looking into beardeds

[shining apprentice]

ive recently started my fascination with herps and am thinking of branching out from balls to lizards and these guys are on my targeted list... Can the yung ones survive for a while in a 10 gallon tank or do i need to get a 20 for starters(i ask because i have 2 unused 10 gallons)... also can they be housed with others. I held one at a pet store yesterday and when i let my girlfriend hold it it ran up her and jumper off her shoulder to the ground, is this common and does it hurt them. i asked the guy but he seemed to know nothing so i stopped asking questions after that.

[python.princess]

You should start with at least a 20L. A 10g doesn't have enough room for the beardie to get away from the heat to cool down. Some say they can be housed with others, some say they can't. I currently have two, living in separate enclosures. You have to be careful with young beardies because they can be jumpy and they can hurt themselves in the process. I make it a rule to sit down while holding them in case they jump.

[Beardedragon]

ive recently started my fascination with herps and am thinking of branching out from balls to lizards and these guys are on my targeted list... Can the yung ones survive for a while in a 10 gallon tank or do i need to get a 20 for starters(i ask because i have 2 unused 10 gallons)... also can they be housed with others. I held one at a pet store yesterday and when i let my girlfriend hold it it ran up her and jumper off her shoulder to the ground, is this common and does it hurt them. i asked the guy but he seemed to know nothing so i stopped asking questions after that.

Go with the 20 gallon, the ten gallon will not allow it to get away from the 110 degree basking spot they need. Generally you should not house them together, unless you know that they will not have dominance issues, they are the same size, and guaranteed females.

Just a few starter tips that are easily missed when starting with beardies that id like to cover before you get everything.

No sand, or particle substrates like crushed walnut shells, or calci sand. Pretty much anything from a petstore that comes in more than three pieces.

You have to have a reliable UVB fluorescent tube, or MVB bulb. Do not get a compact bulb, the twirly energy saving looking ones. Id recommend the reptisun 10.0, or a t-mvb. The MVB will last you a year, and the 10.0 will only last 6 months.

Do not forget they eat around 50-100 dusted crickets a DAY, so affording one can become a little trouble some at times. The crickets should be no larger than the width between their eyes.

No meal worms, or pellet diets will work.



- Matt!