Times sure have changed

[JUNGLE JIM]

Since I purchased my first Beardie over 20 years ago.I got Spike for my 38th Birthday. There wasn't a lot of breeding going on back then in my area but I made friends with a herpetologist here at the Saint Louis Zoo and he sold me some that he had, a boy and two girls a few months after I got Spike. Names were Blackbeard, Daisy and Thumbalina. I had a custom cage built that has 30 sq. ft. in the top area with room underneath for a 55 gallon tank. Luckily for me I still have it stored away in the garage for the last 9 years. Back then I used children's play sand as a substrate with some cork rounds, flats and a couple huge manzanita branches for perches so all of them could have access to heat and uvb light.I did keep the males separate but kept my two girls together with Spike.I fed them mainly Crickets and greens, some occasional strawberries as a treat. When the girls became gravid I would feed them pinkies a couple times a week. I was never able to get any eggs to hatch. Either they got to dry and shriveled up or too wet and they molded. I worked a lot of hours to provide for my four children as well as my dragons so didn't spend as much time as I would have liked with them. Spike passed away when he was 8 years old, Daisy at 10 and Blackbeard and Thumbalina when they were 11 years old. Now here I am, 58 years old , retired with two new dragons, Archer and Spike Jr. I have really fallen for these two and want the very best for them. I purchased a lot of bulbs, bedding and other things for them, some that I found out recently when I found this site that I shouldn't be using. Like the red bulbs and the bedding. I have gotten some great ideas and advice since I joined this site and want to thank everyone. I still have plenty of things I want to do but want to make sure I get it right. I have big plans for the show cage but won't be able to bring it in the house for a few months since a daughter and three granddaughters will be moving back home for a couple months, I hope. Once they find a house and move out then I can get to work. I bought a note book so I can write down the great information I've been getting here so I don't forget. Sooner or later I will start posting pictures, please keep the great information and ideas coming. I'm a sponge right now trying to soak everything in.

 

[Elders]

It's interesting to hear how it was done compared to the new information known now. Sand is still used by people, it's just an unnecessary risk in captivity to those who would rather not have to deal with consequences on the off chance. I top love this site as I am always learning from the expertise of others. I'm looking forward to seeing your dragons.

 

[JUNGLE JIM]

I'm thinking of trying combinations of slate tile and excavator sand in enclosures for dragons and have several extra aquariums not being used to work with. I would like to see pictures of enclosures using the tile and also the type of tile, color and where you purchased it. Another hobby I have is rock collecting and tumbling. I have a few hundred lbs. of rock from around the world I think would look great in an enclosure. Also have pieces that are polished that you can see your face in. This is an opportunity to tie two hobbies into one or more since I've been working with epoxy and resins for years. Sooooo many possibilities. This will keep me busy and out of trouble.

 

[Elders]

Currently I personally am using carpet; however; when I settle down and buy a house next year I will be trying my hand at bioactive substrate; the whole explanation of what and how it works is explained in the bioactive thread in the enclosures forum.

 

[JUNGLE JIM]

Does anyone collect their own wood for their enclosures? I fish a lot from shore and see plenty of drift wood. I have my eye on a big piece now that I need a saw just to get it out. Been breaking some branches off every time I go there, a really cool root wad. I have my 13 year old granddaughter looking through canisters with thousands of pictures, some of are my old dragons from back then in their big enclosure. Hope to find some and get them up here, bear in mind these aren't digital photos. Did order some excavator clay so will be starting a project by the weekend, hopefully.

 

[laswabbie]

I'm new to beardies, but I wouldn't use lake driftwood in my aquariums. IMHO there are too many pollutants, even in what looks like clear water: fuel, outboard oil, etc.

 

[JUNGLE JIM]

Some pictures of my Beardie enclosure. Pictures are from 3/29/96-3/19/97. Don't know if the dates will be clear enough to read. I took pictures of my old pictures with my digital camera. Last picture is of my Blue tongue skink named Pat since we didn't know if he/she was a boy or girl. Sure was a sweetheart. Sold her to a pet store when I downsized my collection. Second picture from top to bottom is Thumbelina, Spike and Daisy. Got a little teary eyed viewing these photos. Daisy laying eggs. Sorry, pictures didn't turn out better.

 

[PatsyB]

Thanks for sharing your story! I got my first beardie at the age of 38, I have 3 now. I read a lot of stuff before I brought Dexter home and the more I read the more I realized I had some things wrong. That's the nice thing about owning bearded dragons, we are constantly learning new things about how to take care of them. Different things work for different people and we bring all that knowledge together.

The driftwood could be used, you just need to bake it to kill anything that's living in it. I think it something like 200 degrees for 2 hours, instructions should come up in a Google search.

 

[JUNGLE JIM]

I'm really looking forward to bringing the big enclosure back inside and setting it up. Probably won't get it inside until September and don't remember where I put the keys for the locks and hinges for the doors. I had to take the doors off just to get it out the door 9 years ago. Top part is 30 square feet so have some room to work with.

 

[JUNGLE JIM]

The little girl by the cage in the first picture is my youngest daughter who turned 25 on June 18th. Where did the time go???????

 

[PatsyB]

Oh man! I have a NEICE who turns 25 this year too, I can't wrap my head around that, I still remember when she was a baby.