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and hes about 2 years old? i just got him from my friend and hes had him since he was a baby ya kno...got him in a big ass 60-70 gallon tank...takes care of him pretty good...but why is he so short?

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alex

If this beardie really is 2 years old and only 10 inches, something's definitly very wrong. The size of the tank is irrelevant. Either your friend has no idea what and how much to feed a BD, or he's been sick (having parasites or something) since he was a little baby, witout getting the proper medical attention. Or, perhaps it's a birth defect.

- Has your friend had the beardie to a vet and done a full checkup, including a fecal?

- What and how much has your friend been feeding this beardie, from hatchling until now?

- Has the beardie had proper temps in his tank (105F basking spot, 80-95F gradient temp)?

- Has the beardie lived with another beardie who has grown normally?

I have to disagree with that. I have two beardies, coming up to about a year old now, and they are all of about 7-8 inches long. They have a complete set up, are fed as often as possible (they have suprisingly small appetites for Bearded Dragons) and are given correct heating, UV, natural surroundings and correct feeding methods. They are perfectly healthy.

The fact that they are as small as they are doesn't worry me. There is such a thing as natural diversity. Just because your beardie is small, doesn't mean it is being looked after incorrectly.

As long as you are providing it with the requirements it needs, there is no problem. It could be small purely because that is how it has grown, or like in some cases with captive breeding of such a popular species, inbreeding has occured somewhere along the line, and could cause stunted growth, but as I say, if he is healthy, eatnig well and is active, I don't see anything to worry about.

Well, I guess I have to disagree with you... I've never heard of any adult beardie only 7-8 inches long! Are you including the tail in this measurment? If not, then this is just a misunderstanding.

How do these tiny beardies look? Do they have the spikes and appearence of an adult beardie, or do they still look like small juveniles who haven't developed? Are you sure they're 100% healthy? Have you had all tests done? Are you sure they are normal bearded dragons, and not rankins or another smaller species?

Of course, they could just be born with some kind of defect which prevents them from growing, or it could be the result of inbreeding, but either way this size is most definitly not normal, and the cause should be investigated, in my opinion.

>>I have to disagree with that. I have two beardies, coming up to about a year old now, and they are all of about 7-8 inches long. They have a complete set up, are fed as often as possible (they have suprisingly small appetites for Bearded Dragons) and are given correct heating, UV, natural surroundings and correct feeding methods. They are perfectly healthy.
>>
>>The fact that they are as small as they are doesn't worry me. There is such a thing as natural diversity. Just because your beardie is small, doesn't mean it is being looked after incorrectly.
>>
>>As long as you are providing it with the requirements it needs, there is no problem. It could be small purely because that is how it has grown, or like in some cases with captive breeding of such a popular species, inbreeding has occured somewhere along the line, and could cause stunted growth, but as I say, if he is healthy, eatnig well and is active, I don't see anything to worry about.
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Rob Talkington

Just a thought: maybe your beardie is actually a Rankins. I think they only grow to 10-12 inches in length as adults.

well ya...he/she(i dont know yet) was living wit another beardie...her/his brother/sister and it died a while ago...i belive they were the same size...and the death came out of nowhere to i believe...

but ya he feeds them everyday..couple crickets wit the little vitamin powder for beardies..umm idk...

When i had my beardie he was a big fella..at around a year and a half he was about 18 inches..so im just curious on why hes so short...and is he like a late bloomer or somethin? cus im taking over the care for my friend...and i take good care of my lizards... thinking about re-doing the cage set up..but i have no idea whats wrong..

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