Thursday, August 23, 2012

Trying SO HARD to be patient.

So after two months of planning and getting everything ready, I'm fully prepared to bring my first beardie into my life. With one problem. I can't find any!! I really want an adult and I prefer a dragon with a history of less than ideal care so I can spoil it. But now that i'm ready, there are none to be found! Well, that isn't totally true. Someone is selling a pair of brothers for 100 with a 40 gallon near me and I asked if I could take one. They never responded. I'm tempted to send them the link to the page about why you shouldn't cohabitate. But I digress.

I don't like how they care for the animals at either reptile store I've been to and I would like to say I'm not interested in going back, but I'm getting impatient and ready to make a bad decision like that.

The thing is, I want a bearded dragon NOW. My dad is coming to visit for a week next Tuesday and I wanted to get a Beardie before then because otherwise my dad won't get to see it until he comes to visit next year (he lives 2,000 miles away).

I feel like I've spent enough time being patient. There were 5 good-looking Beardies for sale on CL 2 months ago, when I wasn't ready in any aspect.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Living with Roaches

When I first decided I wanted a Bearded Dragon, I said no thanks to the idea of breeding my own feeders. But then I learned how easy it really is to keep these little guys. Once they're established, you have a food source for life.
They have a larger meat to shell ratio than crickets, they're practically silent (they make noise as they crawl on each other), they don't smell and you can feed less because one Dubia has way more meat than a cricket. I don't know if this is accurate, but someone mentioned this on a forum I found when I googled "dubia vs. cricket". I assume they meant crickets of the same length.

  • Newborn nymph- 1-3 crickets
  • Small nymph- 3-5 crickets
  • Medium nymph- 5 crickets
  • Large nymph- 8 crickets
  • Adult dubia- 8-10 crickets

Roaches need a 12-16 gallon plastic tub. Dark is better.
A heat source (heat pad, CHE) to keep the tank around 90 with a hot and cool side. 
Egg carton flats or something to hide in (you can order them online or go to your local Denny's after breakfast and ask nicely)
Water gel crystals because sponges stink and babies love to drown themselves in standing water
 A ventilation hole with a screen covering
Slick packing tape to stick around the edges of the bin (Dubias are extremely poor climbers, but the babies can climb the sides by static electricity)

This is what my setup looks like, because I always forget to go out and find some egg flats on weekends. The heated side is on the right and the roaches tend to hang around on that end. Right now I'm using a very small reptile heating pad, but I'm thinking about buying a large one for humans the next time I go to the store.



About a month ago, I ordered a colony of 200 medium sized Dubia Nymphs for $31.50. They arrived in the middle of a heat wave and despite my request they be held at the post office, they were sent out for delivery. I was really concerned they would all be dead, even though it was only 93 that day (102 the day before).

But I opened the bag and they were all alive and happy. I really enjoy checking on them every other day. I like how they go through an orange slice like a bunch of little piranhas and they just lay on top of their roach chow while they eat.

Their chow is half a cup of dog food, half a cup of cat food, half a cup of cheerios and a quarter cup of fish flakes. I mixed it in the blender, but it's old so I didn't get a superfine chop. Oh well. They don't mind. It's important to give them a high-protein diet or they can start to cannibalize each other. They get assorted greens and squashes. Whatever you plan on feeding your Beardie, you should feed to your roachies as well.
They go crazy for oranges. I've been told it's like an aphrodisiac. None of my nymphs are adults yet. Although, when I cleaned out their tank today, I saw one that has lengthened out and looks like it may only need to moult one more time before it's an adult. I am absolutely giddy about this!

Don't underestimate the power of the water crystals. I did and I paid a hefty price. Just one 1/4 cup of crystals makes over a gallon of gel, if not two. I was not aware of this. That gallon is going to last me a year at this rate. I haven't even made a dent in the past month.
I had a really hard time finding this stuff. Lowe's carried a bag that wasn't 100% polyacrylmide for about $13. I gave in and went over to walmart. The crystals are in the gardening area, next to the plant food. This little bag was $7 and will last me forever, I think!

Roaches may give you the heebie-jeebies but over time, you may come to appreciate them. Notice the white one in this picture. It's freshly molted and I think it's absolutely ADORABLE how they still have black eyes, but it's a small line, like they're squinting. Don't ask me why, I have no idea. And when their exoskeleton is just starting to harden, they take on this mottled gray color and look kind of pretty.
I feel like I've been taken over and I just love them. I can't wait for them to start breeding! In the mean time, my future dragon will be getting crickets and phoenix worms. Maybe a male or two every once in a while. Here is a photo comparison I found online. This way you never feed any females.





