|
Q:
|
Beardie for a Kid?
|
|
My little brother has always had a bit of flare for reptiles. he's turning 10 this year and for his birthday, i was thinking about getting him a bearded dragon. his birthday is in may, so its quite a while away, and im going to take him to barnes and noble and let him pick out a few books about beardeds and show him some websites (he's a really smart kid, has like an 8th grade reading level and hes in 4th grade)
i would help him take care of it, obviously, and teach him how to feed it. i mean, this kids got his own stash of money, lol.
what do you think?
|
|
Member Comment
|
12/1/2009 12:02:22 PM
|
|
FyreFocks
|
|
If hes as smart as you say, let him pick out his own reptile. Beardies arent the only thing you can get for youngsters.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Member Comment
|
12/1/2009 12:41:53 PM
|
|
rosesreptiles
|
|
Beardies are awesome! The are very laid back but will require a bit of space. I am partial to my leopard geckos of course! They require less space and are very easy to care for. I'm slowly falling in love with my fat tail too although they are not as readily available as leos are and are a bit pricey right now. My daughter was 10 when she got her leo.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Author Comment
|
12/1/2009 12:47:24 PM
|
|
iashia
|
i know, i could get him a corn, but its too small for him, i would get him a ball python, but i dont want him to have to deal with dead rodents right now. was thinking about getting him a leo, its kind of a toss up. he doesnt know anyhting about my plan yet, not until we go to barnes n nobles. (btw, barnes n nobles is such an odd name)
i was also thinking about an armadillo lizard like i had
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Member Comment
|
12/1/2009 12:59:30 PM
|
|
JohnJohn
|
I think bearded dragons are great for kids because they are a lizard that can be handled more and kids like to hold them and love on them! If size is an issue you could also consider a Rankins Dragon. They are just like beardies but a bit smaller. Beardies need something like a 40-gallon enclosure but one or two Rankins can live well in a 20-long. (just a thought)
What a nice sister you are! I wish mine would buy me a reptile!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Author Comment
|
12/1/2009 1:05:18 PM
|
|
iashia
|
lol, i look out for him. size isnt really an issue. what i want to do after a while is build him a desk with one side being the beardies home (heavy desk, lol) ive got all these interesting designs for reptile cages built into furniture, ask betty or jeff, lol.
ive never even heard of a rankins dragon, im gonna check that out
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Member Comment
|
12/1/2009 1:11:31 PM
|
|
bfpsteeler67
|
|
I think whatever he picks out would be fine(well,not like a retic or monitor).A beardie would be cool for him,your gonna help him and stuff so thats cool.More then my sisters did for me at that age.All they did was beat me up...lol
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accepted Answer
|
12/1/2009 2:04:08 PM
|
|
Krestie Kate
|
|
Take into consideration how much baby bearded dragons eat. some can eat 60 crickets a day which can get smelly,anoying and more of a hassle if you go to the pet store to buy them. Not to mention that crickets are escape artists and can carry worms. ( I've gotten worms several times from bad crickets). You can choose to breed your own dubia roaches or you can buy an adult thats feeding on more veggies than insects. Also keep in mind the amount of lighting these guys need. A 24 inch uvb/uva bulb alown can run you $25. He may not be up for spending that kind of money on this animal once he hits his teen years. I personaly would look into crested geckos. Crested gecko diet is cheap. $20 to feed 2 for the whole year. No heat needed not special lighting needed. They also don't require a huge cage. There also really handlible. I'm not trying to down beardies but you need to consider weather or not he can afford the animal as he gets older. Theres alot of things to factor in when you get an animal for someone this young. No matter how mature they are.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Member Comment
|
12/1/2009 2:16:32 PM
|
|
Sonja K. Reptiles
|
|
I think it's very important that no matter what, you get the okay from his parents 1st...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Member Comment
|
12/1/2009 2:18:01 PM
|
|
Sonja K. Reptiles
|
|
Whoops... I thought I read nephew, not brother, LOL, so correct that and make sure Mom and Dad are okay with it...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Author Comment
|
12/1/2009 2:23:18 PM
|
|
iashia
|
Uh, idk if that was gonna come up but it did, so i might as well put it out there. he lives with grandma, both his mom and our dad passed away. but anyways...
