We're thinking about getting one for the boys. Any experience? I'm trying to do my homework on them.

By Kateg on Friday, August 10, 2007 - 08:21 am:

No water dragon here...we just got our first bearded dragon about 1 month ago.

By Cat on Friday, August 10, 2007 - 08:43 am:

How's that going? We looked at those, too, but liked the look of the water dragon better. Do you find it hard to keep the humidity up in his habitat? That's one of my big concerns (they need about 90%--that's hard to do in CO!). From what I've read the bearded dragons get about 2 feet long and the water dragons get about 3 feet. I'm not really excited about having a reptile that big in my house, or any reptile for that matter! lol I asked dh, "Can't we just get them a guinea pig???" lol He thinks they'd like a dragon better, though. They probably will. The things we moms do for our boys!

By Cat on Friday, August 10, 2007 - 08:57 am:

Never mind about the humidity. I just noticed bearded dragons are desert dragons. Water dragons are tropical, so I guess you don't have that problem!

By Jodes on Friday, August 10, 2007 - 09:00 am:

We had a water dragon, my younger son bought it with his Christmas money, along with all the stuff it needed, and we made the mistake of feeding it crickets that were too big for it, and it died. We never knew that you have to be very careful with lizards and only feeding them what will fit into their mouths, he ate them fine so we thought he was ok, we only had him for about 6 months. My son was very upset, so we agreed to get him another one and decided to get a bearded dragon instead. We decided that the bearded dragon was a better choice mainly because the water dragon was not friendly at all, it would run away every time my son tried to pick him up, he was very skiddish, and after researching, we read that the bearded dragon is naturally very docile, and it is true! We have had "beardie" now for almost 3 years, he has been friendly since the first day we brought him home as a little tiny baby. He is easy to pick up and he will just hang out on my son's shoulder. He eats crickets, but mainly likes fruits and vegetables, and he has been very easy for my son to care for. So, I would suggest the bearded dragon, I agree they aren't as pretty as the water dragon, but I think your son would enjoy it better. Good luck!!

By Mom2three1968 on Friday, August 10, 2007 - 03:11 pm:

We've had a beardie for going on three weeks, it is so much fun, I am just as interested in it as my son is if not more!! It is very friendly, animated, and seems interested in everything. I would think that it would be a better choice than the water dragon because as long as you get the light for basking, and the uvb light, have an area for basking, an area for uvb rays and an area for them that is cool that would be great. I about fell over when we paid the money for the dragon, supplies and glass terrainum but once you get over the inital cost your set. It is better to get a tank that they will use when they are an adult because they grow fast. I have a 40 gallon tank which is the minimum size for an adult. Get a reptile tank because they are wider which increases the space they have to roam as opposed to an aquarium for fish which is taller. When they are babies and juveniles they eat more crickets, then taper off and eat more veges and fruit. It is a recommended reptile for children 10 and older I believe. Also, get one six weeks or older, if of course you choose one because smaller than that they are more fragile, personally I would try and find a reptile store that deals only in reptiles, not a big store chain like petsmart. They dable in everything and in my opinion are not experts in any one certain thing. Here are two really great websites, beardeddragon.org and reptileroom.com hope you have fun choosing your reptile!!

By Cat on Friday, August 10, 2007 - 04:35 pm:

Dh says he really likes the looks of the water dragon more. The one we saw looked very active and like it had a good personality. It kept coming to the front of the aquarium and following me back and forth. From everything I've read so far, though the bearded would be easier to take care of. Robin likes the bearded better, but I don't know why. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what we get. We plan on getting all the supplies tomorrow (Yes, Mom2three, it's EXPENSIVE!!!) and setting it all up tomorrow night. Then going back Sunday and getting the dragon. I'll let you know and post pics when we get it. Thanx for the input.

By Kateg on Friday, August 10, 2007 - 06:06 pm:

I've got a web site for you to go to, but the link is at home. It has an excellent care sheet, etc. A friend of ours has beardies, too. We love ours...Poi. He is a gem. We never, ever knew we could get attached to a LIZARD! Yes, it was expensive getting it set up. The crickets aren't so bad for our beardie, a friend recommended a place & we ship them in every couple of weeks...nothing like having UPS deliver 1,000 cricks to your door.

Good luck! Have fun!!! I'll post the link tonight when I get in.

By Kateg on Friday, August 10, 2007 - 06:08 pm:

Oh, something else to watch for when you are buying the lizard...read a few of the websites that have been recommended...make sure whoever you buy it from has the cage for the lizard set up right. Beardies have a problem with impaction with their babies, so most recommend this & that...it gets confusing at times. I'll have to get a pic of Poi tonight & post it.

Mom2three - aren't they so much fun?!?! We've had ours about 4 weeks now.

By Kateg on Friday, August 10, 2007 - 09:16 pm:

Cat ~

Here's a couple of the links I mentioned that a friend recommended to us. It covers everything on beardies, too. I've done so much research that I think my eyes are crossed. You have to watch what veggies you give lizards, too...because they aren't able to tolerate some.

http://bearded-dragons.com/boards/index.php/topic,3164.0.html

http://bearded-dragons.com

A great cheap source for food for all lizards is www.lllreptile.com.

I'm posting some pics of our beardie to the pic page.

Good luck!
Kate G.

By Mom2three1968 on Friday, August 10, 2007 - 09:28 pm:

Thanks for posting the websites, I'll be checking those too! I know what you mean, I have read up some much on these guys and my dh thinks I'm crazy!! I'll try and get some pics of mine on tomorrow!!

By Karen~admin on Saturday, August 11, 2007 - 09:19 am:

Ummmmm Dumb or ignorant here......I didn't know what that was until I saw the pics on the photo board! LOL

By Janet on Saturday, August 11, 2007 - 11:37 am:

LOL Karen...! I thought it was a pool toy or something!