I hope this has helped you get over the stigma of spending large sums of money on cockroaches and breeding them in your closet. :)

Monday, August 13, 2012

Preparedness update

  •  A proper sized tank (Upgraded to a 75 Gallon)
  • A UVB light
  • A light fixture for the UV bulb
  • a 75 watt household bulb
  • A ceramic, reflective heat lamp
  • A basking spot
  • Tank substrate (3 17 1/4"x17 1/4" ceramic tiles, one cut to 12")
  • A digital probe thermometer
  • A hide
  • A bowl for worms
  • A salad bowl
  • Calcium Supplement (5x a week)
  • Vitamin Supplement (2x a week) (Bought these both from a seller on Amazon.com, even with shipping, they were $3 cheaper than in the pet store.
I also have a $4 light timer and plastic storage bin for baths that I bought from Menards.
I want to find a flat, soft stuffed animal for my new baby to cuddle with. I also need to buy some fleece from the craft store to make a blankie and some Mod Podge to seal the basking area. I also want to order a harness from here.
I've had some real setbacks with the basking area. I decided to try and make a bridge to close the gap between the two areas I built that aren't long enough for the new, larger tank. I squirted the liquid nails on super thick and let it set for about 8 hours before slopping on the grout. Needless to say, the bridge fell apart. So I tried re-gluing it. It fell apart again. And one more time. I learned my lesson and stopped being impatient. I squirted on a thin layer and let it rest 36 hours. I'm going to go grout soon, I hope. Every day I'm impatient, I set myself back a day. I want to get one before my dad and sister come visit at the end of the month, and I also want to give it time to adjust before then. I'm just running out of time.
Well, off to put on my groutin' clothes and get some work done.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

What have I been up to?

Life has been a little busy for me lately and I haven't had time to focus on working on my Beardie Project.
I have been researching a lot about feeder insects to feed my dragon while I'm waiting for the Dubia colony to expand.
So far, none of my Dubias are of breeding age, but they're eating lots of oranges and shedding a lot, which I'm happy about. I check on them every other day to see if they need more water and to give them more orange slices. I need to find a place to procure some cardboard egg flats for my little roaches to climb. The noise they make as they run all over each other is a little unsettling, but I like them and I think they're pretty interesting.
I bought two 17"x17" inch ceramic tiles from Lowes and they fit snugly inside the 40 Gallon tank, width-wise. There's a bit of a large gap, lengthwise so the grout lines are a little different, but the basking area/playground will hide most of it. I grouted the tile with a dot of caulk on the middle of the tile to hold it in place and caulked all the way around. It's a lot easier to pop the tiles out and clean this way. Plus I don't have to worry about sealing the grout.
I've been working on my styrofoam basking area/hide thing. It will take up the back half of the tank and will have an Australian rock theme. I'm pretty excited about it, I hope it looks the way I imagine it will.
I'll have to post pictures of my Dubia colony and the tiles when I get home from work.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Let's talk cost: Pet Store vs. ANYWHERE else.

This is a post I've been meaning to make, more for my own curiosity than anything. I'm going to list the items I've bought so far and compare their prices with Petsmart. I'm almost completely ready for a beardie and I have yet to buy a single thing at an actual pet store. The closest I've come is ordering the UVB tube from a pet supply store on Amazon.com. I will list the Calcium and Vitamin powder, which I haven't bought yet, but will buy from Petsmart, since with shipping, it's just about the same price to order online.

  • 40 Gallon breeder tank with locking lid: $50 on Craigslist ($110 at Petsmart)
  • 24" UVB tube: $9!! on Amazon.com- it was a one time chance but still amazing ($50 at Petsmart)
  • 24" Strip light: $9 at Wal-Mart ($50-$130?!! at Petsmart) 
  • 75 watt heat bulb: $.45 at Target ($7-$30 at Petsmart) Though in fairness, I may shell out the $30 for a ceramic heat emitter bulb this winter.
  •  Ceramic dome heat lamp: Free with tank ($12-$50 at Petsmart)
  • Digital probe thermometer: $13 at Wal-Mart ($16 on Petsmart.com)
  • Light timer : $5 at Menards Hardware ($11 at Petsmart)
  • 2 18"x18" ceramic tiles: $4 at Home Depot ($9-$15 depending on what substrate you choose, not that any are actually appropriate for Beardies)
  • Caulk to seal tiles: $1.50 at Home depot
  • Styrofoam for Basking area/hide: Free (This one is tricky because there are so many types of wood or resin basking thingies and then you factor in hides so I'd say $25- $150)
  • 5 lb box Non-Sanded Grout: $6 at Home Depot
  • Mod Podge Non-Toxic Sealer: $5 at Hobby Lobby
  • 2-3 food bowls: Free with tank ($7 each at Petsmart)
  • Rep-Cal calcium powder: $9 at Petsmart
  • Rep-Cal vitamin powder: $15 at Petsmart
Grand Total: $127 vs. $328-$600

As you can see, it pays to do your homework. Most items sold at the pet store with a reptile name brand on them have ridiculous markup. Not to mention all the items they want you to buy that you don't actually need like sand substrate or  a dial thermometer to stick on the side of the tank.
With a little creativity and a lot of research, you can find everything you need without ever setting foot in the pet store. Just cheat and order stuff online. :) But really, one thing I've learned since joining the Bearded Dragon forum is the hardware store is your new friend. Get to know it and you'll have a great relationship.

