Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Im thinking about getting another pet, and bearded dragons look cool, but are they easy to take care of?

yes bearded dragons make great pets. if you like reptiles. they are great for beginers. but make sure you do your research. their not like most pets. read as much as you can about them and make sure its the right pet for you.
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brandy

They are a good beginner lizard, but not necessarily a good beginner pet. As far as reptiles go, they are a lot easier than most, but snakes are probably the easiest. However, when compared to a cat, guinea pig, hamster, goldfish, etc... they are a lot more work.

They need daily preparation of salads and daily to bi-weekly feeding of insects, which requires a constant supply of well-fed crickets and fresh vegetables, and a regular schedule of supplimenting these foods. You must clean their waste on a daily basis and maintain the cleanliness of their enclosure. They need regular checks at the vet, such as a fecal once or twice a year (more if the lizard gets sick) and wellness visit once a year. You will spend at least 30 minutes a day preparing foods and cleaning up after them, and hopefully more than that if you let them out for some activity. Plus you're looking at the expense of the supplies: a large tank (4x2x2 preferably) for the adult and of you get it as a baby you'll need a 20 gallon to start with, a heat light, a proper UVB light (which should be replaced twice a year), a timer and hoods for the lights, calcium and multivitamin suppliments, rocks, branches, hides, substrate... etc. All that plus the lizard can run anywhere from $200-$600.

And that's all just to start, you should spend a good deal of time researching their husbandry, behavior, health, etc. I've been doing this for over 3 years now and I still read every post on this forum and learn new things almost daily.

All that said, if you feel like you're up to this kind of responsibility, I honestly think the bearded dragon is one of the coolest, most rewarding pets there can be. To me, it's worth all of that and more.

So if you want something easy, look at another animal. But if you have the time and commitment for something new, fun, and challenging, a bearded dragon is an excellent choice for someone wanting to enter the world of reptile ownership. I've had many different kinds of lizards and snakes in my life, but anytime someone asks what type of reptile I like most as a pet, my answer is the bearded dragon.
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Amanda
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2.0 bearded dragons (Ocho / Domo-kun)

0.1 kingsnake (Rio)
0.0.1 tarantula (Otto)
1.0 ferret (Playstation)
1.0 cat (Wally)
0.1 dog (Tima)

they dio require special care and a commitment to be there for them. You cant just go off and leave it for days at a time when ever you want.

check here for common Q&A
beardiedragon Q&A

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Bennett

www.beardiedragon.com

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Signature edited for TOS violation.

Edited on August 22, 2004 at 23:27:40 by phwyvern.

yes, the bearded dragon is a great beginner pet. A beardie was my, well i guess i cant say my first reptile, but i think they are easier than any pet, you dont NEED a vet check-up, and probably the harder thing when having them is i think they can cost quite a bit. im younger, in my teen years and with no job having to buy him food weekly, cricket quencher and food for crix, veggie's and all sorts of things, it adds up. but if parents are there to help pay then its easyier.

either a beardie or a geck-o i guess, beardie's may be a bit easier!
lol

goodluck,
laurenandroxy

"i think they are easier than any pet"

Even a gerbil?

"you dont NEED a vet check-up"

For a person who is new with beardies, a vet will be able to recognize potential problems that the owner may not. All too often a problem goes unnoticed by inexperienced owners, and they don't think their lizard needs regular checks so it doesn't get looked at until it becomes an emergency. Reptiles are very good at hiding problems until the problem is so severe that it's nearly beyond control. People who have been keeping beardies for many years and know them inside and out may not need a vet check every year, because they can see a potential problem before it gets that bad. But I definately think first time owners should get regular checks and fecals, at least for the first few years until they get the hang of things. I've been keeping beardies for about 3 years, and I still run fecal samples to the vet about twice a year and continue to bring my beardies by at least once a year. It's just a good practice.

Also, anytime a person gets a new beardie they definately should get at least one check-up and fecal right at the start. So to say you don't need a vet check up is incorrect, every beardie needs at least one.

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Amanda
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2.0 bearded dragons (Ocho / Domo-kun)

0.1 kingsnake (Rio)
0.0.1 tarantula (Otto)
1.0 ferret (Playstation)
1.0 cat (Wally)
0.1 dog (Tima)