Holding baby beardies?

[komode]

Hi there!

I am new to this site and new to keeping reptiles. I bought an approx. 1 week young Eastern Beardie yesterday and have read on a few posts that you should let them settle in for a week or so, not too much handling. The posts are relating to adult Beardies, can anyone tell me if it is the same for the babies? At this point (day 2!), my son and I have been handling him a couple of times a day thinking that it would get him used to us.

If anyone could offer some advice, we would appreciate it greatly. Thanks!
Sarah.

[falconboy]

I would say as long as they don't mind being handled, its not a big problem. Mine are about 3mths old, and as much as it would be nice to have them very 'tame', I'm not fussed as I'm not really after a 'lap dragon'. I just scoop them onto my hand and pick up just off ground level so they aren't away from their enclosure, and they settle on my hand. Except for one since putting up a background sheet, it wants to eat me. Hopefully it will settle. If they don't want to be picked up and seem a bit stressed, let them settle a bit longer.

[komode]

Thanks Falconboy. I just really want to have him used to being handled for my 2 boys (a bit paranoid about bites when it gets older!). He seems happy, but I can't help feeling he might be lonely after coming from a tank full of babies! May have to get that permit after all!

P.S. Cute Dog!

[falconboy]

Thanks komode - daddys little girl is a cutie, isn't she?

What do you mean you may have to get that permit? Do you not have a licence for your beardie?

[koubee]

komode, do you have a license? You need one to keep beardies.

[Dragoness]

Yes, you need a licence Komode, I was just reading on the other beardie post that you have crickets in with your week old beardie. Much much safer to remove your baby a few times a day and feed in a seperate container, loose crickets will chew on your beardie while it is asleep at night. If you feed in a seperate container, you can also keep track of how many crickets it is eating (and if it is feeding at all)
As for handling, I got 2 babies just before xmas and they get handled quite a bit, I just couldnt help myself, they are quite happy to be picked up and run to the front of their tank when I walk into the room. If I put my hand in, they climb up by themselves.
Good luck.

Cheers

[hornet]

i dont handle mine often but they are still very tame, once every couple of days should do it just for now so he can get settled in

[komode]

Thanks guys!

Re: the permit, the lady at the reptile shop told me I didn't need a licence to keep one, but if I wanted to sell / breed or get another I would need one. I'm in South Australia so I'm not sure if our laws are different to the eastern states, but I will defineately give Park's and Wildlife a buzz to make sure.
Dragoness - great idea about the separate container, will get onto that today!

Thankyou all!

[angel_saza]

Komode, i'm in Adelaide too. Give Gully Reptile Centre a ring. They'll help you out. I've been there before and they talked to me about beardies for about 10 minutes and i wasn't even buying anything.

[komode]

Okay, have just gotten off the phone from DEH and they guy said to keep one in South Oz, no licence required. If I want to sell him, or get another, I will then need a licence.

Angel_saza, yes, I have spoken to the guy there also and he was great, advising on which lizards are best for kids. I ended up getting ours from Northside Pet Superstore, just because it was closer to me (and we were in the area!). Lady there, very helpful too.

[angel_saza]

How much were they there? I know Scales and Tails down the road were selling them for $80. I went there last Sunday.

[komode]

Hey angel_saza, ours was $60 (eastern bearded dragon) and they had heaps in the tank. There was a sign saying "not yet for sale" but they actually were. She had 2 northern bearded dragons (which were really pretty as well) but a bit older, and $80. I wanted a younger one for my son to handle.

[Rocket]

Komode,
SA is great with there permit System. You do not need a Permit to keep one Reptile but you do to sell it or to keep multiple Native animals. There is a list of roughly 20 Reptiles that you dont even need a Permit for which are known as Exempt Reptiles.

Shawn

[angel_saza]

Rocket and Komode, you both live quite close to where i am. Do either of you have any preferences over which reptile store you go to? Do you know where i can get cheap viv furniture? eg the exo terra fake plants im sick of paying ridiculous prices for pieces of plastic!

Although i am looking forward to my trip to Hong Kong in September. There's a goldfish market there, a WHOLE street of aquarium/pet shops with well known brands (Exo-Terra, Jebo, Aqua One, etc) SO CHEAP! Has anybody been there before? I went last year, but didn't realise the potential of stuff i could have bought I plan to get a few fluro's and heat lamps and probably some other accessories. My suitcase has plently of room...

[cyclamen]

in regards to handling your dragon..
i have a 5 yr old beardie, i brought him when my daughter was about 1 yr of age. i never let her hold him at that age, only pat. they arnt dogs, so they are a bit different
i only held him a few times a week ..... he has since grown up to be the most loving dragon. never bitten, never gotten cranky. i now have 2 more baby beardies to raise. my daugter is 6, so i let her hold them. i generally only hold them ever 3rd day. and only for a minute or two at a time, and they seem quite happy. they dont bite, i wouldnt recomend holding them as often as u are a few times a week for short periods is more than enough, whilst they are small they will stress very easily. and i would recomend getting it a friend. my big beardy lives with a shingleback and 2 blue tongues. and he loves having company. my little babies have each other, so there happy too.