PS. I didn't mention food in here, which costs that other arm and leg. I'm currently caring for a starter colony of Dubia Cockroaches. They're your ultimate discount. Spend $50 on them now, let them get settled for a few months and start to breed and if you care for them right, you have an unlimited  supply of food for your reptile for the rest of its life!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Last night I had a dream about a little dragon

I ordered a starter colony of Dubia Roaches and now it's starting to feel real that I'll actually get a Beardie soon! I've been watching the tracking and I was hoping they'd arrive today, but it looks like they'll be here tomorrow. I'll make a post about it, with photos tomorrow night.
I dreamt I was in target, but it had a pet area. Like with puppies, birds, fish, whatever. The weird thing is I dream about that pet store every once in a while. It's always the same, but it shows up in different places in my dream. But that doesn't matter. Just something interesting I've noticed.
I had found three awesome books on clearance for less than $2 each and there, on the floor next to the pet area was an adult bearded dragon. Just chilling out.
I picked him up and helped him hang on to my shirt so I could hold my books. Then I met up with my boyfriend and asked him to take my books. He took the beardie, haha! He was instantly smitten, which is really unlike him. All reptiles make him uncomfortable.
So we were walking up to the register, doting on the little guy and I told the cashier we had found him. She called her manager and got in contact with whoever lost him.
As we were walking outside, I tried rubbing his cheek, but he bit me and left my finger bleeding. A lot. But I just told myself it was because it was dark and my finger surprised him. It didn't stop me from cooing and fawning over him as we walked to our car. My boyfriend was really enjoying him, too. It was so cute.
Sadly, his owner was outside and stopped us before we could get to our car. I was planning on setting him up in my half-ready tank for the night. We talked for a while and handed him over.
Sorry the dream wasn't interesting. I just wanted to share it on my little dragon blog. I can't wait to actually hold my new beardie. I wonder of my boyfriend will like it, too?

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Finding a vet

Like I mentioned before, I grew up in a household where we never took our pets to the vet. Our dog went to the vet once in her life, the day she had her puppies and needed an emergency Caesarean. Section. We kept one of her sons and the day he was born was the only time he was ever in a vet's office.
When you grow up in a poor family, you look at things differently. If there are times when the water gets shut off, or the cable gets cancelled, you don't have money to take your pets in for annual checkups. Especially if they're $6 Anole Lizards or Hamsters. But you have to make a decision when you bring a new pet into the family. Is this animal worth the money you need to spend? Is it TRULY going to be a family member? Then it needs proper care.

If you provide a Bearded Dragon with its most basic needs, (UVB, proper humidity, regular baths, fresh and nutritious foods) chances are, you won't encounter any expensive issues. Common Beardie ailments are:
  • Metabolic Bone Disease (lack of Vitamin D3 and UVB lighting)
  • Respiratory Infection (too much humidity in the tank)
  • Internal Parasites (diseased feeder insects)
  • Tail Rot (retained shed skin- not enough baths)
As with any pet, annual check ups are important with Beardies. They also need to have fecal exams done at least once a year, if not every six months. This is to check for parasites like coccidia, roundworms, pinworms, or hookworms, for example.

Before you get a new pet, decide on a vet. It'll give you time to shop around and find one who is right for you. A responsible vet will be willing to set up an appointment with you and at least, have a talk on the phone. You can use this time to ask them about their experience with reptiles and exotics in general.
I made a post on my local Craigslist asking for people's opinions on the two exotics vets nearby and got six responses. Two for one, three for the other and one crazy person who practically scolded me for thinking I should take a REPTILE to the vet.

"I dont mean to b rude but really a vet for a bearded dragon listen i bred them for 9 years i will tell u this keep them warm put them on a light cycle feed them lots of vegies lots if crickets while there young. Spray mist them with water every day and hold them alot.1 vet visit will b more then buying a new one keep my email and if u have any questions email me"

Whaaaaat? Wow. Just wow. I didn't dignify him with a response. I assume that he's so hard-headed he wouldn't listen to any response I would throw his way. So I just let it slide and consider that person a lost cause. I'll be happy taking my new baby to the vet after he's had two weeks to settle in to his new home. 

