Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi!
I have a big homepage about bearded dragons and I get many questions about “the care for dragons” via that page. One question that keeps coming back is “can I mix species?”…

I know you shall NOT.

But I need as many reasons I could get “for NOT mixing species”. I want to convince people not to do it. Now most people argue with me – I am not convincing enough.

I will make a special page about this subject and I need your input – please give me all the reasons you can think of for “not mixing species”. (It can be scientific or ordinary – I just need reasons “not to”)

Thanks!
/Gunilla
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Teo - A Bearded Dragon

One of the main reasons for not mixing species outside of the ovious (one thinking the other is a snack) is bacteria and parasites. What is naturally found in one species gut for digestion and excreted out, can pass to the other species and be deadly.

Example: coccidia is thought to be a natural parasite (in minimal amounts) in a bearded dragon and that the dragons own gut fauna controls its and keeps a balance. Except when a dragon gets stressed or some other illness allows that to bloom and get out of control.

Yet another species may walk in the feces or consume something that walked in it and have no other bacteria in them to keep it minimal and become a host to an overgrowth of it. Then in turn infecting the bearded dragon with an overload of oocysts the other species excrete out.

Another example and I am taking this from an email to me from a well known researcher of diseases of reptiles:

Did you know that if you culture the skin of a healthy normal lizard, you have over 60% of chances to grow an Aspergillus or a Penicillium?

This exist on the skin of a lizard and can simply be a there as a contaminant and does not bother them, yet could be devastating if ingested by another species.

Other reason can include the envirmental and nutritional needs of one species over the other, what one thrives in, could be harmful to the other. Ex: the humidity a water dragon or iguana likes, would be dangerous to a bearded dragon as exposing them to the possibility of fungal yeast or mold infections that is not a problem for the more moist loving reptiles.

Hope this helps some

CheriS

Thank you so much Cheri!
A good explanation - as always!

Do you mind if I copy the text you wrote and put it as it is at my homepage? With your name under of course. (And a link to "Reptilesroom" maybe?) Your information is very useful for other people - and you explained it so well. Please let me know if I can copy it.

Thanks!
Gunilla

>>One of the main reasons for not mixing species outside of the ovious (one thinking the other is a snack) is bacteria and parasites. What is naturally found in one species gut for digestion and excreted out, can pass to the other species and be deadly.
>>
>>Example: coccidia is thought to be a natural parasite (in minimal amounts) in a bearded dragon and that the dragons own gut fauna controls its and keeps a balance. Except when a dragon gets stressed or some other illness allows that to bloom and get out of control.
>>
>>Yet another species may walk in the feces or consume something that walked in it and have no other bacteria in them to keep it minimal and become a host to an overgrowth of it. Then in turn infecting the bearded dragon with an overload of oocysts the other species excrete out.
>>
>>Another example and I am taking this from an email to me from a well known researcher of diseases of reptiles:
>>

Did you know that if you culture the skin of a healthy normal lizard, you have over 60% of chances to grow an Aspergillus or a Penicillium?

This exist on the skin of a lizard and can simply be a there as a contaminant and does not bother them, yet could be devastating if ingested by another species.
>>
>>Other reason can include the envirmental and nutritional needs of one species over the other, what one thrives in, could be harmful to the other. Ex: the humidity a water dragon or iguana likes, would be dangerous to a bearded dragon as exposing them to the possibility of fungal yeast or mold infections that is not a problem for the more moist loving reptiles.
>>
>>Hope this helps some
>>
>>CheriS

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Teo - A Bearded Dragon

.

And you ask ME - a SWEDE to do that?! Well, I do my best - I paste it into "Word" and see if that find the typos..!
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Teo - A Bearded Dragon

I would say that the simple reason is because they are captive in an artificial environment.
Someone will say, "Well, there are lizards & geckos & turtles & squirels & racoons, etc all living together in the wild, why can't I put them all in my tank?"
Here's why:
There is no ability for the tortoise to dig a burro to get away from a hawk in a tank.
There is no means for a turtle to swim down stream & into the next creek to get away from a racoon in a tank.
There is no way for a little gecko to climb a tall branch and blend in with leaves to get away from a hungry lizard if none is provided in a tank.
We just cannot easily replicate all of Mother Nature's way of providing self-protection/camoflage for several types of species in one enclosure. Zoos can do with huge enclosures, some acres big, but in a home of a reptile hobbyist, it's just not practical.
The biggest, most aggressive species in the tank will be the lone survivor.
Hope this helps,
Sharla

THANK you!
Very well said! Do you mind if I copy your text - and show it at my homepage? (See link below) Of course I write your name under the text. If you let me show your text - do you want me to link somewhere? To your homepage, if you have onw, maybe?

