Do Bearded Dragons Make Good Pets?

In recent years Bearded Dragons have become popular pets. I have never owned one myself but have met my share of happy owners, disappointed owners, and people who had their pet die within a few weeks of getting it.  This is often because they did not understand how to care for their pet correctly.  Others owners were not prepared for the size that their beardie grew.

How Big Do Bearded Dragons Get?

Bearded dragons originated in Australia. They typically measure about 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) when first purchased, but owners must be prepared for their Beardie to grow to 20 – 24 inches (50 – 60 cm), with females being slightly smaller. In most cases this means the vivarium (reptile enclosure) for a small bearded dragon will not be big enough for when they are mature.

What Kind of Enclosure  is Needed for a Pet Bearded Dragon?

A young bearded dragon may be kept in a 20 gallon enclosure, while a mature one will need at least a 40 gallon enclosure. The tank selected should be one that is made for lizards and is therefore long rather than tall, allowing for more floor space.

Young bearded dragons can be kept in groups but as they mature bearded dragons should be kept individually. It is possible to keep a male and female together, or two females, if the enclosure is large enough, but two males will fight.

Bearded Dragons are desert lizards their vivarium needs to be created to resemble a desert habitat. When young its best just to use newspaper to line their enclosure with, but later they can have 4 inches (10 cm) deep of calcium sand. They should have rocks, and in particular a raised “basking rock” on which to warm themselves for digestion, you can even buy electric heated rocks. They also need a shaded area in which to cool down.

The tank will need to be cleaned weekly. The lid must be well ventilated with proper lighting (a heat lamp and UVA/UVB light).

Humidity should be maintained at 20% to 30% and there are special humidity gauges to help you monitor the conditions of the tank. The tank must be kept warm in the day, and slightly cooler at night.

They should have a food dish and water dish. Some bearded dragons are reluctant to drink from the water dish so should be misted in the morning (in the wild they get water by licking the dew off their head), or have water sprayed on their food.

photo source

What do Bearded Dragons Eat?

Bearded dragons are omnivores, they need a variety of food. When they are younger they need a balance of 75% insects to 25% plants, but as they mature this becomes more of a 50/50 thing. The insects can be live gut loaded crickets, meal worms, or wax worms. You can also buy dried crickets, or prepared foods and see if your beardie will eat them. The plant matter can be kale, collard greens, spinach, dandelion leaves (assuming no chemicals sprays were applied), shredded carrots, pears, and chopped up zucchini.

Additional Information on Keeping a Pet Bearded Dragon

Bearded dragons can be picked up and held but care should always be taken that they are not dropped. If not use to being held they may puff up but over time they can become “tame”. People need to wash their hands before and after handling their pet. Soap should not be used before handling the pet (just wash with water) but should be used afterwards. Bearded dragons are considered one of the more relaxed types of lizards as pets.

A bearded dragon can live for 10 to 12 years, so it is important for an owner to decide if they can provide a lifetime of care for their pet.

Note that as they get larger bearded dragons are not as “cute” as when they are small, and for some people (kids in particular) that can be an issue. Again it is very important to consider the mature size of a bearded dragon before getting too committed to getting one as a pet.

If you are serious about getting a bearded dragon as a pet you may want to get some supplies and set up your vivarium first.

Pet Warehouse has a Reptile section with proper lighting supplies, sands, accessories, grooming aids, medication, thermometers, food, and so forth.  Check to see their huge range of Reptile Supplies

Killifish in the Pet Industry

When I was young my father use to get an aquarium magazine and my sister and I use to love looking at the beautiful fish pictures. One aquarium hobbyist magazine always a section devoted to Killifish. There were colorful pictures of fish that we never saw in the aquarium stores; these fish were Killifish.

That was some 30 years ago and I have only rarely seen Killifish for sale in stores since, and even then they were not as spectacular as the ones featured on the pages of the aquarium magazines. Of course I now know that there are different levels of quality among aquarium fish, the most fancy guppies, bettas, and so forth, are never sold in stores, they are sold privately, or often in an auction, this also applies to Killifish. You can also order live Killifish from That Pet Place/That Fish Place. 

Live Killifish shipped directly to your door from ThatFishPlace.com

 

Only a few varieties of Killifish are sold in stores if you can find them, with most others traded and sold privately. Killifish are sold as eggs or actual fish. They eggs can be shipped dry as certain Killifish lay their eggs before the ponds dry up so the eggs dry out under normal conditions.

Basic Information on Killifish

 

photo source - Golden lyretail Killifish

 

Killifish are fresh, and brackish, water fish, with different species found in and/or around most continents of the world excluding Australia, Antarctica, and Northern Europe. Many species are not as colorful as those featured on the pages of magazines, for example the Devil's Hole Pupfish is a Killifish.

Killifish are a type of carp and there are over 1200 different Killifish known, with more possibly yet to be discovered. 

