Bearded dragons

My son has wanted a bearded dragon (lizard) for over a year now. I've heard it is probably the best reptilian pet you can have. They never bite and are family friendly. I don't take pet ownership lightly so if we do decide to do this we will do it right. I'm just not sure I want to make salad for the thing and buy crickets etc. all the time. Does anyone out there have one? I ran into a friend that has eight babies and she's looking for homes. Christmas is around the corner and I know Dylan would love one for Christmas. I just don't know if I'm ready yet. He's had hermit crabs before and they just totally grossed me out. One left it's shell, kicked another out of it's shell and never found the right fit with another and just stayed out of it's shell and eventually ended up dying. Eeew. Will the bearded dragons do something that will gross me out too? It's hard to get attached to something that gives you the willies.

Never had one but this looks like some interesting info regarding the little creatins.

http://www.beardeddragonsecrets.com/

Thanks, I saw this too...it's an ad to buy some guys book...20 bucks. Looks good but I'm looking for free advice. Off to surf some more. If meal worms need to be a staple in the diet then I probably can't do it. I hate those things.

Thanks, I saw this too...it's an ad to buy some guys book...20 bucks. Looks good but I'm looking for free advice. Off to surf some more. If meal worms need to be a staple in the diet then I probably can't do it. I hate those things.

Thanks, I saw this too...it's an ad to buy some guys book...20 bucks. Looks good but I'm looking for free advice. Off to surf some more. If meal worms need to be a staple in the diet then I probably can't do it. I hate those things.

Meal worms are a pain. They have to live in the fridge. In the spring/early summer, we have containers of them in the fridge to feed the bluebirds. I love my bluebirds, but yyyuuuuukkkkk- worms in the fridge.

Some other links with "free" information:

http://www.dachiu.com/care/abeard.html
http://www.kingsnake.com/gladescs/bearded/
http://www.lizardheaven.com/bearded.htm
http://users.erols.com/ziring/dragon.html
http://www.biology.lsa.umich.edu/research/labs/ktosney/file/BDcare.html

Probably not a big deal unless you're reaching into the fridge for that leftover chicken fried rice and get the wrong container.

You are a nice mom....my son asked for reptiles a few times over the years. I always told him..."No, you can have all you want when you have your own place!" I would have run away from home if anything like that got loose in the house!

Maybe you could get him one of those nice little foam lizards on a stick... :funn:

Maybe you could get him one of those nice little foam lizards on a stick... :funn:

My son has wanted a bearded dragon (lizard) for over a year now. I've heard it is probably the best reptilian pet you can have. They never bite and are family friendly. I don't take pet ownership lightly so if we do decide to do this we will do it right. I'm just not sure I want to make salad for the thing and buy crickets etc. all the time. Does anyone out there have one? I ran into a friend that has eight babies and she's looking for homes. Christmas is around the corner and I know Dylan would love one for Christmas. I just don't know if I'm ready yet. He's had hermit crabs before and they just totally grossed me out. One left it's shell, kicked another out of it's shell and never found the right fit with another and just stayed out of it's shell and eventually ended up dying. Eeew. Will the bearded dragons do something that will gross me out too? It's hard to get attached to something that gives you the willies.

Gutloading - Crickets and mealworms are readily available at most pet shops. These crickets and mealies are generally not high in nutrients directly from the pet shop and will need to be fed well (GutLoad, baby cereal, fresh fruit & veggies) before being offered to your Dragon. This is called 'gutloading'. I recommend 'gutloading' crickets for 24 hours before feeding. I use an orange, carrot and a potato for moisture, and a mixture of baby cereal and Gutload for nutrients.

That sounds like a lot of work! Would this "gutloading" have to take place often? I'll stick with a dog and guinea pigs, thank you very much!

Maybe you can throw him off the scent with some:




He'll be so excited, well, at least until they arrive.... :roll:

Maybe you can throw him off the scent with some:




He'll be so excited, well, at least until they arrive.... :roll:

OMG...Katie Blue, I just got a x-mas mag in the mail today and they were selling these little guys!!!!!! wow!!! I think I wanted some when I was little!!! everything old is new again!! ;-)

I always wanted them when I was little too. A few years ago we visited the Tennesee Aquarium (probably real close to the Otters) and bought some Sea Monkeys in the gift shop. Oh they were a delight...dancing, doing tricks, swimming about gleefully wearing their little crowns...NOT. Seriously, I think they were little plankton floating in the water.

My son had a bearded dragon for several years. She just died a year or so ago. He did have to feed her mealworms and crickets and he had her in an aquarium with a special light. He was totally responsible for her, feeding and cleaning of the cage. He is now 15, at the time, he was about 10 or 11. Her name was "Beardie" (how original!!) and was an excellent pet. She could be handled easily, never biting. My son learned responsibility from that little dragon! Oh, by the way, he also has a corn snake and a rare turtle. My other son has a hamster, talk about dirty, eek, he's funny but his cage has to be cleaned alot. I actually think reptiles are fairly clean for an indoor pet. My son has had alot of them. He also has hermit crabs that he has had for about 5 years!

Thanks for your post. I'm thinking if we wait another year or so he will be more responsible and it won't be left up to me so much. Yes, we always had original names for our pets too. Goldie the goldfish, Cuddles the dwarf hamster and Nibbles the other dwarf hamster. I've found that the corn cob bedding for hamsters is the best way to keep it smelling clean and fresh. I only needed to clean the cage maybe once a month. You should try it!

...Oh they were a delight...dancing, doing tricks, swimming about gleefully wearing their little crowns...NOT. Seriously, I think they were little plankton floating in the water.

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My daughter has our little poodle and I think my son feels left out. I already drew the line with no rats, mice or snakes in the house. I think I could handle a lizard. It's the feeding part I'm having a problem with! The more I read the more I think it may not be the right time...I know I would end up doing most of the feeding, maintenance etc..