Beardie or Uromastyx?

[Evenstar]

Thanks Michelle! That's very useful. I think I am really leaning toward the beardie. I really do want a critter that can be handled and interacted with. Ella, my bp, has a much bigger personality than I ever imagined was possible from a snake - she's wonderfully inquisitive and tame. But even so, she IS just a bp and she does what most bps do. I love working with and spending time with my animals and I think a beardie will be a more rewarding experience than an Uro. I'll have to deal with the crickets and worms etc....

BTW, have you (or anyone else) fed your beardie "butterworms"?? I found a site I would be interested in ordering worms from - decent prices and good variety - and they offer butterworms in addition to silk and hornworms. Here's the link. Any thoughts?? http://www.mulberryfarms.com

[MitsuMike]

I don't feed anything other than crickets and greens. Have been told my many breeders mealworms have a tendency to cause impaction. I don't know too much about other worms though.
Before a year crickets up to 3 times a day (I do 2) and green given in the morning and picked up by atleast 6 pm.
Once they get to adulthood it's switched, more greens and less crickets.
Greens are easy............Trader Joe's sells a prepackaged bag in the salad section. It has collards, mustard and spinach. Spinach is not a huge no no for them but is not good in large quantities, so I pick out as much of it as possible before I put it in a food processor.

[BPelizabeth]

I have heard wax and butters are high in fat therefore I feed as a treat. I do mostly stick with crickets unfortunately. You can do Dubias (roaches) that is suppose to be the best of the best but I can't get over the roach thing personally. (clearly have bug phobia...)

I also wanted to tell you about the night cuddle...its the best. Every night Princess Bob likes to be covered in her blankey and rocked to sleep. She LOVES that and it lets me spend more time with her. I too LOVE to spend lots of time with my reptiles....with over 20 of them now...I am rarely without one....lol. The only bummer is that she is currently in brumation...it stinks as she is just sleeping all the time and when I do wake her up she just looks at me like...."really".

[Evenstar]

I have heard wax and butters are high in fat therefore I feed as a treat. I do mostly stick with crickets unfortunately. You can do Dubias (roaches) that is suppose to be the best of the best but I can't get over the roach thing personally. (clearly have bug phobia...)

I also wanted to tell you about the night cuddle...its the best. Every night Princess Bob likes to be covered in her blankey and rocked to sleep. She LOVES that and it lets me spend more time with her. I too LOVE to spend lots of time with my reptiles....with over 20 of them now...I am rarely without one....lol. The only bummer is that she is currently in brumation...it stinks as she is just sleeping all the time and when I do wake her up she just looks at me like...."really".

Yeeeah.... I really can't get over the roach thing either.... I can handle the crickets and worms, but roaches - no.

Too funny - night cuddles with your beardie! I love it! And I thought it was neat having my 75lb German Shepherd in my lap......

Thanks for the tips guys! I really appreciate it! So now my problem is to decide if I want to go ahead with a beardie or get another bp or two ('cause you know how they're like potato chips......).

[MitsuMike]

I'd personally go with a Dragon over another BP. I love my BP's but dragons are just much more fun and have a MUCH bigger personality.

[Evenstar]

....And I might just do that. But we'll see. I can always get a beardie later on and I've really been wanting a black pastel bp too. And I love my bp - to me, she's really fascinating - and I wouldn't mind another. But I'd like a beardie too. Decisions, decisions...

[BPelizabeth]

I have to say if you don't have a beardie...get one. I did not understand just how much I love my baby. (love my snakes too) But ya know that sad feeling you get waiting for the darn 48 hours after eating to pass...... Well the beardie fills it perfectly....lol.

Pretty soon you will be like me....lol...I made a bed w pillows and a blankey....and a play pen for mine.... She is such a princess....

[LOSTCOAST_BALLZ]

beardie, I used to breed leathers they are amazing. very fun creatures

[DC Reptiles]

I bred dragons for a few years and I loved them, they are a lot of fun. Mine loved to be out and about. The only issue I had with mine was how much it cost with lighting, and food. I had over 80 of them and I went through crickets and greens like they were going out of style, not to mention bulbs. Now I have balls and I have to say they are cheaper to keep and some of my snakes love to be out and hang on me. I think if your just looking for a pet I'd go for dragon just because of the personality

[BPelizabeth]

I bred dragons for a few years and I loved them, they are a lot of fun. Mine loved to be out and about. The only issue I had with mine was how much it cost with lighting, and food. I had over 80 of them and I went through crickets and greens like they were going out of style, not to mention bulbs. Now I have balls and I have to say they are cheaper to keep and some of my snakes love to be out and hang on me. I think if your just looking for a pet I'd go for dragon just because of the personality

I cannot even imagine!!!