Second thoughts on Best Lizard for kids?

StudentoReptile · 10-22-12, 09:38 AM

So I posted a while back about us planning on getting a bearded dragon for my son, who is currently 18 months old. Here's the thread: http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/pogon...er-course.html

Obviously, any interaction will be supervised and of course, I will be doing 100% of the care & husbandry. We have a couple herper friends who introduced their little girl to critters pretty young, and it worked out well. Likewise, I want to introduce my boys to animals pretty early on as well.

Here's the thing....I really do not like bearded dragons, and I am not really keen to taking care of roaches. I understand beardies are very friendly and tolerate a lot of regular-handling, but I have always found them to be a little more "stinky" than any other lizard species I've cared for, and while if push came to shove, I know I could hack dealing with Dubia, I'm not looking forward to caring for bugs of any sort. Maybe its because of all the recent spider problems we've been having, but my "ick" sensor has been on high-alert lately, and the less bugs I gotta to deal with, the lower my heart rate is.

The wife is more inclined to a beardie though, because of the aforementioned friendliness. She says that's the only lizard she would mess with on her own while I'm not around. I am now pushing for a blue-tongue skink. We've had them before: easy, durable, SLOW-moving, no need for live prey. In fact, the last one we had was technically hers, and she kinda just got bored with it. I don't know why she is not groovin' on it again.

I dunno...lots of factors here: as the primary care-taker, I think I should get some say-so on what animal we get for the kid, but at the same time, I want to get something my wife will not be reluctant to handle as well.

Anyone want to weigh in on this? Beardie or BTS? Maybe another suggestion?

Gungirl · 10-22-12, 09:41 AM

I think a BTS is the best thing.. My son (8yrs old) love his and takes 95% care of it now on his own, I only help with a few things.

Valvaren · 10-22-12, 09:49 AM

I only really have two things to say, as far as stinky I bathed my beardie everyday since I got her when she was young and now she is potty trained to only go in water, she will do her dance and refuse to go until she is in a bath and you can't smell it at all. And trust me I know how smelly beardie poop can be and I have a horrible gag reflex, sight of poop makes me gag so my Fiancee has to clean everyone else but I can handle Thil's poop fine since in the water you can't smell it so it helps ALOT.

As for roaches, other then feeding them and feeding them off you really don't have to do much with them and I will tell you roaches are million times better then anything else out there. If you end up with any animal that has to eat crickets you're going to hate it at one point for whatever reason as you probably know. Roaches make no noise, no smell, don't fly (atleast i've never had mine fly) and mine have done a good job keeping their population controlled, I know i've heard of other being overrun and I got to a point I was worried about it but then I stopped seeing mass growth, it was like they hit a plateau, I still have lots of females and males but the amount of babies has decreased.

Anyway basically, you wont find anything else like a beardie, they really are one of a kind, and for a kid I really think they are the best animal, they provide an amazing yet simple bonding experience and they really do attach to you, Thil spent 95% of her growing up with me and if she is out she has to be able to touch me, its really something I think your kids would enjoy. Also as stated they do handle touching and handling very well.

After re-reading I noticed you made a point about BTS being slow moving, beardies aren't always the active critters, mine is very laid back, moves when she wants to but really just enjoy finding a spot to settle on you and then just sleep or chill, which makes her easy to also do chores with, I used to do dishes with Thil when she was a baby and I still do today.

But again, your choice, I think the amount of fun you would have with a beardie would over weigh the problems with bugs.

Also as i'm sure you already know one beardie to one tank is recommended and if you do get two its always best that you make sure they can't see each from their tanks because more often then not they do stress each other out.

StudentoReptile · 10-22-12, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valvaren

I only really have two things to say, as far as stinky I bathed my beardie everyday since I got her when she was young and now she is potty trained to only go in water, she will do her dance and refuse to go until she is in a bath and you can't smell it at all. And trust me I know how smelly beardie poop can be and I have a horrible gag reflex, sight of poop makes me gag so my Fiancee has to clean everyone else but I can handle Thil's poop fine since in the water you can't smell it so it helps ALOT.

LOL...but I don't have to worry about bathing or potty-training other lizards!

Quote:

As for roaches, other then feeding them and feeding them off you really don't have to do much with them and I will tell you roaches are million times better then anything else out there. If you end up with any animal that has to eat crickets you're going to hate it at one point for whatever reason as you probably know. Roaches make no noise, no smell, don't fly (atleast i've never had mine fly) and mine have done a good job keeping their population controlled, I know i've heard of other being overrun and I got to a point I was worried about it but then I stopped seeing mass growth, it was like they hit a plateau, I still have lots of females and males but the amount of babies has decreased.

It's really not so much the care, or population explosion I'm worried about (I know plenty of folks around I can dump access feeder insects on!). And I do recognize the benefit of raising them, and their advantages over other types of feeder insects. But I just don't like touching them, or anything. It's generally why I have avoided keeping insectivorous herps for years.

