Hi I havent posted in a long while
My husband asked me what I wanted for Christmas a few weeks ago...and I said a bearded dragon! He thought I would ask for expensive perfume, jewelry ect. (I've got that) lol I have been reading a lot of info, caresheets ect on this website but I still have a few questions before we buy.
They have babies for sale ...6 inches long.
I know after you bring a new one home you are supposed to leave it be to get acclimated ect but for how long?? Sounds like they eat a lot(daily) when they are this young.
How MUCH do you feed daily?
Should I invest in a 40 gal. tank right away or would that be too big for a little one?
I jusy love this website & visit quite often. Thanks for your help.
BTW Lucy the water dragon is doing great!

sounds like a great christmas gift to me! I don't know about feeding since I dont have one, but if you get a 40 gallon, you can divide the middle up so its not so big, then remove the divider when its time to upgrade.

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My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.

You need to leave them alone at least a couple of weeks. They need to start feeling secure in their own territory. You may need to allow for more time if they are especially skittish. Then you can start handling them slowly and getting them used to you a little at a time. Bearded dragons are one of the more social reptiles. If you take it slow and easy, they should warm up to you in no time.

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"Let's eat, Grandpa!"
"Let's eat Grandpa!"

Punctuation. It saves lives.

as far as feeding goes, its kinda a trial and error type thing. You throw in a few and see how fast he eats, if they are all gone immediately then add a few more keep doing that until it seems to stop eating. I wouldn't leave live crickets in with a baby for more than 15-30 min. I also kept a small dish of pellet food in with mine and give chopped up veggies everyday.

Like Liz said, go ahead with the 40 and block off some of it. Its easier to get the temp gradient that you want with more space...

Good luck! BD are SOOOOOO much fun!

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You dont have to wait quite the full 2 weeks a week is sufficient, they adapt pretty fast. I fed all my hatchlings a veggie mix in the am and they got crickets in the pm. I put in as many as they could eat in like 10 minutes. Here is a list of veggies you can try:

http://reptileguides.herpcenter.com/...-t21.html?t=21

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MARSHA
A man without a woman is a bachelor, A woman without a man is a genius!.

We have enough youth, how about a fountain of smart!

Handling:

After a week of observing him you should reconize when he is stressed or not. When you feel he isnt, try holding him for a few minutes at a time.
And start slowly upping the time of holding.

Feeding.

Babies need to eat about 3 times a day, then when they are older twice, then once a day, then eventually every other.

You can vary the Diet of crickets by giving him thawed veggies and lettece.
(the bags of frozen corn, carrots, beans, etc.)

Tank:

If you want, then Buy the 40 Breeder Tank.
You can house him in something smaller or just put in a divider.
Its up to you.

Hope this helps!

Also, How much do they want for the Dragon?

Hey thanks for all the great advice. Its a mom and pop store here they sell them for about $50.00. Trouble is right after I posted this thread, I got the WORST cold of my life! I am way too sick to go get everything it needed and to even go to the pet store! My husband doesnt know what to get ect.
I had to cancel some holiday events. So I told my husband to wait on the BD. So he took my daughter and went and got traditional gifts which is still great. Thank god I did all my shopping weeks ago!
I am still recovering and its been like a couple of weeks I call it THE CRUD LOL
BTW I was only gonna get one even though its very tempting to get 2!

aww I hope you feel better! there has been some nasty stuff going around here too...

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Thats too bad! But there will still be dragons available!
I too spent the whole Christmas holiday down with it...
all the while having to play "Grandpa" to my girls.
I hope you get to feeling better quickly.
I recomend Vit C and Echinacea!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Thanks very much for the well wishing I will get better with time.
Merlin~~I have been taking more vitamin C and sorry you were feeling as bad as I was LOL.
I am hoping for a car ride to look at the dragons at the pet store just to get the heck out of the house! I've been soooooooooo couped up here.
Yeah Santa came for my 6 year old a cold cant let me down. Christmas came as usual
I hope all the dragons are still there and not sold out!