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Next Pet: Corn Vs. Bearded Dragon?

patm1313

Pyromaniac
I was reading up on beardies the other day, and they seem like pretty cool pets. It's either another corn or a beardie. Which do you think?
 
Lol, I know. I was sort of hoping that someone might have both as pets and be able to give me a non-biased opinion.
 
...well, are you ready to have another pet? Ready for the cost of the animal and what comes with it?
Don't jump on getting another pet so soon, enjoy the snake you have.
 
...well, are you ready to have another pet? Ready for the cost of the animal and what comes with it?
Don't jump on getting another pet so soon, enjoy the snake you have.

I do enjoy Flame, he will always be my guy. I'm not saying that I'm going to go out and get another corn or anything else anytime soon, I just know that eventually I will get another pet and that I will most likely be choosing between another corn or a beardie.

Plus, I have my own problems with Flame ATM...
 
I have beardies, they are great lizard pets. If you like a reptile that is docile, relatively easy to care for and needs daily care then you would probably like one. You can put them in a harness and take them around town with you or just chill in the yard.

What most people don't realize is how expensive they are the first yr, as babies they can eat up to 100 crickets a day. They also need specific temps, proper UV bulbs and a large cage.
Once you get the caging set up proper and secure a constant food supply, their daily care isn't difficult.
I give mine a salad in the morning and feed them insects twice a day. Adults only get insect 3 times a week or so.

They are alot more needy then snakes, take up more room and poo much more but they also have more personality. Where snakes learn to tolerate us, beardies actually develop a bond with their owners with some actively seeking out attention when free roaming.
 
Waldo hit it on the nose. I own and breed both. Snakes are the lazy man's pet in comparison to just about every other reptile out there. Baby beardies are mucho expensive to feed and they poop all the time. If you decide to get a beardie I'd shoot for a juvenile or adult. They are easier to feed and far more bullet proof healthwise. Beardies are pretty healthy guys but MBD, coccidia and damage done to them by other hungry beardies can cause it's own heartache. Although I've never experienced it myself, I've seen baby beardies with legs missing and tails shortened by ravenous siblings! Corns have a better color range but they are less interactive. You also can't expect to leave a baby beardie for a week with only water and warmth, whereas a well fed snake would be just fine even as a baby. Overall beardie care is more expensive and time consuming. You know yourself best. Assess your wants, needs and abilities in pet ownership and then dive in.
Terri
 
A dragon is like having a kid! Something to consider- when they go to sleep at dusk- that's it, they are out cold. A dragon isn't going to be playing with you in the evening. And you can't just buy ONE expensive UVB light, you have to replace it every six months, because the light degrades, though not visibly.
 
Beardies do make wonderful pets, but as others have mentioned, they can be a pain to feed within the first year. I feed mine (that are less than a year old) an extremely varied diet of crickets (up to 100 a day), many different types of leafy greens, different types of squash, and small portions of different types of fruits (like mangoes, papaya, apple, grapes, etc.).

Not to mention maintaining their required lighting and heat conditions. Dragons like it HOT and arid, and need a UVB light source. If you get dragons, I would strongly suggest also purchasing timers for your lighting set-up. This way, you can give them the exact photo periods they need without having to constantly remind yourself to turn the lights on and off at the same time every day. For dragons, you will also need a pretty large enclosure. They need room to run. You can get by on minimal requirements of enclosure size, but I'm a firm believer that more room is better. I have two females that are in a 150 gallon glass tank.

Once you get the routine of husbandry down to a science, keeping dragons is very rewarding. They are extremely docile (if not, they are very easily tamed), and they are so much fun to watch. They are very attentive to their surroundings and will curiously stare you down each time you enter the room. Lots of fun. :)

On the other hand, corn snakes are very easy to care for. They only require a warm side in their vivs, which you can provide with an under tank heater, no special lighting requirements, and typically only want one thing to eat - MICE! Corns are also easily tamed and very docile, for the most part. They all have their own unique personalities, and most seem to enjoy being handled.

If you don't have lots of time in your day to dedicate to taking care of animals, I would encourage you to stay away from beardies, especially if you plan on buying young ones. If you're a busy person, the last thing you need is a hungry baby bearded dragon mouth, begging you for 100 crickets every day. But if you've got time, and don't mind buying thousands of crickets at a time, then go for it. They're really amazing little beasts.

Otherwise, if you'd prefer an animal that doesn't require your attention every day of the week, then a corn snake is more suited for your lifestyle. Also, there's the issue of space. Corns require much less space than dragons. A 20 gallon (long) tank for an adult corn is sufficient, but 30 gallons for an adult would be even better. When they're young, you can even keep them in smaller enclosures, like a 10 gallon tank. :)

Both are such great pets...just get both. LOL. That's what I did. :)
 
Cornsnakes don't demand to be entertained because they are bored. When Isabel is all bored, I take her outside. Ok, Isabel, let's see if we can find some birds!
 
Ok then, I've pretty much set my mind towards another corn. I will be in schoold for the next four years, plus college, so I don't think I can keep up with the requirements of a beardie. Oh well, maybe someday.
 
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