i know that. i actually enver thought of cresties. i personally want to get one sometime down the road, maybe like 2011, but idk
cresties dont require heat?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Member Comment
|
12/1/2009 3:15:31 PM
|
|
Krestie Kate
|
|
As long as your house dosnt get colder that 60 and no hotter that 82. Anything over 82 will stess and kill them. All of my females do great at 65 in the winter during cooling. Crested lay eggs all year round and you have to cool them down to get them to stop for atleast 4 months. So if you decide you want one get a male. During the summer they do well at 75-78 but maintain well at 70 when the ac is on.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Member Comment
|
12/1/2009 3:16:30 PM
|
|
Krestie Kate
|
|
On rare occasion i've had females not want to stop laying eggs untill there around 55 degrees so they can withstand cooler temps than 60 but I would advise againsted it unless you were breeding.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Member Comment
|
12/1/2009 3:35:26 PM
|
|
ElitePetStylists
|
|
I agree with Kate... beardies are a lot of work and take money to maintain... crickets, fresh veggies, heat bulbs (which aren't cheap.) A crested gecko is a good beginner pet lizard and the expense is pretty nominal. If you do a little research on them you might agree with us. :-)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Member Comment
|
12/1/2009 3:51:55 PM
|
|
Krestie Kate
|
|
Head over to pangeareptile.com/forums to do your research.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assisted Answer
|
12/1/2009 4:21:34 PM
|
|
Floof
|
I also agree with Kate. Another thing to consider is whether he'll still want it as he gets older.
An easier to care for animal is best so it doesn't end up neglected (especially once he heads off for college--they live a good, long time, and he's only ~8 years away from moving out on his own), and, when you take in all the considerations of supplies, food, size, and general maintenance, beardies aren't as easy as they may seem from the "outside." To compound on supplies and food, as I've heard it, the average beardie will need regular fecals and, most of the time, parasite treatments--coccidia is all too common in beardies and, as has been said before, crickets (if you use them) can be icky parasite carriers. Beardies are GREAT animals, of course, but I think starting with something easier (like a crested gecko) would be the more reasonable and responsible choice.
He's lucky to have a big sis like you... I wish my older brother would buy me reptiles! xD
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assisted Answer
|
12/1/2009 5:03:54 PM
|
|
Skelegirl
|
Like the others said, beardies are fantastic, but require a lot of work and some specialized and expensive care. An adult, ideally, should be in something larger than a 40 breeder, although I've seen many beardies kept in tanks that size. They need fresh greens daily, and from 0-1 year old, require a diet of 80% bugs...and when they're growing, that's a LOT of bugs. UVB blubs need to be swapped out every 6 months, and a good one will cost more than $50 (I only use MVBs, MegaRay specifically). Like Floof mentioned, they will most likely need a few initial fecals and parasite treatments. A vet visit is roughly $50, the fecal is usually $20-$30, and the meds will run $15-$20. And they poop a lot....and it aint pretty. ;)
All that being said, they are wonderful pets, and would probably make a good pet for a child, provided you or your parents were willing to assist in providing care. A 10 year old could reasonably care for a dragon, but I would be afraid he might lose interest once the teenage years hit. Our rescue group sees a lot of those cases, and often the animals end up fairly sickly before the parents decide to intervene and finally re-home the animal.
I like the idea of thoroghly educating him first, to see if he really wants one, and understands the care they require. Sounds like you're on the right track. I'd reccomend beardeddragons.org for your research.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Author Comment
|
12/1/2009 7:54:16 PM
|
|
iashia
|
i didnt think bulbs were that expensive. i knew they require a fair set up, my ecology class had two of them, tho i wont mention the set up.. and i got to see those huge poop sacks. they excrete like half their body in one sitting, its nuts. expecially when its on your desk. *the motto was, your desk, your poop*
cresties are seeming more of a suitable option. and if something happenes where he outgrows it, hes always got his big sister to take it.
if im getting him a crested tho..i want to to be more informed about them, so i might put it off until next christmas, then ill get him like a big RC car for his b-day
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Member Comment
|
12/1/2009 8:26:25 PM
|
|
Krestie Kate
|
|
If you want any in depth crestie info just PM me. Also do research at the pangea forums. Reading people experiances and reading there mistakes and learning from them is a great way to start. You'll read alot of horror storys about buying from petcos,feeding baby food and stuff like that. It'll encourage you to want to buy a gecko already eating crested gecko diet and it'll teach you to look for the healthiest animal possible. You can always buy an animal from me if you would like. I have rescues that come threw my home all the time that I don't post on my iherp page.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Member Comment
|
12/2/2009 3:41:03 PM
|
|
sublimereptiles
|
You will easily spend $150 setting up a bearded dragon if not more between supplies and the animal. They eat a ton, and when I say a ton I mean a ton. Realize momgrandma is going to have to buy the food and on average a baby beardie will eat 50+ crickets a day, and continue to do so up till about 5 months of age, then they slowly start cutting back on crickets and feeding more and more on greens. And you wont really see a break on cricket intake until around 8 months in age, they are down to about 2 dozen crickets a day then, then at 12 months 1 dozen crickets a day, then at 14 months 6-8 crickets day. Thats alot of money so really talk that over with grandma before considering it.
There are many great species to get that are much less care and expensive. As stated crested geckos, and even gargoyle geckos, they cost a bit more the bearded dragons, but are much easier to maintain and dont cost as much to set up and feed.
