Why Shouldn’t You Get a Bearded Dragon

The Pogona vitticeps, a species of lizards that can only be found in dry regions of Australia, acquired its name from its habit of “puffing up” its spike-covered neck until it resembled a beard.

Even more astounding, the lizard’s “beard” can completely become black during breeding. He has an amazing look, with a triangular skull covered in rows of spikes that form a thorny crown

We know that bearded dragons are exotic pets. They are wild and aren’t kept as pets by an unskilled person; only reptile keepers keep such reptiles as pets.

The reason behind this is that this lizard is hard to keep up with and is hard to maintain.

Bearded dragons are pets that survive the one-year curse and frequently have severe and incapacitating health issues, such as abscesses, ulcers, mouth rot, and respiratory difficulties, without receiving the appropriate medical care this is why it is hard to take care of bearded dragons.

Even though Australia’s warm temperature, dry deserts, and scrublands are where the bearded dragons are native, they are kept in captivity and marketed as pets at well-known US shops

Bearded dragons come in eight distinct types, but Pogona vitticeps is the most commonly kept as a pet. Despite their enormous appeal and the considerable profits pet stores make from selling them, bearded dragons cannot thrive in human homes. That is why you shouldn’t get a bearded dragon as a pet.

10 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Get Bearded Dragons As Pets:

Bearded Dragons are Breaded in Unfavourable Conditions

Despite the fact that bearded dragons are exported from Australia were forbidden more than 50 years ago. Thousands of bearded dragons and other reptiles and amphibians are produced there each year by reptile farms,

Bearded dragons may still be purchased in pet stores and online in the US. Federal law does not govern Reptile and amphibian mills since the Animal Welfare Act does not apply to cold-blooded species, leaving the animals vulnerable to brutal mistreatment and suffering.

Reptile farms offer minimal to no veterinary care, similar to puppy mills. Overcrowding, inadequate sanitation, and high death rates are accepted as business expenses. You unknowingly support a horrific industry that could care less about the pain these creatures undergo when you buy a bearded dragon (or any other animal) from a shop or online.

Bearded Dragons Need UVB Lighting And Temperature Control.

As cold-blooded species, bearded dragons must get their heat from the environment outside, such as the sun.

Bearded dragons require a tank with a basking area and a place to relax unless you naturally maintain some portions of your home at or near 100 degrees Fahrenheit all year round. The inhabitants will require artificial UVB (ultraviolet) light if it is present in the tank. Without it, bearded dragons can’t produce enough vitamin D or adequately absorb calcium.

If you think that it is normal to follow these rules for housing reptiles, you are correct. The vast majority of captive reptiles need terrariums or tanks with temperature control or additional lighting.

Since they often require less upkeep than other varieties of reptiles, bearded dragons are frequently referred to as “easier” reptiles. They are, however, quite difficult to maintain in a person’s house!

Instead, it highlights how damaged our relationships with wild creatures are. Animals are commonly kept in tanks nowadays where, absent artificial heating, they would perish.

A bearded dragon doesn’t require heat lamps or vitamin supplements in the wild in Australia. She just wants some dirt to hide in when it becomes too hot with the sun on her back.

Bearded Dragons Are Not Permitted To Engage In Their Usual Behaviors.

In the Australian outback, bearded dragons may be found lounging in the sun and seeking shelter in caves and tunnels. They create both their partners and their food. These activities are either impossible or very restricted in your house. Bearded dragons do not spend their entire life cuddled up on your couch, despite what the public perception is. Remember that they have traveled almost 10,000 kilometers from their Australian home. They can only be kept alive by outside heat sources and certain illumination.

Dangerous Infections can be Transmitted by Bearded Dragons.

Pets like reptiles and amphibians are commonly to blame for human salmonella illnesses. The bacteria are present in the digestive systems of healthy reptiles, but they can cause severe illness or even death in humans. The elderly and tiny children are particularly at risk.

Since Salmonella is transmitted through animal droppings and spreads quickly to anyone who comes in contact with an infected animal or its habitat, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise families against keeping reptiles and amphibians in their homes if they have children under the age of five. In the autumn of 2020, pet bearded dragons caused Salmonella infections in 18 people across 11 states. Hospitalization was required for 11 patients.

There are already a lot of bearded dragons available for adoption as a result of reptile mills and hasty purchases at pet stores. By adopting one from a shelter or rescue and giving it as much space and freedom as they can, compassionate individuals may provide a bearded dragon a life that is as close to nature as they can.

We must cease selling these creatures and take steps to guarantee that all future bearded dragons live in the wild if we wish to properly safeguard them. Demanding that PetSmart cease facilitating the trade in wildlife and eventually halt the sale of reptiles and amphibians in its stores.

