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Beardie owners, come tell me about your buds!

hiddenhollowherp

hiddenhollowherp

Community Punchbag
Okay so... Don't laugh at me. :rofl:
I'm terrified of lizards. Small ones don't bug me at all, unless they lose a tail (which is why I rarely handle mine) but anything bigger than a flats lizard would probably give me a heart-attack if I wasn't expecting it. :eek:

A couple friends of mine have beardies, and I LOVE the way they look! In the pictures I've seen, they are so awesome and docile and they look seriously interactive, like they're actually enjoying what they're doing. They look very intelligent for reptiles, and I am intrigued.

I have heard that a grumpy beardie can deliver a surprising bite. I've also been told they "puff up"? I'm trying to decide how scary they are, and if the rewards outweigh the sacrifices of owning one. It's definitely something I'd think about eventually. :shrugs:

So, what do you guys think?
Are beardies good pets? Pictures very much welcome! :D
 
Beardies are wonderful pets and for the most part, so docile its almost laughable. Its true that occasionally you'll find a grumpy one but its usually due to not being handled while growing up.
I was bit once by a near adult, it hurt and left a few little holes but nothing like a iggy or large snake would do. They can go through a "puberty" stage where they are little buttheads, not being mean but testing their limits with their owner.
The best thing to do is get one a couple months old and raise it up, that way you would get used to it as it gains size.
Beardies are not a cheap pet, they need a fairly large cage, specialized lights and a LOT of food as babies but in the end its worth it. You really can't ask for a more personable reptile, not only are they super docile but they are intelligent and will interact with their keeper. Some dragons get so attached to their owners that they won't eat for other people or tolerate being handled by strangers.
My first dragon torque, didn't like strangers and just wouldn't go to them. My current dragon Barney will see anyone though.
Barney knows his name, torque did too. Torque would actually come when called and I've heard of other dragons doing the same thing. Some like to cuddle, barney will wiggle down on my chest at night and fall asleep after his bath.
The only time Barney is ever grumpy with me is if I startle him or am doing something he doesn't like, like giving meds. Then he will "puff" up and kinda lean his body to one side, with a quick jerk he can poke my hand with his side spines, it doesn't hurt but is uncomfortable as he has longer and sharper spines then other dragons I've handled. Keep in mind that Barney was a rescue and I have no idea how he was raised.
If you can, handle your friends dragon or at least watch them being held. I'll take Barney out and let him run through the house, he will go see everyone who is sitting down. He likes to jump on your lap and headbob at you, silly critter. Totally not scary

Barney
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Barney eating
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auX_1NioaMU&feature=channel_page

Wonderful stories about beardies.
http://www.beardeddragon.org/bjive/viewforum.php?f=49
 
Awwwwh! He is adorable! :D
Do alot of beardies have that yellow color? A friend of mine has one kind of like that too. I love it! They look like lemon starbursts! :3

I might have to read up on their husbandry and care a little bit. If they aren't too much for me to handle with all my other pets, I wouldn't be opposed to considering it in the future... :uhoh: Oh boy. You should have just told me they were vicious... :rofl:
 
They come in a variety of colors. most common are orange, red or yellow. You can also find pastels in various different shades, then there are snows which are pale grey or white. A newer morph is transparent, they have colors but are lacking white pigment so look "gummy" or partially transparent. There are also scaleless or reduced scale beardies in all different colors.
I have a dark orange baby but no good pictures of her, she has been ill and is just now getting better.
Their care can be a bit overwhelming at first but once you get into a routine, its a breeze.

This is a orange hypo, just like with corns, dragons come in hypo which reduces the amount of black or brown pigment. She also has clear nails.
DSC02060.jpg
 
Oh for cool!!! She is really pretty! She's talented too, riding that big shark! ;)

I'm curious about beardies, but unsure if I could handle the workload. I could get a large enclosure and special lighting (I have a book that shows what kind of reptiles need what light for what part of the day!) But it's mainly those big ol' beatles I'm thinking of. Our petshop only has mealies and crickets. :( I can't buy a new pet if I can't offer premium nutrition!
 
Oh both of those above beardies are beautiful!! The ones I've seen (on craigslist, etc) haven't been properly kept and are probably unhealthy :(.

I'm glad you made this post- I'd love to get a beardie too someday! I always thought they were smart....I wonder if they are smarter then rats?
 
Calift said:
I'm glad you made this post- I'd love to get a beardie too someday! I always thought they were smart....I wonder if they are smarter then rats?
Click to expand...

Not even close.

They're awesome creatures though, definitely a great reptile to keep. They're marketed as a 'first-time' reptile and that's not right, because although they're amazingly docile, they're tough to keep (well, to get set-up anyway, especially for a newbie), and expensive. Do your research though and I'm sure you won't have any major issues.

I've ALWAYS wanted a beardie, but present circumstances won't allow me to get one. Maybe in a few years or so. :)
 
I have a pair of beardies... they're like puppies. I actually refer to mine as 'puppy lizards' cuz of the way they tilt their heads and look at you. They
re super gentle and ;love to hang out on our shoulders. Jose is a bit overprotective of Margarita though, eh puffs and turns black if he can't see her or they're seperated too long...lol. I've never even come close to being bitten, but I feed the insects with tongs...lol
Pic 1 Margarita
Pic 2 Jose
 

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I'll attest to the "they're tough to keep for a newbie" statement.

My son got a juvenile last spring and he did great over the summer. Winter has been really rough for us though. We had a really hard time getting his temps stabilized along with getting him enough UVB light. He stopped eating, started sleeping all the time and I was really worried he wasn't going to make it while we messed around with his habitat.

We've since figured it out and he's recovering nicely now, but it was a little scary there for awhile.

He's a great pet, and I love him to pieces. Even when he's in his snotty teenager mode he's still cute and lovable. :)
 
You don't have to feed the big beetles like I do. They can eat crickets, silkworms, hornworms, all kinds of different insects really. Adults can have superworms but not until they are 15 inches or so and need 80% greens in their diet.
 
I think beardies are awesome. And if it wasn't for their specialized and expensive feeding and housing requirements I'd love to have one.
But knowing how expensive they can be to properly keep, I'll have to forgo one for now and just enjoy the pics of them on here.
 
The feeding expense is why I raise dubia roaches for mine. Once you get a colony set up and breeding, its dang near free to feed your dragon. I also grown greens in the summer to reduce costs even more. A adult really only needs around 50 crickets a week or so but some dragons don't care much for their greens and eat a bit more. Barney gets 2-3 adult dubia a day if he is still hungry after that then he can eat his salad or starve.
I build his custom cage for about 130.00 and that included the new UVB bulb and all the fixtures. The UVB bulbs can be bought online for around $17.00 opposed to almost $40.00 at the local pet store, the bulbs have to be replaced every 6 months. For heat I use a regular house bulb or outdoor spotlight, why pay $12 for a reptile bulb when you can get the same heat for $5?
 
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