About Keeping Killifish as Pets

As pets, or in the wild, the lifespan of a Killifish can be as short as nine months for some species, to a maximum of three years for some others. The shortest living Killifish often being referred to as “annuals”, these typically being the ones to lay their eggs in a pond that dries up seasonally, and even when kept in an aquarium that does not “dry up” they still do not live longer. 

photo source - Killifish from Nigeria

Each species will have its own dietary needs with some eating mostly algae, others eating other small fish, and many eating mosquito larvae or other insects. 

Most Killifish are under 2 inches (5cm) in length but some can get as long as 6 inches (15 cm). 

Some Killifish can live in a small school if the aquarium is large enough, while other species prefer to live in a small group with only one male.

The water conditions preferred by each Killi species will vary with some living in fresh water and others in brackish water (a mix of fresh and salt water - which can be made using aquarium salt, but not so much as to create a salt water tank). 

Of the species most commonly sold in pet stores, the Golden Wonder (from India), and Flagfish (from Florida), tend to be the best known. Note that in most places it is illegal to catch Killifish in the wild and keep them as pets without a proper permit, nor can you release unwanted pets into the wild.

Live Killifish shipped directly to your door at ThatFishPlace.com

Information on Reeves Turtles as Pets

My daughter recently got a new pet, a Reeve's Turtle. In my area many turtle species are illegal to buy or sell (such as the red-eared slider) but Reeves are allowed. I was surprised to see turtles for sale that so tiny, her turtle was maybe 2 inches (5cm) at most.  In the USA this would not be legal as the trade of turtles whose shell is under 4 inches is illegal.  

I was quite worried about getting her, but my daughter is 18 so it was her decision.  

 
The Reeve's Turtle is also known as the Chinese pond turtle, they are found in China, Hong Kong, Korea, and Japan; they are considered to be an endangered species particularly in China. The biggest threat to them comes from being hunted for use in Chinese medicine, however they breed well in captivity.

Turtles are not good pets for first time pet owners, they have very specific needs and a person should never get a turtle unless they know they can care for it for its lifetime in relationship to how big it will eventually grow, which is 6 inches. They can live over 40 years.

Housing for a Reeve's Turtle

A small Reeve's turtle needs at least a 10 gallon tank, and 20 gallons (or more) when mature.  We are using a 15 gallon tank made for turtles, frogs, or salamanders, it is not tall but offers a lot of "floor" space.

The water should be 4 inches deep (see more below about water) with a rock for basking coming up out of the water. Other large pebbles can be placed at the bottom of the tank and a land area should be constructed at one end of the tank. A shallow container set on top of rocks can be filled with bark for reptiles and placed in the land area. Anything added to the tank should be sold specifically for use with reptiles.

A water heater and filter are important and should be selected for the size of the tank. An air pump is not required as turtles breathe air from the surface.

Live aquarium plants may be eaten but plastic plants can be used to provide some décor.

The water itself must be free of chemicals or chlorine. If you live rurally on well water there are usually no issues, but city water often has chlorine added. This can be removed by leaving the water out for 24 hours or by buying a product to remove the chlorine. Water conditioner for turtles should be used in either case. As young reeve's turtles may not be great swimmers the water for small turtles should be no deeper than 3 inches, with lots of things for them to climb up on. As they get use to their tank, and get bigger, a depth of 4 inches is fine.

The tank should have a screen lid. If you have other pets (such as cats) a fine screen is best as it will not only keep out the pet but pet hair and fur that will clog the filter system.

You will need two lights, one for UV and another for heat. The heat lamp should be above the basking rock. The lights should be on for 12 to 14 hours a day.

How Often do Turtle Tanks need to be Cleaned?

You should try to clean your turtle's tank once a week. This is best done by siphoning out about 1/3 of the water, getting under rocks with the siphon. Add warmed water that has had the chlorine removed. The filter itself should be cleaned once a month.

Feeding a Reeve's Turtle

Reeve's turtles are omnivores. They will eat small fish, crickets, worms, and so forth. They may eat romaine lettuce or dandelion leaves (only give in small amounts and only if washed very well and no chemicals were used), pear, and cantaloupe. They can be given turtle pellets. When the turtle is small and if the pellets seem long, they should be broken in half. In regards to fish a small turtle will have a hard time catching fish but a few small minnows or young feeder guppies can be kept in the tank.

Turtles can be fed at anytime but should not be fed just before bedtime.  My daughter feeds her turtle a pellet or two first thing in the morning and a cricket later on around noon.  She also has fish in the water and a few other crickets loose in the cage. 

About Handling your Pet Turtle

Always wash your hands before and after handling your turtle. Use only plain water (no soap) when washing before handling your turtle. You want to remove any salts, greases, or other contaminants from your hand. Washing afterwards is a good idea because turtles can carry salmonella.

Care should be taken not to drop the turtle (of course), but otherwise Reeve's turtles are fairly easy to tame.

When you put your turtle back into its tank, always put it on land.  Reeve's turtles might otherwise panic and dive without taking a proper breath of air first and have been known to drown.

Where to Buy Supplies for a Pet Turtle?