They Require a Lot of Space

Throughout its life, your gorgeous baby dragon’s size will fluctuate. Think about how much space your beardie would need if it becomes really huge. The most common species of beardie, Pogona vitticeps, frequently grows to a length of 24″ from tip to tip. If you’re unsure about the maximum size of a bearded dragon, look at some helpful facts.

This suggests that you will require an extremely large home or apartment. For dragons 20 inches or bigger, a vivarium or tank with a volume of around 75 gallons is usually advised. But it only goes so far. A tank with a 120-gallon capacity would be adequate for caring for dragons.

You Need To Feed It Daily

Spending money on food that will meet your bearded dragon’s nutritional demands is your duty as a responsible parent. You’ll need to invest some cash, time, and energy in this. Due to their omnivorous nature, bearded dragons need a balanced diet that includes both vegetable and insect food. You must provide him with food that is 60–65 percent veggies and 30–40 percent invertebrates, like crickets, to satisfy his nutritional demands.

To encourage optimal digestion and avoid intestinal obstructions from eating a bug that is too big, insects shouldn’t be bigger than your dragon’s mouth width.

They can Poop a lot.

Feces from bearded dragons may be recognized. For instance, they could create a lot of feces. The age and diet of your bearded dragon will determine how frequently it poops.

One to three times per day is typical for baby beardies to urinate. Only seven urinations per week are tolerable for adult bearded dragons. You and your bearded dragon both require food. For instance, bearded dragons that consume diets strong in calcium urinate more frequently.

The bearded dragons’ waste products might smell. This may in part be attributed to their regular diet. Worms, crickets, and roaches all emit unpleasant odors. Sadly, bears like to eat them.

What about the feces of a bearded dragon? Unlike humans, bearded dragons don’t urinate in the same way. Rather, a whitish substance called urate builds up in their kidneys and is eliminated through the urine.

Vets for Bearded Dragons Are Hard To Find.

Finding a bearded dragon veterinarian could be challenging if you don’t reside in a major city. Even someone who has a great deal of experience with exotic animal care might not fully comprehend all the specifics of caring for a bearded dragon.

Herpetology doctors could be expensive. It is simple to understand how this cost may increase once you include the added expense of any protracted journey.

They are Expensive

Young dragons can occasionally cost $30 to $60 at pet stores. A beardie that is cultivated might cost more than $100.

Prices for various breeders range. However, your spending doesn’t begin there.

Vivariums

A vivarium is a reptile’s equivalent of an aquarium. It could feel safe to your dragon there because it resembles a cage. Like aquariums, vivariums are made of glass or plastic to keep insects out and lose heat.

Sadly, vivariums are not inexpensive.

A brand-new 120-gallon system might cost anywhere from $470 and $550.

Heat

The heat helps your lizards to survive.

In their environment, bearded dragons need a temperature range of 105 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

Heat lamps can occasionally cost $30 or more with their fixtures, with the fixture costing about $10. Here are a few heat light ideas with costs ranging from $10 to $30.

Light-emitting lamps and UVB rays can help your beardie create vitamin D and metabolize calcium, keeping them strong and healthy.

A lengthy light bulb that emits UVA and UVB rays is necessary. Costs for lighting fixtures can range from $40 to $80.

Substrate

The items used to line the bottom of cages, like as ceramic tile, sand, or reptile carpets, are referred to as “substrates”. Each substrate has advantages and disadvantages. Despite their amazing grip, reptile carpets occasionally need cleaning.

The closest thing to the beardie’s natural environment is sand or soil, however, your dragon could accidentally eat it while looking for bugs to eat. Ceramic tile is the smoothest and most challenging surface to walk on, but it is also the simplest to maintain. Despite the fact that substrates typically cost between $3 and $10, keep in mind that you could eventually need to empty and replace the substrate.

They Are Dangerous

Long thought to be non-venomous, bearded dragons are now known to produce a small amount of venom, according to new studies. Although their poison doesn’t truly pose a threat to people, bearded dragons aren’t often thought of as deadly creatures since they don’t bite.

Conclusion

The bearded dragons are the most common pet lizard, many reptile lovers choose this lizard as their beginner lizard and then work their way up, but besides this, there are numerous reasons why you shouldn’t get a bearded dragon. You must consider those reasons beforehand, so you are prepared for whatever hustle comes your way.

Some of those problems are that bearded dragons are on the expensive side, they carry semolina, their diet needs to be taken care of and they must be fed regularly, they should be cleaned up every day as they can stink and you need to invest in getting its vivarium and UVB light.

The primary drawback is the price, so be sure you have enough money to provide them with the kind of living that you would like for yourself. Bearded dragons make fantastic pets and might have a big impact on your life if you chose to keep one.

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