Lizard enthusiasts?

Question

I have a couple of questions. I had a blue-tongue skink once and I'm thinking about getting another. Also, I've considered maybe getting a bearded dragon, instead. If I choose the latter and I have to feed him crickets, then will I require a separate habitat for crickets? At certain times of the year we have an abundance of crickets around here. Is it safe to feed it those? Also, has anyone ever owned or does now presently own a bearded dragon? Any info about them and how they are as pets would be welcome.

Answer 1

check out www.reptileroom.com Lots of great info

Answer 2

Beardies are great pets!

If you feed crickets you should keep them in a rubbermaid container, cause they're cheap, and put in a few potato chunks as well as damp sponges for moisture. If you use water bowls some crickets will drown and that gets messy.

Outside crickets are a no-no. Not only will it be hard to get enough and of the right size the pesticides are a major issue. Whats even more of a problem is that insects are leading carriers or mites and worms. A reptile owners biggest fear is a mite infestation or for their pets to get sick from parasites(that all wild caught creatures have from water sources)

So its best advized to feed a diet of crickets, veggies, and if you're not so opposed pinky mice are a great meal for a bearded dragon!

Answer 3

My son had a bearded dragon. I really enjoyed it as much as he did. We bought mail order crickets cause they were cheaper than going to a pet store. We kept them in a small aquarium. We were told to put potatoes in with them and that's all they needed. You do, of couse, have to change out the potatoes.
And some crickets will escape when you put them into an aquarium if you're not careful. My son even fed his those things that look and sound like locusts. The name escapes me right now. They're noisy and out in the summer. Sure, it's safe to feed them outside crickets. We did. Make sure you get a heat light or a heat pad for it. And vitamins. Keep it's cage clean so it doesn't get mites. They're faily cheap to keep. Make sure that if you get a young one, the crickets are the small ones. I think they are great pets.

Answer 4

I keep my crickets in a small plastic critter carrier thingy( petstores sell them) or you can buy a weeks worth in a deli container, you simply put the deli container in the tank and opne the little door and the come out on their own. I personlay would not feed my reptiles wild caught crickets, you don't know what types of pesticides they have ingested. Beardies do ok on a cricket only diet, but LOVE pinky mice as well, they are full of calcium and the best known food source! I feed my crikets cat food, sprilina and oranges to give my rep's a bit of a boost. Here is an awsome site http://www.dachiu.com they haev beautful healthy dragons and ship anywere!

Answer 5

hi,I own a bearded dragon they are tame lizards,but they need full care,they eat crickets,mealworms,logusts and sometimes pinkies and fuzzies,you will need a seprate habitat for the crickets as you have to feed the crickets special vitamain food which the bearded dragon wold need you also have to give the crickets water it also helps keep the crickets healthy and stay alive longer,bearded dragons eat about 20 to 60 crickets a day but the also mighten eat any crickets one day,bearded dragons also need to eat veg green leafy veg they will ealso eat apples and peppers.bearded dragons need heat of 28 degrees for 12 to 14 hours a day in summer months and 10 to 12 hours heat in the winter months,so you would need a heat mat and a heating bulb you will also need a uv light as bearded dragons need to bask to build up there energy to hunt food and to digest their food,if buying a bearded dragon make sure its around 3 months old as you can manage them better at that age.Bare in mind bearded dragons grow to 2 foot long when matured,they grow every two thre weeks which is when they shed

Answer 6

I initially used crickets, then I went to a vet who specializes in bearded dragons here in St. Louis. Just a coincidence he is near my home. He has used pellet food for years and has raised lots of dragons. I have used it exclusively for the past 7 years. I got a dragon when she was 2 and started using the pellets when she was 3. She is now almost 10 (an old age for dragons). I use Rep-Cal, they have one for juveniles and one for adults. You take some, soak it in water for a few minutes and put it in their dish. Easy and no smelly disgusting crickets.

Answer 7

the crickets you'll have to keep in a seperate habitat but not very big just enough they can move around! blue tounged skinks are great pets so are bearded d ragons if ya take care of them!

Answer 8

Bearded Dragons make great pets.
Please get a book, they have the best, most accurate information.
Yeah, you can feed "wild" crickets. Just make sure they are the correct size for the Dragon. Too big and it will hurt him.

Answer 9

I've never had a bearded dragon,my friend has some, and she likes them but their alittle more on the hyper side than skinks. I've had a Eastern blue tongue skink for about 2 years now.. I LOVE him!! Hes so laid back,, never tries to run away, and has NEVER been agressive. BUT,, you definitely have to educate yourself before you get one, go here www.bluetongueskinks.net and read the care sheet from top to bottom, its long, but so useful !! . I've learned soooo much there on how to raise "Buddy", my skink..They tell you literally everything on how to raise one in the care sheet section. You'll see it at the top of the home page.. I take him out everynight and he hangs out with us wherever I am.. He walks around the living room, bedroom, etc.. When I lay in bed at night and watch tv, he'll literally sits there and looks at the tv too!! If you decide on a skink,, crickets are only to be fed as a treat here or there,, he eats a combo of veggies, fruits,meat (chicken, hamburger,turkey) and premium catfood..and crickets about once a month. I wouldn't feed them crickets from outside,, If you don't have a Petco, Petsmart,etc close, you can find lots of websites that mail insects from the magazine Reptiles USA,, theres lots of ads in there. If you want to email me, I'll gladly look through one of my magazines and make you a list of websites from there so you can look if you'd like.. But definitely go check out www.bluetongueskinks.net . I do have to say this,, at first, when you set up your tank, it can be costly,,the tank, screen top, Heat (basking) lamps, basking rock, bedding, UV lighting, vitamins, thermometer,etc. At first I had him in a 30 gallon tank, now hes in a 55 gallon because they need the length, not height.. Hes about 18" long. He doesn't climb at all. Never use a heat rock. Heat and lighting are very important. The tank has to be around 90 to 100' on one side where his basking rock is. There has to be a hot side, and a cool side.. thats very important. So is UV light. It sounds like alot of work, but once you get it going,, then all you have to do is change the bedding everyso often, and buy new bulbs when they burn out. Aspen bedding, Carefresh, or coconut bedding is the best. They LOVE to bury themselves. I use the coconut bedding, It comes in a brick block and you soak it in water. Then I mix moss in with it for moisture.. If you have any questions, please email me,, I'll gladly help you out!! Hope my info helps ya out!! ;)

Answer 10

get your crickets from the petstore wild crickets have pesticides on them not really just put them in with the lizard (only about 5)