New dragon from repticon, tampa FL

ashleynicole · 06-30-12, 09:07 PM

I would like to introduce my new bearded dragon, "Toothless". We obtained him from repticon in tampa last weekend and I am loving this little guy. He has so much character!

I've noticed sometimes he looks more light yellow with greenish undertones and a little red on the back like when he is eating he gets really light colored and the colors stand out beautifully.... and at other times he looks darker like when I took him out in the sun today (the first two pictures). Also his nails are clear and the guy said he thinks it was a hypo that got put in with some normals so I got him for only $25.

alessia55 · 06-30-12, 10:40 PM

Cute. Congrats!

ashleynicole · 07-01-12, 07:10 AM

Thanks! I've had snakes for about 8 years now, and I've wanted a lizard of some sort, I am so glad I chose a bearded dragon! I was kind of hesitant and have been researching for a couple of years actually because I knew I would have to have live food on hand and didn't know how difficult that would be. Snakes are easy, I thaw out the mice of various sizes once a week, pull them out and feed them, clean any dirty clumps of aspen out, clean water dishes, and we are good to go for the week. This little guy requires daily maintenance but it is worth it, he is so freaken cute!

Sarrix · 07-01-12, 07:22 AM

That's awesome, I have been debating about a lizard now for awhile as well. Beardie, leopard gecko, or jeweled lacerta, decisions! What is the main staple you feed your little guy?

maximus30576 · 07-01-12, 07:40 AM

Awesome beardie ,,, you are gonna love him to death they are so cool..

ashleynicole · 07-01-12, 09:26 AM

well first I had crickets, those were a pain in the butt, dusting with calcium and keeping them from running away so he could get to them. Then I ordered phoenix worms and they are great but expensive! And not as high protein as crickets. They can sit on a shelf for weeks as well. Locally I can only get crickets, mealworms, and superworms. Superworms are too big so I do have some mealworms in the fridge. Mealworms are higher in protein, almost as high as crickets but they are supposed to be a high risk of impaction because of the shells. So I feed him a combination of mealworms and pheonix worms. Seems to be working great and he has stool every day so far. He gets about 6-8 mealworms twice a day and then as many phoenix worms as he will eat before getting bored. He has been eating about 10-15 medium size phoenix worms twice a day for the last 4 days. I will probably still buy crickets from time to time for variety but only one days worth because they seem to die on me no matter how careful I am, and they stink.

Oh and I make a salad every morning and put it in with greens and a few other veggies. He ate all his salad one day when I didn't give him any worms in the morning, other than that he doesn't seem interested in it, but hes only 2 months old.

ashleynicole · 07-01-12, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarrix

That's awesome, I have been debating about a lizard now for awhile as well. Beardie, leopard gecko, or jeweled lacerta, decisions!

I couldn't be happier with my choice.

beardeds4life · 07-01-12, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarrix

That's awesome, I have been debating about a lizard now for awhile as well. Beardie, leopard gecko, or jeweled lacerta, decisions! What is the main staple you feed your little guy?

Beardies and jeweled lacertas are EXPENSIVE to feed. If they have a proper diet babies will eat 50 -100 dollars worth of food a month not including lights and supplies. If you can afford it a dragon makes a great pet. J.L. are hard to take care of and not a beginner lizard.

ashleynicole · 07-01-12, 04:35 PM

mealworms and crickets at my local pet store are cheap. I can get 100 crickets for $2-3 and 100 mealworms for less than $3. The phoenix and reptiworms are a little more expensive to order but combining them with other prey helps out. Plus after a year they only need live food 2-3 times a week and get veggies the rest of the time. I eat lots of greens so to me it isn't hard to chop up some greens once a week and serve them to him every day, along with whatever other veggies i might be preparing (that are safe of course). I can see probably spending around $50 a month on his food but you can also breed your own crickets or dubia roaches. dubia roaches are illegal to ship to florida so I can't get them but if I could that's what I would do. Also my cat's food and litter costs at least that much a month, a bag of catfood is around $40 and the containers of tidy cats litter is at least $10 and I have to replace it every month as well as scoop it every other day. pet's in general are time and money but to me it is worth it.

UwabamiReptiles · 07-02-12, 07:09 AM

I was at that show too. Some good stuff there. Have you thought about breeding your own insects? I used to breed superworms a couple years ago and it was super easy. Then you have any size available you need.

ashleynicole · 07-02-12, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UwabamiReptiles

I was at that show too. Some good stuff there. Have you thought about breeding your own insects? I used to breed superworms a couple years ago and it was super easy. Then you have any size available you need.

I thought about it but, ugh I just don't need another thing to keep up with. I might try one day but I really don't mind a little expense ordering online and buying crickets, supers, and mealworms at the local petstore.

That was my first repticon and I LOVED it! I wish it was bigger though, there was only one vendor for frozen mice, are there usually more? Is it usually bigger too? I was very surprised by how crowded it was, and amazed that so many people love reptiles.

UwabamiReptiles · 07-03-12, 07:22 AM

My first show was Daytona, so all the repticon show seem small to me lol. They had sold out of tables, so thats as big as that show can be in that building. The Orlando one is pretty good too and its not too far. As far as the vendors for mice, from my understanding they have a contract with mice direct that ensures they will be the only vendor there with frozen rodents. They do that so they know there will be frozen rodents at every show they do. I think they do that with dry goods too.

Fyi, if you don't mind the drive and you liked this show, Daytona is coming up next month. Its gotten smaller over the years but its still pretty big.

**lady_bug87** · 07-03-12, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarrix

That's awesome, I have been debating about a lizard now for awhile as well. Beardie, leopard gecko, or jeweled lacerta, decisions! What is the main staple you feed your little guy?

I have both.

My male beardie is a bit moody but all around has quite a bit of "personality" His staple foods consist of crickets, horned worms, mixed lettuce and seasonal fruit.

My Jewelled Lacertas are awesome but voracious eaters. They are relatively hard to come by here, I happen to have a breeding pair but have so far been pretty unsuccessful in getting hatchlings (my female tends to lay her eggs only when I am away from home for a couple days) They eat crickets, horned worms, and gecko mash believe it or not. They are a joy to keep very active.

All in all I go through anywhere between 500 and 900 crickets a month and usually about 2 dozen horned worms. I also have other assorted food items they get like silk worms and the occasional rodent.

Sarrix · 07-03-12, 06:41 PM

Thanks for the info Lady_bug.

ashleynicole · 07-03-12, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UwabamiReptiles

My first show was Daytona, so all the repticon show seem small to me lol. They had sold out of tables, so thats as big as that show can be in that building. The Orlando one is pretty good too and its not too far. As far as the vendors for mice, from my understanding they have a contract with mice direct that ensures they will be the only vendor there with frozen rodents. They do that so they know there will be frozen rodents at every show they do. I think they do that with dry goods too.

Fyi, if you don't mind the drive and you liked this show, Daytona is coming up next month. Its gotten smaller over the years but its still pretty big.

We live in lake county so we are pretty much in the dead center of all those areas

Orlando is the closest I think, but I will definitely look into the Daytona show, I got a great deal on the allglass terreriums and I want to buy a big cage for toothless and maybe a couple more 20 longs for my snakes.