Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I noticed a peculiar thing the other day. This site has the "top 10 forums by activity". The bearded dragon forum is not on it...at all. I've been keeping (and breeding off and on) dragons since 1995, and I've been visiting Kingsnake since 2002. I remember a couple years ago the bearded dragon forum was always in the top 5 (as well as the recently less popular Leopard gecko forum).

Now, we know it is an axiom that there are trends regarding the popularity of species whithin our hobby. Do you guys feel that this forum's popularity is a reflection of a larger trend? Let's discuss this. My very brief point of view is, unfortunetly, yes. I attend at least one reptile show a month, often 2 a month, here in the North East. I see fewer dragon breeders. I also see breeders come and go more quickly. I also see fewer "high end", quality dragons. I also noticed it takes longer for me to sell my dragons. Also, look at KS classifieds, there are fewer breeder direct offerings, and more broker/dealer adds.

So, what are other peoples experience/opinions? How about those from othere areas of the country?

Finally, I know I love beardies just because I love them, and will not stop keeping them simply beacuse of market trends. But market trends will impact me breeding them. I don't breed them to make money(which I very seldom do), I breed them to see what the next generation will look like, but what if nobody wants to buy the next generation?

Paul Kemes

I have defintly noticed that over the past few months this particular forum has become increasingly slow. I think in gereral the forum tends to slow down in the winter months. Also the classifieds are slow in the winter as well due to burmation and it not being the breeding season. Youll see as spring comes around more breeders will be posting their offspring and more people will become drawn to beardies and we'll see a lot of new faces around here again. As far as the reptile shows go, I go every month and set up a table with TKO dragons. It seem sthat every month there is more and more dragon breaders set up there. I dont know about the other breeders but we always do well. And we have been set up every month this winter. I hope the forum goes back to its busy self soon.

peace,
nathan
Uluru Dragons

You should see the gecko forum. Talk about dead. It should pick up soon. It seems like these forums are up and down all the time. Josh

The bearded dragon forum various on how busy it is via time of year etc. With many bearded dragon owners and potential owners being in school, this is also the time exams are approaching etc where people have less time to come to the forum etc. Also, for those areas of the world (at least on the western hemisphere) spring is arrving and the weather is better so more people may be spending their free time away from the computer. I have been around for several years myself (can't remember if it was '02 or earlier) I have noticed this forum slows down from time to time through the year.

I really don't see bearded dragons loosing their spot as a popular reptile, especially for beginners. With their more calm natures and personality, they will hold a spot in people's hearts for generations to come, much like leopard geckos. Bearded dragons don't get overly big, are big enough for even small people to handle without worries of accidently crushing them, don't take huge amounts of room in the house (a 4'x2'x2' cage is not that big compared to the room required for other pets and reptiles).

As for breeders coming and going, I can see many reasons for that. One, the market is rather glutted with bearded dragons. They are prolific and a big healthy female can lay 100 eggs a season. The cost of raising, caring and housing breeding animals as well as roughly a 100 hatchlings (incubating them, space to house the babies, feed them, medicate them, etc) per female, does make it an expensive hobby to get into. High end bearded dragons have a much higher profit margin than normal to semi-colorful dragons more commonly available. The supply is high for bearded dragons and the demand tends to be for more colorful bearded dragons, hence the high end morphs fetch a good price and I am assuming, not too hard to sell for the various breeders of these beautiful and exotic looking dragons.

Petstores always seem to have bearded dragons, (amazingly enough not that badly overpriced, though still close to twice as much as what I would get them for from a breeder or reptile show), yet to find a green iguana baby, I would be more harder pressed (for one, they are banned in this city, two, even when I lived in a city they weren't banned, they didn't show up often in the petstore).

However the reason there aren't many bearded dragons available is that most breeders don't have any available right now, as their new 2006 batches are most likely still in the incubator or still too young to sell. In another month or so, there will be plenty of baby bearded dragons available, I am sure of it
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PHLdyPayne

PHLdyPayne I know you've been here at least since 2002 because you were here when I hit the forum heavy which was 2002. You've been a consistent source of help for a very long time. I haven't been online much. Mostly lurking since then. I've been breeding these sweet hearts since 1999 or 2000. There has definitely been a big turn over in breeders since I've been around, though I do believe the demand is still there. I do mostly local shows(definitely no profit)but I have a great time.
The bearded dragons always draw a crowd. Most people are pretty uninformed so I have to make sure they get the proper information. I think your right in saying that they tend to keep their popularity because of their size and dispositions plus the needed area as an adult isn't really that large compared to say a tegu.
Well, anyway just thought I'd put in my two cents worth.
Take care,
Karen

Hey Paul, Hey Karen, Man I can't believe you guys have stuck it out this long. The market has been taken over by 14 year old snot nosed punks breeding indiscriminantly and then selling off 2 week old babies for $20 when they figure out they can't afford to feed them. Meanwhile every person out there expects you to match their prices, or actually beat their prices, for your quality stock. Ok, it may be a bit of an exageration but not by much. Between that and my theory on the cheaper the animal gets the stupider your customers get I decided to get out of them this year. We should have sterilized everything sold for the last 10 years but it's too late now. And everyone thought I was crazy 3 years ago when I called them the next green ig lol. Have fun guys and good luck.

Sean

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Heart Mountain Herps

Hey Sean!!!! Whats up? Good to see your still hanging around. I have a boa and ambilobe panther project going just in case...LOL! Beardies are great though. I love im!!
Take care,
Karen

If you breed for the joy of breeding and newer better colours. Why not selectively breed. Breed them, choose only 5 eggs from the clutch to keep. Destroy the rest immediately after they are layed before they have developped anything.

Out of the 5, you should have a good idea of their colours before they are at an age where you want to sell them. It would be a lot easier to sell 2-3 dragons than 40.

Anyways, Just a thought.
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CANADIAN CHAMELEONS