Classroom beardie

[Julieb1018]

So I am a science teacher, and I have received a grant for pets in the classroom. I am an experienced animal caretaker, but I am not too familiar with reptiles. Here’s my situation: I have been told to leave the beardie in the classroom and take him home on weekends, but I have also been told to take him home every night.

I have a set up in both locations and have gotten a harness and soft carrier with a portable heating pad. I am just nervous about stressing out the beardie too much by taking him to and from school every day. It is about a 15 min drive.

I also know that some bearded dragons are “party” pets and are very acclimated to vehicles and handling so I’m curious if that’s something I could work on overtime? The last thing I want to do is harm this little guy so any suggestions or personal experience would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[Sadie]

So I am a science teacher, and I have received a grant for pets in the classroom. I am an experienced animal caretaker, but I am not too familiar with reptiles. Here’s my situation: I have been told to leave the beardie in the classroom and take him home on weekends, but I have also been told to take him home every night.

I have a set up in both locations and have gotten a harness and soft carrier with a portable heating pad. I am just nervous about stressing out the beardie too much by taking him to and from school every day. It is about a 15 min drive.

I also know that some bearded dragons are “party” pets and are very acclimated to vehicles and handling so I’m curious if that’s something I could work on overtime? The last thing I want to do is harm this little guy so any suggestions or personal experience would be greatly appreciated!!

First how old are the students? Second I do not recommend class dragon pets - next its going to stress the dragon out going back and forth every day as well as on the weekends- dragons need everything on par in the tank or they will get sick and die- meaning correct surface basking temps and UVB - NO coils for UVB and no colored lights no off white no yellowish and no daytime bulbs- temps should be taken w/ a digital probe thermometer for accurate ones- please no heating pads - dragons have been known to get burned really bad and should only be used in the tank and for emergency reasons - dragons heat from their backs -

 

[Julieb1018]

First how old are the students? Second I do not recommend class dragon pets - next its going to stress the dragon out going back and forth every day as well as on the weekends- dragons need everything on par in the tank or they will get sick and die- meaning correct surface basking temps and UVB - NO coils for UVB and no colored lights no off white no yellowish and no daytime bulbs- temps should be taken w/ a digital probe thermometer for accurate ones- please no heating pads - dragons have been known to get burned really bad and should only be used in the tank and for emergency reasons - dragons heat from their backs -

Hi! So the heating pad is for under the tank. It’s a reptile heating pad meant for outside the tank. It’s weird because Bearded dragons have been recommended as one of the best classroom pets! I also have all the proper bulbs in both setups.

I have seen many people take their beardies out on walks and road trips and all kinds of things; what makes you say they shouldn’t be in a class? Just the transportation thing? (Not being rude by the way, just genuinely curious!) also, to answer your question about age, they’re 7th graders.

 

[Sadie]

Hi! So the heating pad is for under the tank. It’s a reptile heating pad meant for outside the tank. It’s weird because Bearded dragons have been recommended as one of the best classroom pets! I also have all the proper bulbs in both setups.

I have seen many people take their beardies out on walks and road trips and all kinds of things; what makes you say they shouldn’t be in a class? Just the transportation thing? (Not being rude by the way, just genuinely curious!) also, to answer your question about age, they’re 7th graders.

Ok I took in a class pet from high school daughter brought it home - the dragon was in a 20 gallon tank way to small for an adult no uvb on sand and no temp gauges and basking light coming on at 2am - the dragon was awake when there were no students in class and asleep when kids were in the room- students the boys would get the dragon out and try and put pencil erasers in her ears- my daughter rescued this dragon from these boys 9th graders on several occasions - dragons don't like change and will go thru relocation stress every time you move them from different tanks- taking them outside going for walks is different - they go back to the same home every time - even when you rearrange their decor they don't like it - they make good pets because they are so docile and love attention and love- proper placement for the uvb is crucial your screen on the tank will determine placement and distance - not all uvb's are of good quality as well

 

[Julieb1018]

Ok I took in a class pet from high school daughter brought it home - the dragon was in a 20 gallon tank way to small for an adult no uvb on sand and no temp gauges and basking light coming on at 2am - the dragon was awake when there were no students in class and asleep when kids were in the room- students the boys would get the dragon out and try and put pencil erasers in her ears- my daughter rescued this dragon from these boys 9th graders on several occasions - dragons don't like change and will go thru relocation stress every time you move them from different tanks- taking them outside going for walks is different - they go back to the same home every time - even when you rearrange their decor they don't like it - they make good pets because they are so docile and love attention and love- proper placement for the uvb is crucial your screen on the tank will determine placement and distance - not all uvb's are of good quality as well

That is a horror story! I have a 40 gallon tank and no one would be treating him in such a horrible manner but, I see what you mean about the relocation thing. I haven’t thought of that. Thank you for this input!

 

[Sadie]

That is a horror story! I have a 40 gallon tank and no one would be treating him in such a horrible manner but, I see what you mean about the relocation thing. I haven’t thought of that. Thank you for this input!

You are going to want to upgrade the tank to a 4x2x2 120 gallon tank - 40 is bare minimum for an adult - I have websites for those if you need them and other things like nutrition website as well as insect feeders - fresh salads should be fed every day - what about winter breaks and summer vacations what is going to happen to the dragon during those times?