so the upsides aren't as strong for me as they used to be. You'll love a beardie, though!

 

[Kokopelli]

An easier transition into the lizardy world would probably be either crested geckos(for which you can acquire a commercial powder which you mix with water to make a slushy... that's really all they need), or Leopard geckos... which require less insects, no UV, and far less room.

Beardies are some of the most interactive lizards you can get really... they are easily handled, they respond well to you...they are awesome...
They need allot of food though, tons of insects as they grow up... and later as well, they are quite voracious.
As already stated, large viv, heat, and UV... all in all, they are more expansive to keep than other animals.

Depends on what you are looking to get from your animal and what's your budget really.

 

[hikisquid]

My first reptile was actually a paralyzed beardie. She ate pelleted lizard food, but was extremely messy and threw huge fits once in a while. However, she was the most cuddly animal I've ever had, and was friendly enough to turn even the most die-hard lizard hater into her friend.

They are worth it if you want to put the time and money into keeping them, because they will give you years of lovins and fun in return.

 

[Pitbullgirl16]

My friend had a beardie. It was very sweet. There's just something about their little personalities that just win your hearts, and you can't help but love them. I would really love one in the future, but my current job(s) don't pay too much, and I'm currently saving to be able to make payments towards a ten day trip to Athens, Greece and Rome, Italy. $2,000 to go! It's going to be a wonderful trip, but for now it's draining me of all of my free spending money for reptiles, or any other things at the moment...

 

[Lafresa]

I love them and they are the best handling lizard there is, IMO.

+100

they are very friendly and sociable

I have a male bearded dragon. He asks in the toilet! And makes its case only when I'm going to take him to the bathroom.
Beautiful boy!

 

[Carpe Serpentis]

My wife has a beautiful bearded dragon she got when it was just a few inches bit long. Its now feeding on mice a year or so later so they do tend to grow fairly quickly and not so bad on the upkeep. Enjoy your trip to Athens, its been a while since I last traveled there, but definitely worth a trip if you've never been.

 

[Pitbullgirl16]

It definitely sounds like a lot of people have had good experience with the beardies. I'm thinking about getting my feet wet in the lizard world before getting a bearded dragon. Thinking about a crested gecko for starters, and see where I go from there. It's a blessing and a curse than my financial situation has kept me from having 100 corn snakes, and no telling what else, right now.
Thanks! I'm excited. I will most definitely be taking the 64 GB memory card for my camera. After all, I'm a photo junkie.

 

[Zombiegirl]

I don't feed mine mice...

I have two, a male and a female...(Sid and Nancy respectfully). I rescued them from someone who was going to prison (my friend's brother's friend...) and they came to me housed in a small tank together...he was starving her, so I seperated them and they are much happier...Nancy is pretty calm and clean, and Sid is a spaz and DISGUSTING!!...messy boy. They both have their own little personalities and are fun to interact with.

Can be pricey to feed them (fresh veggies and insects) but I love watching them eat...like little dinosaurs lol

 

[Pitbullgirl16]

I've heard some people feed their's mice, and some don't. I don't know how I'd feel about feeding mine mice, if I got one. I would probably much rather like to stick to vegetables and insects. I don't know really the benefits to feeding them mice, though...
You're right, they are kind of like little dinosaurs. Lol I think I immediately fell in love with them after watching the video of that beardie playing Ant Crusher on Youtube... Lol

 

[Weda737]

I would throw mine a pinky now and then, they are fun lizards but it's true they take work to maintain. I'd say they would make a better pet to a person who only has a few others and can dedicate more time to a beardie. With all my dogs alone I found it difficult and hated feeling like he was neglected. So my boy just recently went to a great new home.

 

[Pitbullgirl16]

Another reason I'm reluctant. Not only the financial situation at the moment, but also my schedule. Between my job, college stuff, other things that need to be taken care of, and my social life if I can manage to squeeze in time for it, I fear that I just wouldn't have time to properly maintain a beardie at this point. Maybe in the future when things slow down.

 

[rmfsnakes32]

My suggestion several months before you get the dragon start breeding your Dubuque roaches. They need a 10 gal tank with a heat pad to breed

 

[Kokopelli]

Dubia roaches you mean?