Beardies or Blue Tongues?

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I used to breed beards. My BTS seems more like a pet. Much slower, even if totally grumpy they are still easy to not get bit by. Does not need a high insect diet. No proof of needing every day UVB if the diet is right and they can get some outdoor time now and then. Beards are great dont get me wrong, just much more going to the bathroom, more live food, more lighting, real fast if let out, I will post a link for the best site on them, and you should spend some time on it. Stay away from imports, mine is farm raised import but Ive got lots of experience with herps and it was the one I wanted and sort of my way of giving this dude a second chance. However he has had a few more issues with shedding and such then all my freinds with northerns.

From all my time of studyin them, go with a CB northern BTS, super hardy and CB BTS become quite docile. Mine is too but I would rather not see you take a chance with an import. I would like a northern myself, but you do not keep BTS together so I dont quite have the room unless I divide my cage, wouldn't be fair to mine. Im a sap I know.

They are less comon, more expensive, but they seem like the step up from beards to me as far as a pet goes. Beards are more active wanting food all the time and such so if thats what your looking for then think about that too. Good luck, this topic could go on for ever but I dont have for ever lol.

http://bluetongueskinks.net/
 
foto69man;4606710; said:
I disagree completely on suggesting the use of sand. (This is my opinion) Unless you are getting an adult beardie and are going to watch him/her while eating, or feed in a separate container...the danger of impaction is not something to risk. I agree that newspaper is tacky, that's why lots of beardie keepers keep their guys on slate tile. It's decorative, holds in some heat at night, and is easy to clean(you just wipe with a wet cloth). Sand can discolor a beardie's skin, causes more dust, and is a better breeding ground for bacteria. :
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...... I have lost count of how many times have i heard this mythical "sand causes impaction" rubbish. No offense to you as pretty much everyone that doesn't know the facts believes in it, Why? because everyone dose, its an urban legend.

I have kept reptiles for over 5 years on sand, the breeder who i bought all my reptiles from uses sand in all of his many hundreds of enclosures, he has bred reptiles for 15 years and before that he was a reptile and bird vet, a mate of mine in new york has bred and kept reptiles for many, many years has kept all his reptiles on sand and without a single case of impaction.

If your reptiles needs are being met for example- proper heating, a source of water, vitamins and calcium etc and your not feeding things like meal or super worms (they have a tough exoskeleton with is hard to digest) then you will never have a case of impaction.

I have seen on occasion my geckos and even my monitor get a bit of sand in their mouth whilst eating and it passes through them with ease.

In the wild, where do beardies live? in the outback and bushland and whats everywhere? SAND. Its the same with most reptiles, do they fear sand and do everything to keep off it? lol no.

The only time i wouldn't keep a reptile on sand is if its not natural to their native habitat like blue tongue skinks for example, they prefer greenery and leaf litter.

I apologize if this come across a personal attack as it is not, im just tired of hearing this sand causes impaction nonsense.

Cheers-

Darren
 
Perentie;4606820; said:
...... I have lost count of how many times have i heard this mythical "sand causes impaction" rubbish. No offense to you as pretty much everyone that doesn't know the facts believes in it, Why? because everyone dose, its an urban legend.

I have kept reptiles for over 5 years on sand, the breeder who i bought all my reptiles from uses sand in all of his many hundreds of enclosures, he has bred reptiles for 15 years and before that he was a reptile and bird vet, a mate of mine in new york has bred and kept reptiles for many, many years has kept all his reptiles on sand and without a single case of impaction.

If your reptiles needs are being met for example- proper heating, a source of water, vitamins and calcium etc and your not feeding things like meal or super worms (they have a tough exoskeleton with is hard to digest) then you will never have a case of impaction.

I have seen on occasion my geckos and even my monitor get a bit of sand in their mouth whilst eating and it passes through them with ease.

In the wild, where do beardies live? in the outback and bushland and whats everywhere? SAND. Its the same with most reptiles, do they fear sand and do everything to keep off it? lol no.

The only time i wouldn't keep a reptile on sand is if its not natural to their native habitat like blue tongue skinks for example, they prefer greenery and leaf litter.

I apologize if this come across a personal attack as it is not, im just tired of hearing this sand causes impaction nonsense.

Cheers-

Darren
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While we clearly see your point here, and do understand its not a personal attack, lets not let this thread go past this post with the sand debate. Their are many very reputable herpetologist that have powerful points on both side of that spectrum. It can be fought for ever. We can gladly bring back some of the many threads with this battle. At this moment though lets try not to let this thread become another one of those.

