bearded dragons

[Chris1]

Originally Posted by Miss B

I am pretty sure Chris1 keeps Bug and Chub in a 6 foot enclosure.

yeah, my girls live in a 6x2x2 enclosure, but its on the floor with the doors open so they can get out if they want space. Chub is generally sleeping on a heat baggy in the balcony doorway when i get home from work while Bug hogs the basking spot.
most of the year they get along fine, snuggle up together and stuff, but around spring Bug starts getting a bad attitude and beards Chub.

[hornet]

yea a 4x2x2 would be fine for a pair of beardies.

[cris]

IMO a 3x2x2 or anything of similar volume is fine for beardies(anything bigger is better obviously) IMO

I have mine in a 4x2.8m avairy and he only uses a very small area 95% of the time.

IMO adult water dragons should have at least around 2 square meters floor space(preferably more).

[JKretzs613]

Hello,


Well, I have just seen two dragons that apparently got along & then one day turned on the other & the person came home to a mangled dragon. To me, personally, it isn't worth the risk. Probably one of the reasons that dragons in captivity don't use a whole lot of space in their tanks is because there really isn't that much room to run so they don't try. Take them out & see if they run! I can guarantee that 95% of them would probably enjoy more room once in a while if anything just for exercise too. I wouldn't want to feel cooped up. They have a certain parameter of territory that they tend to stay in out in the wild which I am sure is larger than a few feet.
If only I was in Australia where I could see some wild ones, I would love to see it.
Anyway, I understand it is expensive to get multiple setups but I honestly think most would be better off in their own home. There are exceptions where 2 females can be housed pretty well, as long as one doesn't try to take over which is what happens fairly often. Sibling rivalry I suppose.
If they are too crowded in, that makes it harder to keep the enclosure clean, they can run through feces more easily, getting disease or drinking or eating dirty food & or water. Stress causes coccidia levels to rise, etc, which runs their immune system down.
Dragons generally are not social creatures by nature. Any other dragon who they look at as a competitor for food, water, shelter, they will compete with. You don't want them to have to compete for any of that if you choose to keep them as a pet, it doesn't seem very fair. I know they establish some type of heirarchy in the wild but they do not "hang out" together & they have plenty of space to get away from each other too unlike they would in an enclosure.
Those are just things that I have seen. Hopefully it gives some insight perhaps.

Tracie

[JKretzs613]

Hello,

Sorry I forgot to mention the type of heater. If you want a nighttime heater use a ceramic heat emitter since it doesn't put out any light, just heat. A good temp for night is 60-65 or so. They can safely go into the 50's but most people keep them 60+ at night.
I hope this helps.

Tracie

[Miss B]

Originally Posted by JKretzs613

If only I was in Australia where I could see some wild ones, I would love to see it.

Found a lovely big grey Barbata in my backyard once - it was awesome Unfortunately now that I have two dogs, the wild beardies don't frequent my yard much anymore

[JKretzs613]

Hello,

Oh I am so jealous!! I would absolutely love to be able to physically see those large dark barbatas! Too bad your dog runs them off.
Take pics next time!

Tracie

[Miss B]

Yeah it's funny though, 'cos my dogs are wimpy little things and no threat at all - they would probably lick the beardie to death

I wish I had have taken pics, but this was about three or four years ago and I didn't have a digicam handy

[JKretzs613]

Hello,

Yeah, too bad you didn't get pics!! Your dog might even be scared of them huh? That is funny.

Tracie

[JasonL]

JKretzs613, Be carefull stating temps, as we use celsius, and some young kids may not realise, or know the conversions.

[JKretzs613]

Hello,

You are right, I forget you all do C instead of F! I will remember to convert so it is less confusing.


Tracie

[ace#74]

If you could i would keep the water dragon and get the bradies but if you do not have the space to house
them properly i would go with the water dragon.

[sockbat]

i just got my first beardi he's very cool he['s in a 4foot tank and seems happy enough costs about 6dollars a week to feed and about 5dollars a month on power to run lighting 150watt when its really cold and 100watt when it gets a little warmer

[wood_nymph]

i know a lot of people who keep pairs of beardies in 4 foot tanks and none ofthem have had problems with keeping the enclosures clean they simplely remove poo as they see it and clean them weekly. the only issue i've heard of them having is one of the pair getting greedy with food so they are fed seperately or with tongs so everyone gets a fair feed.
i would probably get a female/female pair though so the male doen't harass the female and you can control breeding since you wouldn't want to over tax your girl with being gavid all the time.

[JKretzs613]

Hello,

Definitely. I can't stress that enough to not house males & females together, period, unless for a few days for breeding, that is it. It is way too much for the females.
I guess I tend to try & emmulate nature as much as possible by giving them lots of room & not crowding them. But, that is just me. If you are going to house 2 dragon, a 4 foot enclosure is the smallest I would ever consider going. Two females work ok for that as long as they can get away from each other.

Tracie