Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, the cage im going to get (getting cage first) is 42"x 20"x19" custom built wood/glass tank with heat tape built under half the bottom and an astroturf (fake grass) lining on bottom.

Im planning on having a 'sandbox' on half the tank so my beardie can dig when it wants to but not eat on it.

-- Should I not get the astroturf bottom?

-- Should I get 1 or 2 beardies? NOT planning to mate them.

-- How can i pick the right kind of beardie? German? Pastel? Personality is most important to me. How can i be SURE to buy a loving, nice, curious beardie?

--Is calcium suppliment necessary if im supplying UVB?

-- Should I not get the astroturf bottom?

The reptile carpet is fine, but also consider the shelf liner that people have been raveing about lately. It seems like its alot easier to clean than the carpet would be.

-- Should I get 1 or 2 beardies? NOT planning to mate them.

They are perfectly happy by themselves since they are solitary animals in nature. The only way you can keep two together is if they are both females and that does not always work out.

-- How can i pick the right kind of beardie? German? Pastel? Personality is most important to me. How can i be SURE to buy a loving, nice, curious beardie?

Contact a reputable breeder, that will be your best chance to find everything you are looking for. In general BD's have good personalities. I don't think a particular color or breeding line is more likely to have the personality trait you are looking for.

--Is calcium suppliment necessary if im supplying UVB?
The general consesus is YES. It's cheap anyway so why take the chance of not supplying it and end up with a dragon with MBD.

Hello,

Good for you on doing your homework before bringing home a beardie! I'm sure you will give your new guy a great home when the time comes. To answer a few of your questions (I will try my best, please correct me if i am wrong, anyone )-

Astroturf is fine. Not sure how hard or easy it would be to clean though.

Personally, I would only keep one beardie per enclosure. From what I've been told (i only have one, and have only ever had one), they are happier by themselves. Two males cant be put together, a male and female will breed, and two females may or may not occasionally get into small fights. Of course I have no experience with keeping two at once, I am just going by what I am told

To get a beardie with a good personality, its good to get one from a good breeder, and get it as a baby, so that you can watch it grow and let it learn to love you! Most babies are jumpy at first though, but they get used to you quick with proper handling. Most beardies are pretty mellow so its easy to keep them tame. I actually got mine from a small petshop, but its was a very good, clean little place with proper husbandry.

Yep, you still should give them calcium and D3. the UVB bulb helps them process it. so you should have both.

Will you have a basking bulb as well? I know you mentioned the heat tape, but its best to have an overhead incandescent basking bulb, since they should have the overhead heat.

Hope this helps!
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~Melissa~
1.3 Leopard geckos (Guido, Oasis, Gypsy, Marli)
1.0 Bearded dragon (Pharoah)
1.0 Hog Island Boa (Michelangelo)
0.0.1 Crested Gecko (Picasso)
1.0 Ferret (da Vinci)
0.1 Chinchilla (Eevie)
1.0 Chinese Praying Mantis (Sid)

Melissas Menagerie

First, you really need to us ehte calcium supplememnt. Go to beautifuldragons.com and check out that site for info on greens to feed as well. You will find in depth reasons for the diet there.

Also you will definately need a basking area where the temps are 105 to 110. I wouldn't mess with the undertank heater at all. They can't feel heat on their bellies and could possibly get burned causing expensive vet bills and pain to your buddy.

The astroturf is fine but concider using the duck shelf liner from WalMart. It is way easy to clean and would even look better in my opinion. Also don't put sand in thier either. It is nasty and hard to clean and beardies only dig if they are going to lay eggs in general. Check out my previous post on substrate from yesterday.

If you are just going to have a pet I would suggest one male dragon. It seems that males are in general more inquisitive and more fun to have as a pet. (in my opinion) But never keep two males or a male and a female together as they almost always fight. Just like everyone else stated if you wnat two dragons make sure they are both feamles. Just be ready to get another cage setup or be willing to get rid of one if they are not happy with each other.
Hope this helps!
Robert Wood

Ditto to what they said to a *T*

I have two beardies -- male/female -- and let me tell you all they want to do is get busy when they get together!! I had hopes of keeping them to gether when i acquired the second one (female) by accident. Previous owner wasnt taking proper care and I took over. So If you cant put up the budget or room for two seperate enclosures then dont get two of them.

Definetly avoid the under tank heat pad, that produces a toasty roasty belly wich is bad for the beardie. They like heat that comes from the top (like the sun) so they can fan out their tops and absorbe the rays.

Calcium is a must! Avoid sand at all costs!

As for which color or morph has the best personality it makes no nevermind as far as I have read. Its all about the indivudual beardie but i assure you that they all have great personalities. I agree that the males seem to be more mobile and have a few more quirks then the females. My lil guy is a stinker, loves to get up and Goooooooo! Has to be in everything, which is relaly cute.
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2.0 Ball Pythons
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat
0.1 Kenyan Sand Boa
1.1 Bearded Dragons
0.0.1 Pacman Frog
2.0 House Cats

And a partrige in a pear tree...

Beardies are often found in groups and have a number of "social" behaviors you may not see if you have only one. However, I have 2 males, and since the age of about 2 their primary interaction is trying to beat on each other.

They get so aggressive that I have to put something between the tanks to block their view of each other so they will calm down. One had to go to the vet for a bite on his jaw from when the both were out at the same time.

FYI: I thought the smaller one was going to be a female when I got them.
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2.0 Bearded Dragons
0.0.1 Cordylus tropidosternum
www.lines2.com/lizards/