Saturday, July 14, 2012

New setup checklist

When preparing for a new pet, it's important to have a full list of the absolute necessities before you hit the petstore. That way you know what you need to buy, but more importantly, how expensive it will be. When you go to the store without an idea of what you need to spend, you'll feel overwhelmed about how much there really is and skimp on the necessities. Don't. Learn now, be prepared now and decide if this is really what you want. Or be like me and buy a little at a time, before the pet arrives!

The Bare (but indispensable) Necessities:

  • A proper sized tank (for babies this is a 20 gallon long, for adults AT LEAST a 40 gallon breeder)
  • A UVB light (THIS IS ABSOLUTE, YOUR DRAGON WILL SUFFER WITHOUT ONE)
  • A light fixture for the UV bulb
  • a 50-75 watt household bulb (Reptile heating bulbs are scams and Beardies need bright white light during the day in their tank)
  • A ceramic, reflective heat lamp
  • A basking spot (like a Driftwood log or something hand made)
  • Tank substrate ie. Linoleum, grouted tiles, newspaper (no bedding like sand or walnut shells)
  • A digital probe thermometer to test the temperature of the basking spot
  • A proper sized hide in case your Beardie wants to escape the UV light for a while
  • A bowl for worms (Mine will be fed primarily Dubia Roaches and Repti Worms)
  • A salad bowl
  • Calcium Supplement (5x a week)
  • Vitamin Supplement (2x a week)
That's the absolute minimum, most of which I have already. My list looks like this:
  •  A proper sized tank
  • A UVB light
  • A light fixture for the UV bulb
  • a 50-75 watt household bulb
  • A ceramic, reflective heat lamp
  • A basking spot
  • Tank substrate
  • A digital probe thermometer
  • A hide
  • A bowl for worms
  • A salad bowl
  • Calcium Supplement (5x a week)
  • Vitamin Supplement (2x a week)
It's exciting seeing that! I'm getting so close, but that's the bare minimum. I have more to collect because I want to create my own basking area and hide with styrofoam and grout. I also want to start breeding Dubia roaches so I have to get them a proper setup as well. So much work to be done!

Why it's so important to be prepared

When I was a kid, I was crazy about animals, and my parents would let me buy whatever I wanted. But my knowledge on how to care for them was very minimal- usually limited to whatever care book I could find on them at the pet store- and then I would disregard most of the more complicated information. I had never bought a UV light or taken my pets to the vet. I look back on it now and I feel sad for those pets that died, relieved for the ones I gave away and thankful now that there is a plethora of information on the internet for this generation of kids to not make the same mistakes I did.
But they still do. It's hard when people treat pet store employees like they are the be all and end all of reptile knowledge and these kids get hardly any training on the actual needs of most reptiles. Once in a while you get a gem of an employee who really knows their stuff, but for the most part, you aren't going to find people like that working at Petco.

I'm starting this blog to document the journey I'm taking to PREPARE for getting a Bearded Dragon. I'm already part of the way through, but I still have quite a way to go before I'm truly ready to buy my first dragon.
I've wanted one for as long as I can remember, but I really started wanting one last year. I was 25 and my baby fever was in full swing. Being unwed and financially incapable for kids, I decided I wanted another pet to baby. I have four cats and two dogs, but I wanted something new. I had been unemployed for a long time, and was hesitant to make the plunge into Beardie parenting because of the cost to feed a baby dragon.
I've been working at my new job for about a month now and I've been compiling all the necessities for my future little one.
I decided I would like to adopt an adult as my first dragon, because a large, relaxed reptile will seem less appealing (and easier to get used to) to my 2 prey-driven cats than a teensy little baby that might possibly dart around. Plus I can take it places during the summer!
Now that I'm more mature, I spend a lot of time obsessing and researching about things before I'm ready to take the plunge into anything. It's worked out well, but it really is all I think about. I spend hours a day, scouring the BeardedDragon.org forum, thinking about what the stand will be for the tank, where the tank will go, should I start a Dubia colony now, etc. etc.
I will go back and make posts about what I've already gotten and some of the interesting (I hope!) experiences I've had already. A couple come to mind.
I hope this blog can be helpful for anyone who is considering the possibility of bringing any reptile into their life. Reptiles are cheap to buy and have extremely expensive setups. But if you do your research first, you'll find cheap DIY options everywhere, that work just as well, if not better than the things you buy at the pet store, with a reptile logo on them. I'm going to share my tips with you, as I try to get everything I need for a Bearded Dragon, while still being an extreme cheapskate.