Leopard geckos, they do eat crickets, but they wont eat grandma out of house and home.
African fattailed geckos, care much like leo geckos except they like it a bit more humid, very calm, want to get these in 2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Member Comment
|
12/3/2009 2:44:27 AM
|
|
Michael Roth
|
|
yes, cresties or gargoyles would be my suggestion, and this is coming from a snake guy. The rhacs are inquisitive, have no special heat or light requirements, and their food can be stored in the fridge, and really does smell pretty good.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Author Comment
|
12/3/2009 8:07:07 AM
|
|
iashia
|
|
lol thanks guys. im pretty much sold on the cresteds. i might even buy myself one when i get his (both males) i dont wanna deal with the egg thing right now, haha
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Member Comment
|
12/3/2009 9:54:49 AM
|
|
Krestie Kate
|
|
Just remember you have to house males seperatly ^_^
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Member Comment
|
12/3/2009 10:20:42 PM
|
|
babsbuni
|
|
We bought our son (he's 12) a Beardy from a herp show a few months ago. Everyday he holds him, feeds him and this kid won't take out the trash but he LOVES his dragon. I say go for it!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Member Comment
|
12/8/2009 10:48:09 PM
|
|
Emerald
|
Cresties and leos are both nice in my opinion. :3 Though you may have to spend more on the crestie decor, leos just need a hide or two, and a few bowls. I've heard great things about Cresties, but be aware they do have those sticky feet, and can sometimes be little escape artists. Just think about you and your family's situations. If your brother might leave the cage open, then I'd get something that can't escape so easy, or cage locks. :3
Now, I'll switch over to the Pros of leopard geckos, since I know nothing about cresties, except the basics. :O I know they are beautiful though. :D
Leopard geckos are nocturnal, so no lighting. Just a heat pad will do, but some people choose to use clamp lamps to heat their tank.
Another good thing about these geckos, is that they don't have sticky feet. They have little "claws". Not exactly claws, but when they run up your arm, you feel it.
You can just feed these mealworms, while some reptiles can't handle the worms, leos can.
Just a few pros, and I am not knocking down cresties. They are amazing, and whatever animal you choose for your brother, you are a great sister. Just think about what kind of care you and your FAMILY can provide. You may not always be there. :)
Good luck to you and your brother! I reccomend Exo-Terra tanks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Author Comment
|
12/13/2009 4:40:56 PM
|
|
iashia
|
i dont wanna get him a snake...im **semi-experienced** and ive had escapes. hes a little kid and has *no* experience...he would lose it. cresteds, i think he would forget to mist them, and thats sad =( bearded, the food and in turn the poop might be too much for him, but leopard geckos...hmm
im still thinking about EVERYTHING befire i even take an inch forward. i might just get him a cat, lol.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Member Comment
|
12/14/2009 10:57:42 AM
|
|
Krestie Kate
|
|
You can always make a moist/mossy hide for a crested that way if he dose forget to mist it still has somewhere to curl up and get wet. If you get an adult there pretty hardy and can handle not being misted as much. My guys only get misted once a day really heavy before I got to bed. You can teach him to make a routine of it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Member Comment
|
2/20/2010 8:42:02 PM
|
|
Beardies08
|
|
I agree with Sublimereptiles, I think for a 10 yr old you should go with a crestie. They take up a lot less room and are really easy to take care of. You just mix up the rapashy food and its good for a week and feed it crickets occasionally as a treat (or more if its a baby crestie, crickets help them grow) They don't need a heat lamp but if you want to watch them at night you can get a red light. They are alot more active then beardies and cooler to watch. They stalk their crickets. Good Luck and wish your lil bro a happy b-day!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You are not logged in. If you would like to participate (it's free!), you must log
in, or Become a Member!
|
|
|
|
Most Popular Tags
Ball
,
Ballpython
,
Bci
,
Behavior
,
Boa
,
Breeding
,
Buying
,
Caging
,
Care
,
Chondro
,
Cornsnake
,
Crested
,
Crestedgecko
,
Eggs
,
Feeders
,
Feeding
,
Feedingproblems
,
Gecko
,
General
,
Genetics
,
GTP
,
Health
,
Heating
,
Humidity
,
Identification
,
Illness
,
Incubation
,
Infection
,
Leopardgecko
,
Mites
,
Morelia
,
Morph
,
Morphs
,
Parasites
,
Python
,
Regius
,
Respiratory
,
Shedding
,
Snake
,
Substrate
|
Latest Questions
|
|
|
|
points:150
|
|
|
|
points:100
|
|
|
|
points:250
|
|
|
|
points:100
|
|
|
|
points:250
|
More Questions
|
|
|
Latest Answers
|
|
|
|
points:250
|
|
|
|
points:150
|
|
|
|
points:100
|
More Answers
|
|
|