Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I currently have a breeding pair of Beardies, and am loving them, and their progeny (before they go to local herp shop).

I would like to buy a few more breeders, as I am interested in aquiring a few colors and maybe a GG cross to play with. But seeing as my interior space is relatively limited (did I mention I also have birds, 2 little rescued dogs and a Brazillian rainbow boa?) but I have a large back yard and live in a very warm climate I would like to try some outdoor enclosures bringing the dragons inside only during the 2 cold months we have here in New Orleans.

Now my questions are:
1. would the high humidity in the new orleans area be a problem for these desert loving guys.

2. I was planning on keeping them in rubbermaid bins inside with clamp lamp during those 2 months, would having it being colder outside then warmer inside for 2 months then back to chilly spring outside again be a problem? Keep in mind that adverage winter lows in my area dont fall far bellow 40 degrees and I know from experience in AUS that Australian winters can be just as cold if not colder than here... would I be better off leaving them outside?

3. who here has BD's outside and what do you do during the winter? would I be able to sneak another breeding season in if I kept them indoors?

4. ever have any problems with them eating things they shouldent that fly, crawl, hop its way into their cages? we have some toads down here that while beautiful and amusing probably arent to healthy to munch.

thanks in advance for any input etc.

I can't offer much help as I don't keep them outside. But, a while back I reasearched what the humidity in the wild was for bearded dragons. I did this because in the winter here (NJ) their enclosures drop to about 5% and I was worried that was too low.

The answer is that in their range the humidity is generally in the 30 - 40% range. I'd be concerned about respiratory problems in the high humidity of LA.

My concern would be outside predators. I also read that fireflies are extremely poisonous to beardies. They contain some kind of toxin that pretty much makes their heart stop. I personally wouldn't risk it.

never seen a firefly down here and was planning on having them in enclosures, not worried about predators.

Just because you don't see them doesn't mean they are not there. It's just better to be safe than sorry. Another thing is mosquitoes, which could transfer all sorts of things to the beardies. I agree with BDlvr, the humidity would be way too high for them.