Quote:

Anyway basically, you wont find anything else like a beardie, they really are one of a kind, and for a kid I really think they are the best animal, they provide an amazing yet simple bonding experience and they really do attach to you, Thil spent 95% of her growing up with me and if she is out she has to be able to touch me, its really something I think your kids would enjoy. Also as stated they do handle touching and handling very well.

After re-reading I noticed you made a point about BTS being slow moving, beardies aren't always the active critters, mine is very laid back, moves when she wants to but really just enjoy finding a spot to settle on you and then just sleep or chill, which makes her easy to also do chores with, I used to do dishes with Thil when she was a baby and I still do today.

I know everyone has their own experiences and preferences, but I know plenty of folks who will say the exact same thing about BTS! lol...Personally, I think it may be a bit of a numbers game; more folks keep beardies than BTS, so a lot more folks are more inclined to opt for beardies. I would really like to hear from people who have decent experience with both lizards.

Quote:

But again, your choice, I think the amount of fun you would have with a beardie would over weigh the problems with bugs.

Yeah...again, if I'm going to be the one caring for it, I just don't want it to turn into a "gosh, I really wish we had gotten a ____ instead!" situation.

Quote:

Also as i'm sure you already know one beardie to one tank is recommended and if you do get two its always best that you make sure they can't see each from their tanks because more often then not they do stress each other out.

I have no intention of getting a 2nd one of whatever we end up choosing at this time. But yes, I did already know that. Thanks anyway.

BarelyBreathing · 10-22-12, 09:59 AM

I'd go with blule tongue skink. They can be just as, if not even more friendly than bearded dragons, because they've been known to exhibit keeper recognition.

Zoo Nanny · 10-22-12, 10:04 AM

I'm a bit partial to BTS and think they make a great beginner pet. As far as the stink factor mine beats out every animal that has ever lived with me! When he goes the entire house smells. He also only eats baby food chicken(won't touch anything that moves)which is what probably causes the stench. He also will eat baby food veggies poured over his greens when time is a factor.
I find beardies a little bit more labor intensive and care with the diet. Beardies also seem to be more at risk for dietary and gi problems. The BTS is easier to handle for young delicate hands as far as body. The nails on both are about the same, long sleeve a must.
Nancy

BarelyBreathing · 10-22-12, 10:43 AM

Baby food should NEVER be fed to any reptile. Most contain preservatives known to makke reptiles very sick, and even preservative free ones are too high in sugar for their bodies to process.

StudentoReptile · 10-22-12, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarelyBreathing

Baby food should NEVER be fed to any reptile. Most contain preservatives known to makke reptiles very sick, and even preservative free ones are too high in sugar for their bodies to process.

Ditto. Baby food is for baby humans...not reptiles.

Little Wise Owl · 10-23-12, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarelyBreathing

Baby food should NEVER be fed to any reptile. Most contain preservatives known to makke reptiles very sick, and even preservative free ones are too high in sugar for their bodies to process.

Even if the ingredient list and packaging states it only contains chicken and is preservative free...? And the nutrient analysis states the amount of sugar in the food (most are sugar free) and the chicken type would have no sugar at all anyway. Not that I agree with feeding pure chicken baby food as a staple but people seem to jump to conclusions about it.

Terranaut · 10-22-12, 11:38 AM

I gotta jump on the beardie wagon.
The stinky poo is absolutely the only negative.
As far a s dubia. I don't touch mine. I have a 1/2 piece of egg carton in their tub. At feeding I pull out the small piece which will have 10 -20 dubia on it and shake it over the tank until the right amount fall off then toas it back into the colony. Very easy.

Zoo Nanny · 10-22-12, 12:30 PM

Unfortunetly it was my only alternative. I tried him on a number of different foods along with pinkies all of which he refused. He was being fed cat food and grapes when I got him. He now eats a variety of greens, veggies and fruits. I buy him organic chicken with broth and avoid any with additives. When I cheat and give him sweet potato baby food this is also organic with no additives. I have parrots so have to be extremely careful on just what I bring into the house.

BarelyBreathing · 10-22-12, 12:39 PM

Cut him off baby food all together. He will eat.

Zoo Nanny · 10-22-12, 12:45 PM

He's around 15 years old and no I've been that route and he didn't eat. He will eat his greens, vegetables and fruits but not any other protien. The vet was concerned enough to have me return to the baby food chicken. We even tried diced up pinkie with the fur removed, no go. I've never come across another reptile that refused to eat prey.

BarelyBreathing · 10-22-12, 01:32 PM

What have you tried? I've gotten picky blue tongues to eat organic leaned shaved turkey breast. It's not great, but it's better than baby food. Have you tried that? Or roaches? Crickets? Live pinky? Ground adult mice? Night crawlers? Snails?

Zoo Nanny · 10-22-12, 01:38 PM

It's an extensive list which I've added to over the years. No snails but everything else including putting them through the food processor and mixing in his salad. Also tried wax worms and meal worms. If you check the ingredients on organic baby food chicken it list chicken and water. I would be happy to discuss this with you at length but I really don't want to hijack this thread.