Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'd like to breed my girl, Puff, a healthy, adorable pastel, with a bright red or bright yellow. Even if they don't breed for some odd reason, I'd still like to get a male partner for her.

I'd prefer to drive and check out, and in particular pick up the animal, rather than having it shipped, for a couple reasons.

Anyone know of reputable breeders in Southern Cal?

thanks,

Renee

I think you missed my reply to your post earlier this week.

It is not wise to house a male and female together. They do not need or enjoy the company. The male will most likely dominate and stress out your female, trying to breed all the time. They each need their own enclosures.

Also, cacium sand and heat rocks are both known to be dangerous for beardies. Please get rid of them, for the love of your lizard.
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1.0.1 bearded dragons (Ocho / Domo-kun)
0.1 kingsnake (Rio)
1.0 ferret (Playstation)
1.0 cat (Wally)
0.1 dog (Tima)

I agree with kephy, bearded dragons since heat on their head, not their bottom, this will cause burns not knowing when to get off of them, also try rabbit food or play sand (sifted) if you should change.
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1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (Pyro/Sandfire/Orange Cross)
0.1.0 High Yellow Leopard Gecko
0.1.0 Albino Leopard Gecko
1.0.0 Choclate/Tan Dapple Miniature Dachshund
1.0.0 Isabella Miniature Dachshund
0.1.0 Red/White Piebald Miniature Dachshund

Aol Instant Messanger - Bdubedub

Well, I can easily get 2 enclosures. Yes, I have read that about the heat rock, which is why I built in my own thermostat, i.e. made it so I can adjust the heat rock cooler than snake heat rocks; it is not hot enough to cause her any damage even if she fell asleep on it, which she never does. I can understand where they may have evolved to be somewhat less sensitive to warmth on their bellies, since in the wild they get the majority of their heat for metabolism from sunlight. But to say they don't, or can't, sense heat on their underside or aren't very sensiive to heat there, would mean they have no ventral thermal sensory receptors, and that just doesn't make sense, especially when lizards also use rocks and other sun-heated surfaces as a secondary source for heat regulation, and get a real advantage from this, particularly on cloudy afternoons, for example, or early evenings, when the rocks are still warm, but the air is cool. Being able to thermoregulate from this secondary heat source would add to their success and survival, thus would be an advantageous adaptation.

I wonder if dragons who have been burned by rocks in the past had this happen because they wanted to take advantage of the heat, as instinct told them to so, but the rocks were too hot to begin with, and also too consistently hot, unlike rocks in the wild, where rocks previously warmed by a sun (that has recently set) cool down as the lizard warms up/stays warm. Thus, when the dragons got burned, people misinterpreted what was happening regarding their heat senses and behavior? Or maybe the rocks simply just don't get quite that warm, typically, in the desert? I don't know if this is true, but I do know that dragons not sensing heat on their tummies would be counter to their evolution as reptiles.

I have watched her carefully, (I guess it's hard not to when my career is based on animal behavior research), and I have noticed she is sufficiently sensitive to the heat of the rock to respond to it appropriately. She will lay on it for a short while - it is midly warm, above room temp, but not near the temp it was when I bought it before I could adjust it - and after she eats she enjoys the heat the most on her belly, and less on her feet, because after about 2 minutes she will raise all four feet in the air, while keeping her belly on the rock for a couple (5) minutes longer. Then she will move off the rock. I have watched her do this repeatedly. I pick her up, to see how warm she is, and her temperature - although I admit I haven't actually measured it - never feels hotter than after she has been basking under the lamp, or in natural sunlight. I then lowered the temp even more - (it felt ~room temp to me) wondering of it was still too warm because of this foot lifting behavior, and then she pretty much quit laying on it altogether, until I raised it again, a bit. I also cover it with a light dusting of substrate - it still sticks up, and is apparent as a rock (not hidden or buried), but she doesn't come in contact only with rock surface, 3/4 is buffered by substrate.

Now you have me curious, though - I'm going to begin measuring temps in different parts of her enclosure.

I guess no one wants to answer my question about breeders?
Also, I have read a lot about sand, and substrates, and it is a controversial subject. As long as it doesn't have silica in it, some breeders who have used it for many years claim their dragons have never had a problem with it, ever. Probably one of those things that will never be entirely agreed upon. I'm not going to argue about it. Anyway, her travel cage has sand. Her enclosure has (small particle) Sani-chips.

Renee

Sorry, I don't have an answer for your question about breeders.

I just never can understand why people who know the risks of these things still want to take that chance. Just because some breeders never have a problem with it, doesn't discount the many other breeders and owners who have. As long as it is there, your lizard is at a risk. Why take the chance? Wouldn't you rather be safe than sorry?

It is good you keep a close eye on her, though, I commend you for that. I get the feeling you would know immediately were something to go wrong.

BTW, plain old rocks will heat up under a heat light, giving the same benefits of heat rocks, without the risks. This is why heat rocks really aren't needed at all.
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1.0.1 bearded dragons (Ocho / Domo-kun)
0.1 kingsnake (Rio)
1.0 ferret (Playstation)
1.0 cat (Wally)
0.1 dog (Tima)

I e-mailed you personally but in case you did not receive it I am a breeder in Southern California and I dod have references. I can not post on here what I have for sale it is against the TOS so if you like you or anyone for that matter can e-mail me. Thanks.