Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi! My husband and I just got our little baby beardie. We have 12 other lizards right now, tho never one of these beauties. I've done quite a bit of research over the past year or so, thinking we'd eventually get one, but now I have a few questions I havn't exactly found answers for.

To start, he's 2.25" stv, 5" including all his/her tail. What's the best guess for it's age? At what size are they usually considered "juvinile"? At what age can you sex them? (We'd eventually like to breed this little one, though if it doesn't happen it doesn't happen).

Outside of the basking rock (multi-level fake hide great for burrowing lizards, but it works great for him to choose where to bask/sleep or even hide), and the food dish, what else should he have in his tank? We spray 2-4x per day for now, when he's a tiny bit bigger we'll put in a dish he can't drown in or tip over.

How much should we handle him? We got him Saturday, and I've held him a little bit just when we're cleaning his home, but I don't know how much I should handle him to help him be comfortable with us and our house. Whenever he's held, he acts like he falls asleep imediately, and I think that's just to make us think he's dead...

Also, how do you know when he's stressed? How do you treat him to ease that stress?

I just want to make his life as best as I can - I like my animals and I want the best for them. He's already voracious with crickets, tho he isn't too thrilled with the greens yet. But we'll see what happens as he grows.

Thanks for all the help!

~Krystie

5" is small. They usually hatch in the 4 - 4 1/2" range so it could be a week old or even a month or so. Hard to say. I don't consider them juveniles until they're say 10 - 12". You can sex many dragons at 6" or longer but not with 100% accuracy.

I put in a water dish even with hatchlings. Mine are the smallest size Zoo Med water dish. They are so low and shallow they can't drown. I'd drip water on his nose with an eyedropper in addition to the misting. I have a one day old and he already has figured out what to do with it.

Usually when their stressed they close their eyes and play dead like you say. I'd just handle him carefully once in a while until he becomes more comfortable. As long as he eats OK I would'nt worry to much about stress.