However thank you for your opinion, we all do know where your coming from with that. Its just already in depth through several threads here and maybe you can search them and bring one back to give your input in and we can shoot the breeze on it.
 
foto69man;4606710; said:
I disagree completely on suggesting the use of sand. (This is my opinion) Unless you are getting an adult beardie and are going to watch him/her while eating, or feed in a separate container...the danger of impaction is not something to risk. I agree that newspaper is tacky, that's why lots of beardie keepers keep their guys on slate tile. It's decorative, holds in some heat at night, and is easy to clean(you just wipe with a wet cloth). Sand can discolor a beardie's skin, causes more dust, and is a better breeding ground for bacteria. Also, go here for any beardie questions...one of the best places I been to:

http://www.beardeddragon.org/bjive/index.php?sid=6b5fac5ff5e2457bbcb924f965664096


I also think that for the personality you get from such a small lizard, and given how easy their care requirements are, I'd go with a beardie every time.
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either way ill be getting an adult or subadult abd feeding it in a seperate container
 
jason longboard;4606711; said:
I used to breed beards. My BTS seems more like a pet. Much slower, even if totally grumpy they are still easy to not get bit by. Does not need a high insect diet. No proof of needing every day UVB if the diet is right and they can get some outdoor time now and then. Beards are great dont get me wrong, just much more going to the bathroom, more live food, more lighting, real fast if let out, I will post a link for the best site on them, and you should spend some time on it. Stay away from imports, mine is farm raised import but Ive got lots of experience with herps and it was the one I wanted and sort of my way of giving this dude a second chance. However he has had a few more issues with shedding and such then all my freinds with northerns.

From all my time of studyin them, go with a CB northern BTS, super hardy and CB BTS become quite docile. Mine is too but I would rather not see you take a chance with an import. I would like a northern myself, but you do not keep BTS together so I dont quite have the room unless I divide my cage, wouldn't be fair to mine. Im a sap I know.

They are less comon, more expensive, but they seem like the step up from beards to me as far as a pet goes. Beards are more active wanting food all the time and such so if thats what your looking for then think about that too. Good luck, this topic could go on for ever but I dont have for ever lol.

http://bluetongueskinks.net/
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Thanks for the site. I just have a question are the northerns from Australian or Indonesia because isn't exporting from Australia illegal anyway. But i'm still not sure about what i'm going to get. And are there any downsides do a Leatherback or Silkback Bearded Dragon. I heard they lack the spines on their back does this affect their health at all?
 
I apologize if I derailed the thread at all...wasn't my intention. I just wanted to warn about the potential is all, as I lost my first beardie from a combination of sand impaction and eating mealworms at too young an age(couldn't fully digest the shells)

I think blue tongues are cool guys, I just really like the look and personality of beardies more. Especially with some of the color morphs out there...bloodbank dragons turns out some crazy guys. Either way, please take many many pics of your new little guy/girl!
 
brooklynboy521;4607216; said:
Thanks for the site. I just have a question are the northerns from Australian or Indonesia because isn't exporting from Australia illegal anyway. But i'm still not sure about what i'm going to get. And are there any downsides do a Leatherback or Silkback Bearded Dragon. I heard they lack the spines on their back does this affect their health at all?
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They are Aussie, but they have been captive bred here for a long time. They are by far the most popular of the skinks here, you will tend to find more import Indos at pet stores, just shoot for a breeder, once you know for sure, I may try to help you locate one. Normaly even just on kingsnake or fuana if its a northern then you should be ok.

The scaleless dragons I hear have a bit of trouble shedding sometimes, from a reputable source not just some online post, and you just gotta think of how much protection they have lost, plus the sensitivity now to lighting Im not sure about. I personally would knock the scaleless breeding of herps crap off, but ppl just gotta be different. Thats another big debate for a dif time.
 
Perentie;4606820; said:
...... I have lost count of how many times have i heard this mythical "sand causes impaction" rubbish. No offense to you as pretty much everyone that doesn't know the facts believes in it, Why? because everyone dose, its an urban legend.
Darren
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First off no offense but I completly disagree, it is considered fact that sand causes impaction with smaller lizards. One main variable with this is the type of sand. Lab made sand is square under a microscope while natural sand is round. Calcium sand is probably the worst sand you can use because it is lab made and lizards will eat it looking for calcium. One of the greatest forums for lizards is www.geckoforums.net
 
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