Kicking the can

[trailblazer295]

Hey all

Well I always liked reptiles and even more so since I started getting into reptiles lizards always interested me. Snakes are awesome no question but lizards offer something different as well. As common as they are bearded dragons always get me when I go into a pet store. The baby energizer bunny climbing machines and juvies that run to the front to stare at you. To date I've stayed strong and walked away.

Just in case one day I cave, I'd like to not be completely clueless. Worst case is your advice and insight on the care of them will scare me off enough to stay strong (I realize this isn't a good place for being talked OUT of something) lol. But ever care sheet you read on anything is different from the next. What are the right feeding, heat, humidity (is too high a problem?), cage size, substrate?

[Aaron_S]

I would go with a savannah monitor type set up if I was to own one again. Something spacious, with good substrate to dig and a really hot basking spot.

[SnoopySnake]

I agree with Aaron. I would do a bioactive setup, and it would be similar to how you'd (properly) keep a sav or other small monitor. When I first started reading the post and saw the title I thought you were getting out of reptiles.... I was like WHAT :eek: lol.

[Minkness]

If you are going to go through with all of that....might as well get an ackie! =D

[trailblazer295]

I agree with Aaron. I would do a bioactive setup, and it would be similar to how you'd (properly) keep a sav or other small monitor. When I first started reading the post and saw the title I thought you were getting out of reptiles.... I was like WHAT :eek: lol.

No Snoopy you're stuck with me ;) My next planned addition hasn't hatched yet. Not sure if it's be laid either but the female was holding ;)

It makes sense to do that setup though.

If you are going to go through with all of that....might as well get an ackie! =D

Haha you're not biased at all Mink. ;) I'm not experienced enough or have the appropriate time for monitor care.

[SnoopySnake]

I can't say I disagree with Minky although beardeds can be very rewarding when setup properly. They absolutely thrive when setup like a small monitor (high humidity, lots of digging space ect, I would also provide leaf litter for foraging and structures to bask on of course). Just my thoughts :) I have plans myself in the future for a spotted tree monitor so a setup like this is very much a plan for me.

[trailblazer295]

All the adult beardies I've seen tend to be very lazy. Seems they grow out of their high energy youth. It's that and the feeding that's the biggest hang ups for me. I'll just have to stay strong and not fold lol

[Aaron_S]

All the adult beardies I've seen tend to be very lazy. Seems they grow out of their high energy youth. It's that and the feeding that's the biggest hang ups for me. I'll just have to stay strong and not fold lol

It's because they are kept with too cold in my opinion. Wayne once mentioned while speaking about wild monitors, that they never really bask. They bask for 3 minutes on extremely hot surfaces because if they sit for 5 hours in a spot they will be eaten. Same would be true for bearded dragons, and no I don't think for one second they know there is no predator in captivity and that's why they bask for 5 hours now...

[Andy_G]

It's because they are kept with too cold in my opinion. Wayne once mentioned while speaking about wild monitors, that they never really bask. They bask for 3 minutes on extremely hot surfaces because if they sit for 5 hours in a spot they will be eaten. Same would be true for bearded dragons, and no I don't think for one second they know there is no predator in captivity and that's why they bask for 5 hours now...

This x1000

[SnoopySnake]

Lots of people keep them at a 90-100 degree hot spot. You keep them at 120 plus (think small monitors) and they are a completely different animal :) also want to clarify with my previous comment I don't think beardeds should be kept with high humidity that was more geared towards small monitors but I also think that they could do with more than what most people give. In Australia they cover a huge amount of the country with slightly different terrain and humidity levels all over. I don't think they should be kept strictly like a desert animal with no water bowls like some people believe :)

[SnoopySnake]

Adults aren't the lazy sausages everyone thinks about when you mention beardies if you don't keep them on Lino/carpet/paper towel, super dry cage and 90 degrees to function on ;)

[Aaron_S]

Lots of people keep them at a 90-100 degree hot spot. You keep them at 120 plus (think small monitors) and they are a completely different animal :) also want to clarify with my previous comment I don't think beardeds should be kept with high humidity that was more geared towards small monitors but I also think that they could do with more than what most people give. In Australia they cover a huge amount of the country with slightly different terrain and humidity levels all over. I don't think they should be kept strictly like a desert animal with no water bowls like some people believe :)

I would do what Wayne does. Keeps it pretty dry up top and within the burrows his monitors dig it's 100% humidity. The animals are built to retain humidity this way so they don't need to have access to water all the time.

Adults aren't the lazy sausages everyone thinks about when you mention beardies if you don't keep them on Lino/carpet/paper towel, super dry cage and 90 degrees to function on ;)

I agree but it's the norm and people love how their dragons are so "personable" etc. etc. Which is a topic I'm too tired to go into depth about here.

[SnoopySnake]

Where'd Wayne go anyway? But I'd agree as far as methods of keeping them. I didn't man that you should set them up tropical or anything like that but just addressing how they CAN withstand some humidity....

It is nice to have a "personable" animal but........it's a reptile. Lol. Aside from you being too tired to have this conversation I think we both know this is a topic that has been had too many times to count. Best left alone.

[trailblazer295]

It's a good thing they have very demanding feeding requirements because this wouldn't help me NOT get one lol.

[SnoopySnake]

It's a good thing they have very demanding feeding requirements because this wouldn't help me NOT get one lol.

I mean....reptilinks are a thing but obviously judging by my posts for it's not something I recommend for an animal like this that likes to forage ect ;)

[trailblazer295]

I mean....reptilinks are a thing but obviously judging by my posts for it's not something I recommend for an animal like this that likes to forage ect ;)

More the frequency. Fresh water, misting and greens daily and bugs etc.

Snakes tend to be more my speed lol once a week or longer. Only the cat eats twice a day. And I go away for a weekend fairly often and live alone so no feeding going on then.

[SnoopySnake]

More the frequency. Fresh water, misting and greens daily and bugs etc.

Snakes tend to be more my speed lol once a week or longer. Only the cat eats twice a day. And I go away for a weekend fairly often and live alone so no feeding going on then.

Honestly this is why I don't have one. I do like them and would love to set one up the way I described but am too busy to work with something that eats everyday. Really liking my geckos cause feeding them every other night gives a little wiggle room and plus it's so easy lol.

[trailblazer295]

My only frequent feeder is my crestie and not sure if I'm keeping her honestly but I think that will be it for lizards for me. Just too complex to do it right and too demanding. Focus on my few snakes and nice adult cages.

[MartinD]

My only frequent feeder is my crestie and not sure if I'm keeping her honestly but I think that will be it for lizards for me. Just too complex to do it right and too demanding. Focus on my few snakes and nice adult cages.

When my wife passed away in Nov 2015 I was like 'Now what?' and a very good friend of mine who kept beardies and cresties said to me "Why not get into reptiles?". So I went to her flat and had a look at her collection, did 5 months of research and started off with 2 x Leopard geckos, then a few months later got 2 beardies and all was well UNTIL, a mate of mine came to see me and his girlfriend fell in love with my geckos and bought them off of me lol. A month later she bought my beardies as well and thats when I started my collection of snakes and yes they are easier to look after and in my eye's a lot more satisfying.