Bearded Dragon to buy or not to buy?

[vft]

Ok so I have wanted a bearded dragon for….lets just say longer then some of the users on this site have been alive lol any who I was playing with the idea again today and figured I would ask every one to chip in on my decision.
Ok what size enclosure will I need?
Heat needed….how to heat
Basically the expenses involved
And any thing I could have missed.

and were can i get a nice bearded cheap :D

thanks
Cam

[kenster]

Beardies are nice. But remeber they have feet so they need food everyday. So you'll have to keep crickets, and mealworms and buy greens for it to eat. Then dust everything with calcium powder. Heating you'll need a heat lamp to get a nice basking area. Also remember they need UVB so you either have to spend a decent amount to get a heat lamp and a UVB together in one bulb or you'll have to get two lights. As for size, babies can start out in a 10 gallon, a 20 long would give one room for a few years after that you'll have to get something a little bigger.

As for a breeder that has babies. There is a guy in MI that lives in the Grand Rapids area that hatches out a bunch of babies. I know he has a site but I can't remember his name off the top of my head. I have his phone number but my nextel doesn't get service in my office, but I am thinking a nice new Sprint phone would work here :twisted: :lol:

That last part is just a running joke between Alex and I if anyone was wondering :roll:

[sputnik]

Beardeds are awesome legged critters with great personalities.

Once setup not that hard to maintain.

As far as getting one depends if you want to start with baby or bigger.

They also eat lobster roaches.

[Haroldo]

Well, I was currently playing with the idea of getting a beardie amongst other things.

1. The size enclosure you need will depend on the age of the beardie. A 20L will work for youngins, while an adult would do best in a 4'Lx2'Hx2'D
2. For heat a brooder reflecter or some type of reptile clamp light with an incandescent bulb (50-100 watts) depending on setup.
3. Well you will also need a UVB bulb.
EXPENSES: Enclosure can be as simply as a modified $10 rubbermaid.
Reflecter and light bulb around $10 bucks
UVB bulb around $20
UVB bulb holder $10
Substrate can be as simple as free paper
Basking spot in the form of a rock
And of course the beardie itself, which can be bought from conviently enough Mr. Alex Hues.

So, basically $50 bucks and up for setup + the cost of the bearded including shipping.

[Alias47]

I have always been interested in a beardie as well...but don't have the time or patience for anything else with legs right now...


They are very cool lizards...with a ton of personality.

[sircat]

my male is in a 55g but a 40g I've heard is ok for them...when he was a baby he ate twice a day...now he's almost 4 and only interested in eating every other day...he's a happy, curious guy and I like that he knows who I am am opposed to other people...

[inflaguration]

I have been a snake person for years and recently purchased my first beardie a few months ago. Let me tell you, their personality is enought to make you buy more. On the other hand, as others have stated, you need to feed them every day. Crickets are easy to keep and you can gut load them for nutrients. Turnip greens and other leafy meals can be kept in in the fridge. Substrate is cheap, use play sand. Just keep a large enclosure for adults or a smaller one for younger beardies and if you are planning on breeding. The material I have read, and am recently seeing from the interaction of my male and female is that it is not hard at all.

[sircat]

yeah, play sand is cheap, but should be sifted to remove pebbles that are sometimes in there...since I don't have a place outside to sift 50 lbs of sand though, inside got quite dusty and wasn't fun

[sputnik]

since I don't have a place outside to sift 50 lbs of sand though, inside got quite dusty and wasn't fun


LOL :D

[sircat]

that's why I started using ground walnut shell...which I've heard different opinions on...when I got him they said don't use it when he's little, to use the play sand...but they said it would be great when he's older...and he's 4 and I've been using it for a couple years

[vft]

still thinking about it...who knows might get one tomarrow mite get one 10 years from now lol
keep the good info coming :wink:

[sircat]

don't know...what other kind of info are you wondering?

[Quigs]

still thinking about it...who knows might get one tomarrow mite get one 10 years from now lol
keep the good info coming :wink:

I bet you don't get one tomorrow. $50?

Quigs

[vft]

i bet your karma goes up to 3 :wink:

[Quigs]

LOL...

Swell guy you are Cam!

(Whew...I ain't got $50 to spare at the moment!)

(Course, I'd bet neither does Cam...hehe...)

Quigs

[vft]

lol i try

as for $50 um not now i have been bit by the ball python bug :shock: :D

now if i could only get one of those males that alex has for sale lol

[Harts Moon]

I got my beardie at the Arlington, TX show in November 2003. I don't regret a day of it. She is very sweet and I take her almost everywhere I go (can't take her to work...silly hospital rules). She loves going to the lake during the summer since it is nice and hot down here.

[Haroldo]

now if i could only get one of those males that alex has for sale lol


Sorry to tell you, but if I remember correctly, those balls along with the retics were sold to a person a week or so ago.

[sircat]

the non het stripes cam? harold's right, those were sold

[vft]

darn and here i thought i could talk the forum members into chipping in and buying me on for my B-Day lol :lol:
thats ok i will take one of the females that will be coming in instead lol

[Alias47]

darn and here i thought i could talk the forum members into chipping in and buying me on for my B-Day lol :lol:
thats ok i will take one of the females that will be coming in instead lol

HEY...if that is how it works...My birthday is in August...and I would like one of Alex's albino boas...

Thank you everyone, in advance. :wink:


Boy if it were only THAT easy... :lol:

[Haroldo]

Not before my present Derek! My birthday is in July. Dear forum family, I would like a pair of Albino balls from Alex this year. And before you guys say anything, I am talking about the serpent known as a ball python, not my balls! :)

[diablodragon]

beardies are great!
another substrate that workes well for them and is cheap is ground coconut bark, it comes in bricks that you soak in water, then you can eather let it dry or use it moist. and it wont plugg him up.
I like the 40 breeder critter cages forthese guys if you wanta display type cage, plus I recommend mercury vapor bulbs for their heat + full specrtum lighting requirements.
To bad you don't live in ND or I could get you a nice deal on a bearded and a cage.

[sircat]

new reptiles and cages would always be nice...but well, my friends can't afford to get me bday gifts but give me cards...then there's one who can but doesn't...but one who can't afford it surprised me this year and got me a gift certificate card to petland...sometimes ppl just do nice unexpected things even if it's a stretch for them and those are the moments I remember...well not the only ones...but I'd choose good hearted friends over gifts..but if both happen, great

[sircat]

ground coconut bark works well? I haven't heard that before...would be good if that's true but I'd ask around a bit I think