A bearded dragon can make a great pet if you know how to care for them and how to find and buy the one that is right for you. Although you can get a lot of satisfaction from having a pet with a beard, you should make sure to buy one that does not have any health concerns before bringing it home. Not doing this could be a recipe for disaster! After all, you don’t want to spend your hard-earned money on a sick or malnourished new best friend. To avoid this, there are a few questions to ask your breeder before purchasing, especially if your dragon is being delivered to you and you have not been able to inspect it yourself.
1. Age? This is the first question you should ask yourself. It is significant because the age of the dragon will determine the equipment that will be required and what its diet should include. After all, you will need to be very well prepared before your beardie arrives and you don’t want to catch it and find out it has the wrong settings. It will also be an indication of possible problems that you may encounter, such as behavior problems, eating habits and social interaction, etc.
2. This brings me to the next question: eating habits? You will need to ask about your daily diet, how well and what you eat. This is to ensure that you are eating properly and will not be susceptible to nutritional disorders in the future. You want to make sure the dragon is eating a healthy mix of protein (insects) and fruits and vegetables.
3. Next, be sure to ask to see a photo of the bearded dragon. In this way, you can get an idea of your health. Is it a good size? Are you not overweight or underweight? Do you have unusual marks, discolorations, or bumps? Do you keep your head up and your mouth closed? Do you have all the parts of your body together? These are all things that you should be aware of. And of course one image is not the same as seeing a real image, so it would be better if you could see multiple images showing all angles.
4. Since you cannot meet your bearded dragon before it arrives, you will need to ensure that the breeder has a warranty policy and verify the terms and conditions. I’m sure you don’t want the nasty surprise of a sick beardie and then being unable to return it. You basically need to cover all the bases and know what you are getting into.
5. Lastly, check the price of the dragon. Yes, not all beards cost the same. In reality, they can vary significantly based on age, size, coloration, and species. The coloring is also known as morph. Some morphs can be quite rare and there is a huge variety to choose from. Rare morphs will obviously cost a lot more than common colors, therefore this is something to keep in mind. You may also want to shop around to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth.
These are just some of the questions to ask before buying. Remember to stay informed and learn all you can about them before taking the plunge! Do this and you should enjoy a happy beard for a long time.