Reptile & Amphibian Forums

The pet store I usually go to is not an ideal situation but the beardies are well cared for. Today I went to another reptile only store because I heard they had good prices on MVBs. I try to avoid places that sell animals because it always upsets me to see them there. When I first looked around I was struck by the fact that the snakes were very well cared for and in nice, clean, well set up enclosures. Then I saw an enclosure that contained about ten adult bearded dragons. They looked awful. First of all they were in a large snake enclosure that was about 4 ft long, 2 feet wide and only about ONE FOOT high, the substrate was bark (I don't even think it was reptile bark because it had sticks in it) and there was a red heat? bulb and a basking bulb over a low, small rock. All of the dragons were clustered around this for heat no doubt and only one could bask at a time. There were a bunch of large crickets running around the cage and it was so dark because there was hardly any light. One if the dragons had some sort of injury or deformity on its mouth and looked thin (hip bones were showing) and its abdomen looked pendulous (fluid,eggs, overeating after not eating for a long time? I don't know) another one was on the cold side of the enclosure by itself looking kind of flat and lethargic. Then there was one that kept running up the the glass front and looking at me ( I know I am anthropomorphizing, but he followed me from one end of the tank to the other , like "GET ME OUT OF HERE!" It was so hard to leave them there. Why would they take such good care of the snakes and such bad care of the beardies? I wanted to buy the one dragon that was injured and the one normal looking one that kept following me but what about the others and then I am only supporting the pet store. I am going to write them a letter and implore them to fix the conditions, but I feel so helpless. I am sorry to be a downer, but I wanted to tell people who understand what an atrocity this is.
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Stacey

that is so sad....
~tom~

I would not only write a letter, but contact your local Humane Society and make them aware of the conditions. If you can, drop off a care sheet to the HS (also include one in your letter to store) so they understand what the dragons needs are.

If that gets you nowhere, the BBB has a online form you that allows you file a complaint against the store. The store will get a letter from them describing the poor conditions you witnessed and their name will forever have that tarnished comment for anyone else that checks the BBB.
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www.classylizard.com

sorry for asking but,,, what is BBB?

.
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1.0 Bearded Dragon

ok, i feel stupid now---

This is something that I have noticed in the reptile world. You can classify it into two groups, Snake people and Lizard people. Snake people know how to take care of snakes very well, but don't realize that caring for a lizard is very very different. There are a few people who can cross over into both areas, but the majority stay with what they know well.

Did you by chance talk to anyone about the situation? Let them know that dragons need full bright light, not a red heat light, that with that many in the tank, they need more than one basking area?

Warm weather snakes would still be pretty bad off in a similar situation, they'd probably just be better at living through it. Something like a ball python would get digestion problems pretty quick.
I don't think there's any way that the store can keep the beardies that crowded and give them all a choice of temperatures.
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Peter: It's OK, I'll handle it. I read a book about something like this.
Brian: Are you sure it was a book? Are you sure it wasn't NOTHING?

I would suggest asking to speak to the manager of the store ina polite manner. Once you see the manage, compliment on his snake setups and good husbandry. Then I would mention the bearded dragons need more light and should really not be housed all together, especially as adults. Course space could limit how much more tanks the store can devolt to the dragons. At the minimal, suggest adding a few more basking lights, just make sure one end of the tank stays around 70F so they have a cooler area to move to if it gets to hot. Could suggest they remove the bark as well, using just reptile carpet or paper towel. You can offer to bring in a care sheet you type up for them to refer to if they are interested.

Keep the conversation friendly and non critical, and the manager should be willing to make changes to the bearded dragon cage. If he gets upset or angry with you or proclaims in a 'know it all' tone of voice that you don't have a clue what you are talking to, remain polite and unconfrontational. You could explain you have cared for dragons for years etc (assuming you do, that is) and only want to improve the dragons living conditions in his store, this way, happy healthy looking dragons would sell alot easier than unhappy and unhealthy looking dragons.

If this doesn't move him, thank him for his time and leave. Then you can contact the Humane society or BBB, etc to have legal action taken.

It is always possible this guy just assumed bearded dragons don't need different care than snakes. If he didnt' think to research himself, or wasn't told differently, he may assume these dragons are happy and healthy the way they are.

If you can, email me with the name of the store. Chances are it's not the same place, but the description is dead on.

later