Bearded dragons anyone?

[Fran101]

I'm pet sitting for 10 days. Caring for a cat and bearded dragon just basic care stuff like 30 minutes a day/maybe staying over a few nights

I am heading over on Monday for care instructions and I've met the little guy before and he seems friendly or at least ok with people (he is owned by a co-worker) but I'm still a bit nervous! I don't know much about them!

so questions

1. Do they LIKE attention? Like is it advisable to take him out? Do I have to? lol

2. Any faux-pas?

3. Is there any weird lizard disease/fungus/bacteria I should worry about transmitting to my puppy or something?

4. What can I do to make sure he doesn't bite me/if he does..will it hurt? like a lot? lol what should I be most scared of?

 

[PlottMom]

I worked with them in petsmart for like 3 years - the only helpful thing I have to say is YES they typically LOVE human interaction & attention. Ours were a riot. That being said, I'm sure he won't die if you can't bring yourself to pick him up I've never had an attempted bite from a beardie... skinks and Leos yes, not beardies.

Hopefully someone else can be more helpful. Good luck, hope you enjoy him, they're like the dog of the lizard world

 

[Fran101]

I'm totally fine with handling him. I just wanted to know if he actually LIKED IT or would it be me just bugging him
I do like the little guy.. more than anything I just don't want to get bit lol he seems quite friendly..

I'm just a little jumpy around reptiles lol

 

[AdrianneIsabel]

Wash up, Salmonella is the only concern. Otherwise, have fun!

 

[MisssAshby]

We've had a beardie for about 9 years now...

They are very social creatures, and most of them are okay with dogs, cats and the like as long as they don't feel like they are going to be dinner.

Does the owner allow it to be loose? If so, it will love you forever if you can by chance (I realize you are in Boston and it's winter) find some sun that it can lay in. Iggy's favorite thing in the world is to lay on the window edge - she will stay there for hours.
They also love to be held, or even just hang out on your shirt while you do whatever - they enjoy the body heat.

They can bite, it's normally very rare, but yes it can be painful when they bite. As far as diseases just use common sense and you'll be fine.

Have fun and post some pictures.

This post made me giggle because it reminded me of last weekend. I will preface this by saying that our dogs love Iggy.

Our beardie is in our office, and her doesn't have a lid (sits up high). I was cleaning and had moved the chair right next to her tank without much thought. I am in the living room and I hear her moving around and making a good amount of noise. I get go in to check on her (she sometimes likes to get herself stuck) and Cali is standing on the arm of the chair with her head in Iggy's tank. Iggy is in the far corner of her tank with a look of, "oh, crap I'm about to be dinner" on her face and Cali is stretched our as far as possible trying to give Iggy kisses.

 

[MandyPug]

I don't have one but I wanted to say they're super fun and loooove to be handled typically. Auntie hev used to have a couple that we used for animal assisted therapy work.

 

[monkeys23]

1 is the only one I know... they love attention! My friend's mom has one... he's pretty big, but anyway Zenny loves attention and loves being where he can see whats going on. His eyelids get orange when he's happy, its super cute.

 

[Grab]

I love Beardies. The ones I've met have always been awesome and sociable. If we ever have a reptile, that's what we'll have

 

[Saeleofu]

We have two beardies at work, and they love attention. They're the most chill lizards we have. They just sit there. We've found that the more of their underbelly is on contact with something, the more relaxed they are.

Our like to be misted, and LOVE mashed sweet potato and waxworms. They haven't shown ANY aggression, so I can't tell you how to not get bit or how it will feel if you do get bit lol. They don't seem to be powerful lizards, so I don't think a bite would be that serious or that painful, but try not to get bit

 

[Fran101]

I just got an email from his owner he is very friendly and has a harness and she says he likes to be taken outside to sun on the patio and likes to hang out with people, which I'm fine with

The only thing I'm worried about is learning how to feed him. He is on some kind of food strike and has to be syringe fed or something.. ick.

 

[Dogdragoness]

I have been bit by dogs & horses (fairly regularly) before so I don't think a bite from a beardie would be all that bad for me.

I have seen them in Petco & places like that & would LOVE to own one ... At least he would be "technically" easier to transport when moving around to the different tracks, more so then a dog or cat . But I have some (ok ... A lot) of questions:

How long do they live? What do they eat? How hard/what is their care when compared to other lizards/ reptiles? I have also been told that they are a good first time reptile for those who have never use one before