Krystina Palka 3/17/2013 Final Draft Review

My Scaly Neighbor, Friend or Foe? Has your child come home from school, after learning about reptiles in science class and wants one as a pet? Do you or your significant other, have an interest in a pet a bit more exotic than your average cat or dog? It could be simply that you want to embark on a new adventure as a pet owner. What ever your reason maybe, I Think I may have a solution for you. I highly recommend the Bearded Dragon for any first time exotic pet or reptile owner. I have been the proud owner of three beautiful bearded dragons for the past year. At first I was scared to even pick one of them up. Reptiles are not normal pets to most people, so it can be intimidating and overwhelming at first. After getting to know their temperament and behavior, I soon became comfortable in knowing that they meant no harm to me. I learned to look past their rough textured skin and really paid attention to their demeanor. I quickly went from being the owner of one to three bearded dragons in a matter of months. Bearded dragons make great pets for a number of reasons. They are one of the tamest, friendliest reptiles around, compared to the Iguana, whose temperament is unpredictable and can often be aggressive. Reptile owners will agree that if you are new to reptile ownership, the bearded dragon is the best reptile to start off with because of their friendly disposition, hardiness and gentle nature. Bearded Dragons are very friendly and inquisitive, which makes for an interesting interaction between pet and owner. I really enjoy feeding mine their live prey, and watching them run around the house. They have the most curious personalities, using their tongues to research their surroundings. I have really enjoyed watching my Beardie grow from a young hatchling to an adult. Watching their personalities grow was one of the most enjoyable aspects for me. Every Beardie has their own unique quarks. I recommend Bearded Dragons as pets for just about anyone. Bearded Dragons also called Beardies are preferred by people having difficulties with noise, stress, and hefty maintenance. Furthermore, Beardies don't require much attention; you can just play with them when you are in the mood, and the lizard will be in the mood. No barking or meowing for attention on your tired and I want be alone times. Beardies are also not bothered by the presence of other pets and will often interact with them if they are friendly. They don't mind being handled which is what makes them so popular amongst new reptile owners. They are very comfortable with their human companions, and will often hold onto their owner’s hands to avoid being put back into their enclosures. Bearded Dragons make great family pets and are fun to care for, especially when you and your children do it together as a team. Make sure that your children understand that the bearded dragon is very fragile, and can be hurt easily, the bearded dragons are safe to be handled by children, and won't bite, or scratch. They will quite happily lie on their owner's hands, and show no signs of discomfort, or distress while being handled. You and your children can work together to ensure a happy healthy dragon, all while teaching the responsibility of pet ownership. Bearded dragons are easy to care for, as long as you know the right equipment that is needed to simulate their environment. They will require some special equipment such as UVB lighting, heating lamps or a heating pad, a thermometer to monitor the vivarium temperature, timers for the lights, food and water dishes, reptile Eco carpet to line the tank, and a vivarium for housing. A vivarium is like a fish tank but instead of opening from the top it opens from the front so you can easily pick up your reptile. Paper towels can also be used to line the tank and make for easy cleanup, but doesn't look as good as the Eco carpet in my opinion. Eco carpet can be thrown into the washing machine once a week or you can wash it out in the sink. I do not recommend any kind of loose substrate because it can cause serious impaction problems for your dragon. Cleaning out the tanks is also a breeze and only has to be done once a week. There is no foul smell associated with their tanks. There is however like any animal that relieves themselves, but only for a moment, and if you are close enough to them to have that pleasure. It's a small instance compared to the clean up of a dog or cat. Bearded dragons are omnivores, which mean they can eat vegetables,fruit, and meat, often right out of the diet of a human making feeding them somewhat convenient. They eat fruits and vegetables such as strawberries, kale, peas, green beans, zucchini, squash, mango, carrots, kiwi, apples, okra, fresh parsley and many more. For a complete list of things that Beardies can and cannot eat I suggest a wonderful web site called beardeddragons.org. This is a very informative site that will be able to answer any questions about any aspect of owning a bearded dragon that I haven’t answered for you in this review. The most costly part of owning a bearded dragon is the initial start up cost. The start up cost is usually around $300 for all the equipment including the vivarium. That may sound like a lot, but compare it to the cost of the average price of an Iguana set up or purchasing a dog from a breeder . You may be able to find equipment cheaper through a person selling it on Craigslist.org or another popular bartering site. After the initial start up you will only spend about $10 a month or less on live prey usually consisting of crickets, which cost around 10-15 cents per dozen, but they can eat other insects as well. The UVB lighting has to be replaced about once every six months, costing around $25 a bulb. All the equipment and live prey can be found at your local pet store. All in all bearded dragons make wonderful pets. At first glance it may seem like a lot but once you become a custom to it, and learn about the proper care for your animal it really is a breeze. You will not be without laughs with this little creature. If you are the type of person who loves animals with a personality and that are different from your average pet, then I suggest trying out a bearded dragon, you will not regret making one of them apart of your home.