Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been considering getting a beardie in the future, but anybody I talk to in person says they have lots of health problems. I'm sure lots has to do with bad husbandry, but are they that difficult? Just looking for someone to clear this up for me. I would hate to get something that keeps me at the vets and worrying. Thanks for your time.
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-Bill

1.0.0 Albino California Kingsnake
0.1.0 Colombian Red Tail Boa
0.0.1 Axolotl Salamander
0.0.1 Red Flame Crested Gecko
0.0.1 Argentine Black and White Tegu

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BoidsNTegus@insightbb.com

I have a 2 year old female and a 5 month old male, neither has ever been to see a vet or had any health problems.

Bearded dragons are having more and more problems every year it seems. On a whole, no dragons are not difficult to take care of and keep healthy. However, there are many out there that are sick and unhealthy and this stems from bad husbandry, poor genetics, too much inbreeding, and so on.

If you buy a bearded dragon from a reputable source that takes good care of their lizards, follows safe husbandry, you should be just fine. There is always a risk with any reptile or pet, but it has been my experience that the healthy stock we have invested in and bought from reputable breeders have given is little to no problems.

Good luck with dragons if you get into them. They are really great lizards.

brandon
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Dragons by Nature

by proven routines from reputable breeders and the problems are very low.

You have to check out what anyones says, as to often they do not admit to problems when they have them.

Check lots of people for information on the animals they got from the same breeders or people.

We have 21 dragons, age 5-6 years and under and only a few have ever been to a vet from our permanent colony. We do take in rescues and rehabsm and those do need vet care and treatment, all but one has recovered fully and been healthy after that.

The problems occur mostly from people following poor advice from others that have little knowledge or experience with them.
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www.reptilerooms.com

In my opinion it is due to Husbandry. Beardies are prime pickings for newbies with little or no reptile experience because of their looks, size, and temperments. Since they are a popular choice among newbies they suffer poor husbandry which can cause many problems. Beardies are pretty finicky lizards and require more care than most think. Personally I have never had to take any one of my beardies or monitors or turtles to the vet for anything. I still have a turtle from my childhood that is 20 years old and was kept in sub par conditions most of her life due to my lack of knowledge about proper husbadry but you know what she is still here because reptiles are naturally hardy animals.

I have to agree, they do make good pets, not to hard to keep. most of the problems come from bad husbandry - poor food, inadequate housing, never seeing a veterinarian etc.
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Russ

With proper husbandry beardies are one of the hardiest lizards IMO. Just make sure to buy from a reputable breeder that gives them a proper start in life.

Sean
Heart Mountain Herps

sorry should say heartiest, my spelling isn't that great today LOL