Bearded Dragons?

[ChristyJade]

Hiya

I've seen a few of you have Bearded Dragons, and I have started getting an interest. I would love to have one, but don't really know too much about them. I have done some reading, but you can never get as much of an insight as you can from other peoples opinions and experiences!

I have gathered that you need a large vivarium, heat lamp, uv source, heat matt...are there any other main items, other than decoration/substrate that you need? Is there any major pros or cons that I might need to consider?

Also, when it comes to live food, I have seen that you can feed them.....COCKCROACHES! Which I have issues with, as I absolutely DETEST them!! Do you have to feed them them?? Or can they just be missed out of their diet? Blergh....Gives me shudders just thinking about them!

Appreciate any insight from you guys! Thankyou...

[kreacher]

Bearded dragons are awesome!
Haha no the cockroaches can be left out they will eat pretty much any live food so crickets and locusts and meal worms are good they are brilliant pets I love mine to bits

[ziggy's owner]

I leave the heat mat out too, I don't use one as beardies feel heat from above not below

[kreacher]

Same here I don't have a heat mat...his viv doesn't get very cold at might when the lights have been left on all day so there's no point really for a mat

[FinnGB]

Hey,

I feed mine Locusts, crickets(sometimes) wax worms a few times a week and weeds/veg. Locusts i prefer to crickets because they are slower and have larger back legs so are easy to catch compare to crickets. Crickets tend to hide more so locust are easier for the dragon to catch too. I don't know of anyone who uses the dragon pellet food, but i would imagine nothing beats fresh weeds/veg and healthy live foods.

I think the biggest question you will have is what substrate to use. This was a real pain the the butt to get a straight answer for. Basically all loose substrates (Sand, wood chips, cali-sand ect) come with the risk of your dragon picking them up in its mouth, possibly causing impaction. Impaction is very common with dragons and can kill them. Saying that i know friends and people on here who use various loose substrates and have had no problems and i also know a reptile rescue center and most pets shops use sand. This site is really good for beardie info http://www.beardeddragon.org/articles/impaction/

I personally do not recommend it to young dragons as i re homed a dragon who died from it. The substrate was some form of calcium sand.

At first i used kitchen roll as its easy to clean, cheap and risk free, then i brought some rough tiles from B&Q and now use them. Ok it doesnt look as cool as sand. If you Google impaction and bearded dragon substrates you will see plenty of opinions. But it is up up to you

The food is a little costly i use about 3 tubs a week(best/cheapest place to buy is SWs 3 for £7 and they are generously filled and delivered free and pretty fast) You can choose what to have in each tub. Veg/weeds similar to tortoise food, but you will have to check exact foods.

My viv come flat packed and without tube-clip holes drilled at the back, and no heat holder holes either, so you will need some tools or someone to measure out and drill them.


wow i talk a lot i better stop or i will make you sleepy

best of luck

Rick

[ChristyJade]

WOW thanks for all the input guys

I went to look at some in a local shop today just to see what I though of them, and they are just so gorgeous! I felt so sorry for them though, cause they were keeping a couple of fully grown ones in such tiny vivs, 1ft x 1ft kinda thing One had a stumpy tail, and the other had what looked like a backwards foot! And kept just trying to get out at the glass...It looked really stressed out!

The lady there said she sells full set ups with a dragon for £400! That seems really expensive to me. I asked how much for just a beardie, and she said she would have to do a home visit to check we had the right set up, but the beardie alone, adult or young, would be £150! Now I am obviously no expert but that seems like a total rip off to me!!! I have been on preloved, and people are selling babies for a fiver! And full set ups with a beardie for £150!

I wouldn't be getting one til I was over in the UK mainland anyway, or until I knew I had a job to afford it, but I definitely wont ever buy one from there!

[FinnGB]

The stumpy tail sounds like the end has been nipped off.

My viv setup costs were like this,

4ftviv = £70
UV tub = £20
UV tube controller= £23
Light/heat bulb= £2-£5
Log= £10
Food/water dishes= £6 each approx
Digital thermometer= £7
The light/heater holder i have was given to me, think its would cost only a few pounds.

I have some sandstone rocks i found and cleaned myself. some tile samples from the internet which were free. And a i brought a big pack of tiles for £5 from B&Q. Some fake trees and cactus too.

so i would say £150ish for the setup and those were including delivery costs. Pets at home sell dragons for £40. As for the pre made set-ups they do not usually come ready to use. Although they say 'full' or 'complete' there's usually something else to buy and extra stuff you don't need in the package.

As for the home visit i can understand they want to be sure the dragon is going somewhere safe. Maybe you could show her your setup pics, or explain it to her. i think the home visit is a little extreme. I most certainly wouldnt pay £400. You could easily get a dragon and full setup for half that, or rehome one.

Rick

[Mrs Frog]

My beardie is so friendly and nosy,I got him from tiny and he is so tame,always wants to be out,he eats crickets/locusts/worms and veggies,a really comical pet

[Mrs Frog]

My beardie is so friendly and nosy,I got him from tiny and he is so tame,always wants to be out,he eats crickets/locusts/worms and veggies,a really comical pet

[FinnGB]

Lovely dragon Jackie