Are bearded dragons good starter lizards??

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
dzb912;2960432; said:
about 150
Click to expand...

65g terrarium alone is around $90-$120 depending where you get it from. (yes, I just checked the net for the most recent pricing)
Basking, UV, overall lighting...
Decorations...
The average cost of a beardie these days is what? $60 at the shop? (I adopted so not sure...)
A young bearded dragon can consume 100+ crickets a day for the first year of its life.
PLUS initial veterinary exam+fecal, which is crucial.

While they are GREAT starter lizards, please don't think you are getting off cheap.
 
BreellaBlue87;2960601; said:
65g terrarium alone is around $90-$120 depending where you get it from. (yes, I just checked the net for the most recent pricing)
Basking, UV, overall lighting...
Decorations...
The average cost of a beardie these days is what? $60 at the shop? (I adopted so not sure...)
A young bearded dragon can consume 100+ crickets a day for the first year of its life.
PLUS initial veterinary exam+fecal, which is crucial.

While they are GREAT starter lizards, please don't think you are getting off cheap.
Click to expand...


I Agree but 100 crickets a day?
100 crix per week is more like it.

I think Leos are wayyyyy better starter lizards than beardies.
 
Hatchling and juvie dragons eat a lot. Yavie used to around a hundred a day when I first got her. They have to eat small prey items no bigger than the space between their eyes for risk of choking, thus the volume. But still, even if you don't count food it's still more than a $150 initial investment. Its also a lifetime investment, its not like you drop X dollars and thats it.
 
pretty easy, just get a uv light, a heating light and check your temps, a young one needs up to 110 in its basking spot and like 80 in the cool part of the tank, yes you need hot and cold side of the tank. decorations are basically what ever you want, (DO NOT GET CALCIUM SAND!!!! IT KILLS) i used newspaper at first now he is on sand, sand may hurt him at a young age by eating it. lots of small crickets and veggies. and make sure the tank doesn't drop below 65 at night. it sounds like alot but basically once you get it set up he will be fine, and they are so calm and enjoy hanging with you outside the aquarium mine i have had for about 5 months and he has never shown any aggression what so ever. so in short
> aquarium(find one cheeper like secound hand can even be cracked doesn't hold water)
> florescent light (key so he can absorb calcium)
>Heating bulb
> decorations (i have some wood, black sand, water dish, food dish, and a spider plant)
shop around, but they need food, i learned that fast
Beardies are amazing lizards, they are so relaxed with people and have a cool little personality :)

if you want one you can set up pretty cheep
check out this site for all the specifics

http://www.beardeddragon.org/bjive/
 
I would go BD over a leopard gecko. The primary differences are size and lighting requirements. If you get a small BD then the size isn't a big deal because you gain experience as you go. Much more handleable and more difficult to lose if they go for a run! As far as prices go, buy at a show/expo or online. It will cut store costs in half...

And no offense but 100/day crickets seems exaggerated or just not right.
 
krzr3000;2961002; said:
And no offense but 100/day crickets seems exaggerated or just not right.
Click to expand...

Thats what my beardie ate for a while, sometimes less but usually around 100. I used to have to buy them by the thousand off the internet. Thankfully the apatite calms with age, at least hers has, she gets mostly fruits and veggies now.
 
mine isn't too big yet but today he has eaten at least 50 smaller crickets
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom