Thread #34434953
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It looks like I'm going to be fostering a Bearded Dragon for some indefinite amount of time. It's been living in a frat house where no one is really taking good care of it, and I've been asked if I want him. Otherwise, they'll return him to the pet store. There are no pets allowed in my apartment, but it's not like they're gonna find out. I'm moving this Summer anyways. Anything I should know, care-wise? I'm mostly concerned about the smell (which is pretty bad, but I can almost guarantee that the terrarium has never been cleaned).
I can also just say no if this sounds like a terrible idea.
+Showing all 10 replies.
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They're a lot of work if you want to be a good keeper, so best to surrender it. Call local pet stores, they might know someone experienced who can foster or adopt. If they don't, and don't seem to care enough, try to find someone yourself. Usually there are local herp groups on facebook you can post on.
In the meantime, take it and clean the tank.
Describe what it's like now if you can. Since it's short term setup will be simple, I'll explain how to adapt it as best I can.
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I feel like having one is ultra reddit and I feel disdain toward you
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>>34435013
They got a starter kit with a heat lamp, light, thermometer, hygrometer, and some fake rocks and logs. If I had to guess, tank is 36"x12"x20"
I'm not necessarily opposed to keeping it myself. As for the move I mentioned, it's in the same city so I'd be taking the dragon with me
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>>34434953
Never had a bearded dragon, did have a snake. Very similar care since snakes are just legless lizards, so they're both cold blooded hence the heat lamp. Point that shit at the rock so the rock becomes a heated basking spot. The lizard will just chill on top or in that area and make sure it has a hideaway like arching branches or a fake cave for it to fuck off in when it wants leave and quiet. Not sure what dragons eat, in gonna assume it'll be some variety of bug or insect. Lizards are not crazy sociable, but I heard dragons do enjoy stimulation from time to time and can do some cute or fun interactions with humans. But they're cold blooded animals so in reality they really don't give a fuck about anything else besides heat and food. They also really don't like having their scales infected by some shit so just clean the terrarium out like once a month at the least. Ideally once a week, every 2 weeks is sweet spot. It really depends on how much the thing has shit everywhere. If you clean up the shit on sight, you won't need to clean the terrarium as often.

It's not rocket science, anyone past the age of 16 can take care of a reptile or lizard. I've seen kids do it.
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>>34435034
It's a fucking animal anon. Think about how insane you sound by attributing an animal to a website you don't like. Besides dragons aren't reddit tier lizards, leopard gecko is. Dragons are the google.com of lizards they're so common. Real niggas go for the yemen veiled chameleon or the iguana
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>>34435225
What would a scale infection look like? Right now the tank is pretty filthy (shit and uneaten mealworms everywhere). My friend is a higher-up in the fraternity so he is making sure they'll clean the tank before I get it.
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>>34435236
Scale rot usually looks like darkened scales randomly blotted across a reptile's body, typically the abdomen. For dragons their otherwise white belly scales will have these dots on it, but if you look close and you see those dots are dark brown scales, then it's probably scale rot. And you'd wanna get it to a vet ASAP because it's lethal if left untreated.
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>>34435343
>>34435236
Also scale rot happens if the tank has been too hot for too long and the tank substrate (the wood chips or whatever someone used for the flooring) has been left to go damp. Basically over humidity + leaving the lizard to marinate in its own piss and shit will cause scale rot. There's a sizable chance the dragon may come to you in bad shape if the frat bros did fuck all to care for the thing. Wouldn't be surprised if they're offloading the dragon to you deliberately knowing it's infected/and dying and they want you to foot the bill for the vet costs. I hear fraternity fuck boys can be a bit underhanded and gay that way.
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>>34434953
They get salmonella. Gotta keep clean. Idk how. Give him a bath, I guess. Maybe some bleach.
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>>34434953
My mom has one. They seem relatively easy to care for. Way easier than a dog. She just feeds her dragon worms, greens, and water her with a spray bottle. Look into it. I really don't think it's that hard. Her dragon is in great health and my mom is pretty ditzy. If she can do it, so can you.

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