If you are lucky enough to have a store in your area that specializes in reptiles they will have a good selection of products for your turtle.  Most other pet supply stores carry basic supplies too.  If you are in the USA you might want to order some of your turtle's supplies from That Pet Place or Pet Health USA.  Here are some links to help you out. Click here to get reptile supplies from Pet Health USA, Get 5% Off Your Order with checkout code: PETHLTH Or Discount Reptile Supplies from the Largest Pet Store In the World: That Pet Place

Please do not get a turtle unless you are certain you can provide a good home for it with proper lifetime care!

Share Your Pet Pictures on Your Own Custom Calendar

I remember several years ago my aunt surprised us with a calendar she had made using pictures of her cat, dog, and kids. It was very unique. She did it really well too using pictures she had taken throughout the year and matching them up with the appropriate month. 

I realize that it is a little late in the year, but I only got to thinking about this just now after finding Calendars.com.  They also have a huge assortment of dog breed specific calendars for all the dog lovers out there as well as a full range of pets and animal calendars.  Some of their wildlife calendars (such as the Hummingbird WWF 2013 Deluxe Wall Calendar) have a special bonus - in that part of your purchase price goes to WWF as a donation to help them help more wild animals!

You can make your own custom calendar at Calendars.com and if you are talented enough, and have time, you can stage a few pictures now to use throughout the calendar, such as having your pet sit with a red rose by its feet and a red background to use for February (Valentines Day). 

Their prices are great too, and if a personalized calendar is not for you they have a huge range of other calendars (as mentioned) books and puzzles with animal themes.

click here to go to the site

If you are looking for a unique gift or just something unique for yourself then for sure consider making your own custom calendar. I wish I had remembered to make this suggestion earlier, but there is still a little time before the New Year. A calendar is something pretty much everyone enjoys getting and when finished with the year they still have frameable pictures they can keep if they wish.

Like them on Facebook and get 10% off (a window should pop up after you have been on the site and picked out a calendar).

Where can you Get Real Veterinarian Advice Online

I have always warned people against getting free veterinarian advice online, you simply do not know who is answering.

On forums and other question and answer sites are loaded with people who may claim to be vets but are not. Sure you might get some help from people based on their experiences but sometimes there is more to it than that, and at any rate a common answer in forums is simply “Take your pet to the vet”.

I have seen terrible advice given out by well meaning people but people who simply do not know the facts. For example I have seen a person ask if they can give aspirin to a cat and they were told “Sure, I gave it to my dog so I do not see why you cannot give it to your cat”. Of course the truth is that aspirin is somewhat risky for dogs (although if carefully dosed it is fine) but very dangerous to cats and even a small amount can be fatal.

PetMD.com is one of the few places where pet owners can turn and find real information from real veterinarians. They have a place where users can ask questions about their pet or other concerns. These questions are answered as quickly as possible by the vets who are online at any given time.

What is really great about the question section for vets on PetMD is that it is not just limited to questions about cats and dogs either. PetMD allows you to ask questions about birds, horses, reptiles, or other exotic pets.

The PetMD website itself has loads of links with information on all different types of pets and is a good resource in itself.  Click on the logo above to give it a shot and ask a veterinarian your pet questions today!

As part of the Pet 360 family PetMD is affiliated with PetFoodDirect.  They also have a symptom checker.

Does your pet have suspicious symptoms? Visit petMD's Pet Symptom Checker today for informative, helpful, veterinarian approved articles.

If you have a pet emergency it is best to contact your veterinarian. Most vets do have 24 hour services and are available even when their office is closed. For non-emergency situations or times when you just have a simple question, try asking a veterinarian on PetMD.com

Get Cat Food and Dog Food Delivered to your Door

Not everyone relishes the idea of going to the store for pet food over and over again. Additionally because the really good pet foods are rarely carried in most grocery stores (including Walmart) it can be a bit out of the way for a pet owner to get their pet's food on a regular basis and there is nothing worse than running out of pet food at a bad time (such as winter). 

Pet food has very low profit margins, in stores it is often more expensive than ordering online because stores have more overhead. Additionally there is nothing more frustrating than driving to a store for your pet's food only to find they have run out!

These are just some of the reasons why pet owners are turning to ordering their pet's food online and having it delivered right to their door.

PetFoodDirect is just one of the many online companies that offers pet food online and free delivery (on orders over $49.00). They also have an autoship program that offers a further discount of 15% off your orders. Autoship is great because you will never run out of pet food again, and can take an advantage of saving money on pet food.

Don't make your pet get its own food!

Some of the best quality pet foods are available from PetFoodDirect including Blue Buffalo, Natural Balance, and Wellness as well as many other brands. These pet foods are quality foods that do not use cheap filler. When you feed a better quality cat or dog food you will find your pet needs to eat less food and you have less mess to clean up (fewer poops). You should also notice an improvement in your pets health when compared to feeding the cat and dog foods that are loaded with cheap filler and by-products.

PetFoodDirect sells more than just pet food, they also sell pet supplies, flea and tick products, as well as products to keep your pet's skin and coat looking healthy. 

Get $20 Off Any Order $150 Or More At PetFoodDirect.com Today! Click here and ese Code PFDSAVE20!

PetFoodDirect ships cat food and dog food throughout the USA.