Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm looking into getting a bearded dragon from either Petco or Petsmart. It partially depends on which has beardies at the time, but we had a horrible experience with wild caught water dragons from Petsmart so I'm not sure I want to trust them. However, the beardies are all captive bred and the babies at Petsmart are larger than those at Petco, so I'm not sure if there would be much difference. I'd like to hear about other people's opinions on the beardies from these stores.

Don't touch them with a 10ft pole!

i got my bd at petco and he's just fine, ive had him for almost 4 months and he's almost 10 inches already. although, he is the replacement beardie for the one i originally bought, which died about 2 weeks after i got it. Toki is happy healthy and has a rather interesting personality.

if there is a show comming up wait and get one there, of look into getting one online i have had a couple shipped to me over night and there healthy as can be. i worked at a petsmart and the dragons are not kep in the proper lighting and heating. i recommend waiting.Check out the classifieds

I would wait also i have a replacement BD right now (first one came very sluggish and didnt eat or drink).This one seems much perkier and eats very well(first time I fed him he ate 3 crickets and went straight to the salad I made him.)but I have only had him for 3 days so.......

i would look for a local breeder or show comming soon, i think thats still the best way, if you HAVE to pick, i think id go with petco, at least the near me the people really seem to care. the herp girl of the store even sponsered a herp day on her own in the shop, it was great we got to educate many kids and even got to give less educated herp owners some helpful tips!
i did my tech internship at the nameless vet inside petsmart (they pay, most vets dont), and ive got a beardie i practicly had to steal to amputate a leg that had become septic because they housed to many together and a larger one had beaten up 2 others, i didnt amputate the second ones leg tried just anibiotics and he died, wish i knew now what i knew then....
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hanging out under heat lights burns up my brain cells!!

Well, as far as herp shows go, there are none in Wisconsin, and I can't spare the time or gas money to drive to Michigan for one that may or may not have quality beardies. I also don't know of any local breeders. The babies I've seen from online breeders are rather expensive and I'm hesitant about having shipped in (we got about 6 inches of snow today and sunday's expected high is 6 degrees, in short Wisconsin winters are not herp friendly). Even though most of your suggestions aren't much help, thank you for your time anyway.

(To anyone working at a store that isn't caring for their herps properly, either quit or use your knowledge to help them correct their herp care, don't sit and do nothing. It only allows them to continue thinking what they're doing is fine.)

for the record, i worked for the vet inside the store, not for the store itself, and i anoyed the hell out of management any time i could to try to get them to improve what they were doing, most of them were so afraid of the corprate higher ups who dont give a damn they wouldent do anything, the few mangers who went against the grain and tried to help the animals (therefore reducing profit, cuz it takes $ to fix sick animals) were either fired or highly encouraged to leave!
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hanging out under heat lights burns up my brain cells!!

Good for you. I figure people should at least try to make a difference. That's part of why I want to open my own store eventually, some day in the distant future.