The Real Lounge Lizards

[libraryvixen]

cute!!!

[Disneyphile]

I can't believe how easy these guys are to care for - seriously. I think they're even easier than our freshwater aquariums! They're extremely clean and very low-maintenance. And, they don't urinate, so that's a HUGE mess that's not being made right there.

And yes, the substrate is rolled oats. Kevy suggested it, since it's cheap, clean, natural, and digestible, just in case they ingest it while feeding.

[Alex]

I'm more of a snake person than a lizard person but now that Lani has her cat I'm thinking it will be easier to get agreement on a lizard than a snake.

How long do these guys live and how big do they get?

[innerSpaceman]

Um, they don't urinate? What freakishly alien life forms do you have there???


(And I thought bubble-headed space babies were wierd!)

[Disneyphile]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

I'm more of a snake person than a lizard person but now that Lani has her cat I'm thinking it will be easier to get agreement on a lizard than a snake.

How long do these guys live and how big do they get?

Kevy can answer every question you have, but I can do my best here -

Lifespan is about 10-15 years, and grow to about 18-24 inches long, including the tail. Suggested tank size for a full adult is a 40 gallon, or 50-60 gallon for two of them.

Primary food is crickets and mealworms when young, in addition to fresh fruit and veggies when older.

The one big thing I notice about these guys versus snakes - they're a lot more entertaining. They can sit for periods of time, but then also run around and explore. They also have a variety of body language, from waving, to head bobbing, and we just found ours sleeping in the oddest positions yesterday morning - standing up on their hind legs against the glass.

[Disneyphile]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Um, they don't urinate?

Neither do birds. However, unlike birds, they consume much less water since they're a desert species. Their bodies use most of the water, and what little is left is combined with the solid waste, which is fairly dry - similar to rat or mouse droppings.

[alphabassettgrrl]

What great pictures! They're cute.

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Disneyphile

Their bodies use most of the water, and what little is left is combined with the solid waste, which is fairly dry - similar to rat or mouse droppings.

Ugh, why aren't we like that? In my old age, I have to pee every half-hour, it seems.


I gotta get me a stillsuit. Wasting water is a crime.

[Kevy Baby]

Actually, life span is more like 8-10 years.

The recommendation for the substrate was actually for steel-milled oats - MUCH smaller granual size - even small enough for the babies to eat. However, the regular oats can work in a pinch. We get the steel-milled oats from Henry's Marketplace (AKA Wild Oats) in bulk for $0.59/lb and it takes about 3-4 lbs. to cover a 10-gallon tank.

Of all the reptiles, beardies are the most personable (I am not just saying this as an owner - it is a commonly accepted trusim in the herp community). I frequently will take my adults (one at a time) as I run errands and they will just hang out on my shoulder. I've done this for up to four hours at a shot (including a trip to DL once - long story there). However, I only do this with adults: Juveniles and babies are too unpredictable (so don't do this until they are about a year old Disneyphile!).

If you own cats as well, Beardies can provide much entertainment for both you and your cats (but make sure to keep them separated - the cats will go after the beardies). Our cats would sit for hours and watch the first beardies we got. We would frequently see one of our cats stand on her tip-toes (and I am not making this up - she really did!) to get a better view!

And they have interesting poop. It actually has two parts: a white part that comes out first and then a dark brown part. I've been told it is like pee and poop all in one shot.

[Disneyphile]

Well, I now know where the term "leaping lizards" comes from.

I bought them a little rock bridge for basking, and put it in the tank last night, and I wish I had grabbed the camcorder a little bit later on.....

We also set a shallow dish of water to one side of it to allow them to drink and soak a bit if they wanted.

With that, they decided that the rock bridge was now a diving platform. I'm not joking, when I say that they kept jumping off the bridge, into the water, than back out, and climbing up to do it again. They each repeated this about 5 or 6 times. I was laughing my ass off.

Then, we removed the water a little bit later, but they decided to still leap off the bridge - this time straight across at the glass. They jumped across, landing flat against the glass, sliding down while looking out. They each repeated this about 5 times as well, before finally tiring out a bit and just lounging atop the rock.

And, this morning, they did the same thing, except directed themselves to the side of the tank where one of our cats was perched on the table watching them. Norbert kept jumping at the kitty's face, brave as ever.

I never thought dragons could be so much fun.