Thanks!
/Gunilla

>>I would say that the simple reason is because they are captive in an artificial environment.
>>Someone will say, "Well, there are lizards & geckos & turtles & squirels & racoons, etc all living together in the wild, why can't I put them all in my tank?"
>>Here's why:
>>There is no ability for the tortoise to dig a burro to get away from a hawk in a tank.
>>There is no means for a turtle to swim down stream & into the next creek to get away from a racoon in a tank.
>>There is no way for a little gecko to climb a tall branch and blend in with leaves to get away from a hungry lizard if none is provided in a tank.
>>We just cannot easily replicate all of Mother Nature's way of providing self-protection/camoflage for several types of species in one enclosure. Zoos can do with huge enclosures, some acres big, but in a home of a reptile hobbyist, it's just not practical.
>>The biggest, most aggressive species in the tank will be the lone survivor.
>>Hope this helps,
>>Sharla
>>

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Teo - A Bearded Dragon

Hi Gunilla!
Help yourself to my "words of wisdom"
I don't have a homepage yet....not till next year when my dragons start breeding!
Hopefully some of the reasons you list will hit home with anyone tempting to try this on a whim.
Good Luck!
Sharla

Thanks!
I'll let you know when the page is up. When I notice that a question kept being asked over and over again - I try to put information about it at my site. Hopefully someone will learn from it.

/Gunilla

>>Hi Gunilla!
>>Help yourself to my "words of wisdom"
>>I don't have a homepage yet....not till next year when my dragons start breeding!
>>Hopefully some of the reasons you list will hit home with anyone tempting to try this on a whim.
>>Good Luck!
>>Sharla
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Teo - A Bearded Dragon

I agree with both the other statements so far for sure. There are certain instances where it can be ok, dont down it, before you know everything. Now I know, everyone who is just getting started with reptiles wants to do a mix species exhibit, but they shouldnt, because they need the experience in caring for one reptile at a time, and more but only in seperate cages. Your beginner reptile hobbiest will mainly try and do things as cheap as possible so a big enough cage is usually out of the question. But keep in mind an experienced hobbiest, with a very large cage, could make an interesting Australian exhibit. It would have to be at least 6 feet tall, 10 ft wide and 3-4 feet back to accomplish this, but I have seen it done succesfully. First you have 4-5 Frilled Lizards which use the full hiegth of the cage. Then you can add in a trio of Blue Tounge skinks that utilize the bottom. And filll in with a troupe of bearded dragons 4-5 strong. I have always thought about doing this, and if you have the time, expereince and know how to keep a watchful eye on all, its a very doable set up.

I do agree that for a beginner though, mixing species is wrong, and here is another reason why. Even with something that lives in the same area, has the same requirements, how will some one not expereinced enough make sure that in a small cage, the species cohabitate. As in eating right, eating the right amounts, not feeling stressed by the other animal, or attacking the other animal. A more expereince keeper knows these signs and can seperate if needed. Just my thoughts.
Kyle

Hi - and thank you so much for your input!
You are right - in SOME cases I guess it is ok to mix species. Do you mind if I copy your text (as it is) and put it at my homepage (see link below)? I would like to have different opinions there - it is useful for others to read.

Of course I put your name under your text (do you want a link somewhere too?) if you let me "publish" your text.

Thanks!
Gunilla

>>I agree with both the other statements so far for sure. There are certain instances where it can be ok, dont down it, before you know everything. Now I know, everyone who is just getting started with reptiles wants to do a mix species exhibit, but they shouldnt, because they need the experience in caring for one reptile at a time, and more but only in seperate cages. Your beginner reptile hobbiest will mainly try and do things as cheap as possible so a big enough cage is usually out of the question. But keep in mind an experienced hobbiest, with a very large cage, could make an interesting Australian exhibit. It would have to be at least 6 feet tall, 10 ft wide and 3-4 feet back to accomplish this, but I have seen it done succesfully. First you have 4-5 Frilled Lizards which use the full hiegth of the cage. Then you can add in a trio of Blue Tounge skinks that utilize the bottom. And filll in with a troupe of bearded dragons 4-5 strong. I have always thought about doing this, and if you have the time, expereince and know how to keep a watchful eye on all, its a very doable set up.
>>
>>I do agree that for a beginner though, mixing species is wrong, and here is another reason why. Even with something that lives in the same area, has the same requirements, how will some one not expereinced enough make sure that in a small cage, the species cohabitate. As in eating right, eating the right amounts, not feeling stressed by the other animal, or attacking the other animal. A more expereince keeper knows these signs and can seperate if needed. Just my thoughts.
>>Kyle

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Teo - A Bearded Dragon

Cheri mentioned the humidity needs of a different species.
On the other end of the spectrum..I've often seen the question "Can a Uromastyx be housed with a beardie"?
Assuming they are both desert animals, people think there's no problem.
Desert climates can vary greatly. Just one instance, a Uro requires a 120-130 degree basking site.
That would dehydrate and cook a dragon in no time.
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TheClassyLizard

Thanks a lot for your input!
Can I post your reply at my homepage? With a link to "TheClassyLizard" of course! All information about this subject is useful - people ask this question TOOOOO many times! Please let me know if you let me post it - I am working on the page now.
/Gunilla

>>Cheri mentioned the humidity needs of a different species.
>>On the other end of the spectrum..I've often seen the question "Can a Uromastyx be housed with a beardie"?
>>Assuming they are both desert animals, people think there's no problem.
>>Desert climates can vary greatly. Just one instance, a Uro requires a 120-130 degree basking site.
>>That would dehydrate and cook a dragon in no time.
>>-----
>> TheClassyLizard
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Teo - A Bearded Dragon

n/p
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TheClassyLizard