Anyone here own a bearded dragon?

[MurderVictim]

As soon as I save up $200+ I'll be getting one. Last month I saw them at Petsmart and instantly fell in love, and now I've convinced my mom to let me get one as long as I save up the starter money, or at least most of it. (Yes, I know chain pet stores aren't the best to buy animals, especially lizards like beardies from what I've read, but I've never had an issue with the one near me.)

I've been reading up as much as I possibly can about them since I've never owned a reptile before. I just don't want to be one of those people who buys a beardie out of nowhere simply because they're cute, then be completely confused as to how to take care of it. For once, I'm actually doing my homework

There's a couple things I'm still trying to work out...Maybe someone who owns one/has owned one can help be out and share their knowledge?

1) I'm caught between what substrate to use for the tank. Either paper towels/newspaper or reptile carpet. I've already ruled out all types of sand due to how common impaction is for babies with it. I might switch to some sort of tile when it grows up. And the two I'm leaning towards seem the easiest to clean...But I am leaning more towards the reptile carpet, because of how nice it looks compared to paper towels/newspaper. But I've heard that even though it's made for them, their claws can still get caught and pulled out...Is that true? Any opinions on this?

2) Okay...Are mealworms and superworms dangerous or not? I keep reading that they can cause some severe discomfort/kill a beardie by eating through the stomach or causing impaction. While the chewing through the stomach is claimed to be only a myth, I still see people claim that it's happened to theirs. Normally I would just settle for cutting off the heads, being the paranoid person that I am, but I'm also seeing that the worms, at least mealworms, are better left out of the diet since they have very low nutritional value. Again...Opinions?

I think that's it...If anything, I'd love to read about others' beardies. I've developed such a soft spot for them.

[KingKovu44]

I used to own one (she got mean and I had to find her a home). For information on them, I would suggest talking to a reptile expert and reading a book on caring for them (you can find them at the pet stores). You can also google Bearded dragon care sheets online.

[MurderVictim]

I'm definetly getting a book...eventually. I saw one at Petsmart last time I was there, but really didn't have enough time to look through it. Hopefully I can next time we need to get cat food. And I have so many online care sheets bookmarked xD Always looking for more, though.

[KingKovu44]

Well, I hope that you find what you're looking for. The best of luck to you and your beardie (that's reptile keeper slang for Bearded dragon).

[MurderVictim]

Thanks

[KingKovu44]

You're very welcome. I'm a major reptile fan. I've kept several different sorts of reptiles over the years.

[MurderVictim]

I've been sort of wanting a reptile for a while. Just never really put much thought into what type. That, and my dad put me off of wanting one by how mean he made them sound, which he does to every animal I ask for. I think he still doesn't want me to have one, probably because of how our three cats might react to it, but I'm pretty sure he knows that when I put my mind to something, I'm going to find a way to get it. That's how I got my parakeet and hamster. xD So he's just letting my mom deal with it.

[KingKovu44]

Well, I've owned Chinese water dragons, Bearded dragons, Green iguanas, Basilisks, Ball pythons and Rosy boas. All have been very interesting pets.

[jelle]

i have 2 and i just use sand they do fine and for mealworms or worms they aren't dangerous but i shouldn't use them they make a mess since they don't get digested so much so they poop them out as still a full rhino then also they don't have a lot of protiens (how do you type that ) i advice using grashoppers though they are more expensive

[MurderVictim]

@KingKovu44: Green iguanas sound like fun...I've heard they can get huge. My friend had some sort of an iguana (it was pretty small). I wish I could have held it, but it was sick when I stayed a weekend at her house, and sadly died soon after I left. And...basilisks...? *goes to check that out*

@jelle: I would use sand once it's an adult...It just looks so messy. One thing I didn't care for when I had my hamster was how it was such a chore to clean the cage, what with all the bedding. I'm guessing it would be like that with sand, since I'm guessing that eventually you'd have to put all new sand in there. Meh...I might give it a try in the future, but for now I think I'll look into carpet and tile. And yeah...I think I'll stick to gut-loaded crickets and veggies. I may try mealworms and waxworms when it gets older, though. or mixed in with the other nutritional food.