View Full Version : Dragon Study, 3/1
Dracofish
03-01-2004, 4:39 PM
Mnementh:
http://dragoncharm.com/mnementh(1-4)/mnementh3-1.2.jpg
Larger Version (http://dragoncharm.com/mnementh(1-4)/mnementh3-1.2large.jpg)
http://dragoncharm.com/mnementh(1-4)/mnementh3-1.4.jpg
Larger Version (http://dragoncharm.com/mnementh(1-4)/mnementh3-1.4large.jpg)
http://dragoncharm.com/mnementh(1-4)/mnementh3-1.5.jpg
Larger Version (http://dragoncharm.com/mnementh(1-4)/mnementh3-1.5large.jpg)
Scale Closeups:
http://dragoncharm.com/mnementh(1-4)/mnementhscales3-1.1.5.jpg
http://dragoncharm.com/mnementh(1-4)/mnementhscales3-1.2.5.jpg
NICE...
were you teasing him with food?
Dracofish
03-01-2004, 5:04 PM
NICE...
were you teasing him with food?
No, actually the light I had him under in order to get closeups without flash was so hot that he opened his mouth to expel some heat. That's what they do when they get too warm. It's quite normal.
how big do these things get? cost? and how to care for them?
my 10yo son saw the pictures as I was looking at some of the other ones you posted and he wants one...
My wife and I are just thinking right now about getting him one for his b'day...
so I want to pick your brain, tell me what you know...
yes, I am interested also. What about care requirements?
benny
03-01-2004, 10:07 PM
Nice warm tone and good details.
I assume they are good photographic models?
Cheers,
Molino
03-01-2004, 11:01 PM
Great photos.
How close was your camera?
Does it bother them or make them nervous?
Dracofish
03-02-2004, 12:12 AM
Here's a quick caresheet I wrote up in response to questions that I get about them:
Beardies range in price greatly depending on age and color/quality. The Beardies I posted pics of are about 8 months old and are high quality Sandfire/Golds (there are other even more expensive colors). I wouldn't sell any of them for less than $200 each. Young ones can be purchased for about $50 each (or cheaper if you buy them in lots), but you can't be guaranteed with what it will look like when it grows. You may buy an "ugly duckling" and it could turn into something amazingly beautiful, but you could also end up with the exact opposite.
As far as care, they are omnivores, meaning that they eat both vegetable matter and "meat." I feed mine kale (or any other green not including the word "lettuce" or "spinach") as well as any combination of other stuff including apples, carrots, melon, and summer squash every day dusted with a vitamin/calcium supplement. They also get offered as many mealworms as they can eat. The food gets changed every day. They need to have a water dish available at all times, though they rarely drink from it. They like to lie in it as it helps them shed. They must be misted with warm water every day (at least an hour before bed time so they have a chance to warm back up and dry). They will lick at the water droplets to drink. I bathe mine in warm water at least once a week. For lighting they need to have a basking spot at 110 to 115 degrees and an 8.0 reptive UVA/UVB fluorescent bulb (no more than 8" from the basking spot as the rays only penetrate so far). They are desert dwellers, so sand is a good substrate. Many people use Play Sand from Home Depot but I stay away from it as the grains can be quite large and I'm afraid of one becomming impacted. I use Repti-Sand, NOT Calci-Sand for my guys. Stay away from any of the edible, calcium based sands, as you cannot control how much calcium your herps are taking in. Too much calcium can be a bad thing too. For an enclosure, you can keep two adults (two females, never both unless you are breeding, and never two adult males) in a 24" x 48" tank. I built mine out of 2 x 4"s and white paneling.
It is important to weigh your Beardies every couple days (especially when younger) to make sure that they are healthy. Losing weight is a good indiction of a problem so you can have some time to rectify it. A gram scale available at stores like Staples works just fine. Young Beardies will gain weight by leaps and bounds. It can be surprising.
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.
Dracofish
03-02-2004, 12:14 AM
How close was your camera?
Does it bother them or make them nervous?
For the real closeups, the camera was about an inch from the Dragon. It doesn't really bother my guys because they are very tame and get handled a lot. That Dragon in particular is my favorite, so he's even more personable than the others. He loves to ride around on my shoulder while I'm doing stuff.
what is their scientific name?
Dracofish
03-02-2004, 12:40 AM
Pogona vitticeps - Inland Bearded Dragon
ccplim
03-02-2004, 12:46 AM
Nice color! What lighting were you using?
Dracofish
03-02-2004, 2:14 AM
Nice color! What lighting were you using?
I usually use flash to take pics of my Dragons, with the camera speed on 1/1,000, but for the super detailed pics, and especially with macro, you can't really use flash. Believe it or not, I used a large $10 shop light bought at Home Depot that gets so hot it burns anything it gets near. It's so bright that I can easily use a 1/1,000 shutter speed and up the aperature.
what kind is it, take a pic, will you? I would love something like that for quick shots of the tank.
ccplim
03-02-2004, 4:46 AM
Oh my gosh! Really would like to take a look at how that light looks like.
yes, can you show us a pic of the actual photo setup with the dragon? this maybe very educational, maybe we'll do an article from this, no???
Dracofish
03-02-2004, 5:28 PM
yes, can you show us a pic of the actual photo setup with the dragon? this maybe very educational, maybe we'll do an article from this, no???
You guys would probably laugh if I did...it's quite "ghetto," but it gets the job done... [smilie=biggrin.gif]
so lets have a good laugh, shall we?? [smilie=biggrin.gif] seriously though, it is not how it looks but how functional it is. come on, dont be shy [smilie=lol.gif]
Wild*Hen
03-02-2004, 6:19 PM
Who cares Draco!!! [smilie=mf_laughbounce.gif] My cruddy cam is as Ghetto as is gehts! [smilie=afro.gif]
Maybe sombody can give you a tip or two? [smilie=an9.gif]
ccplim
03-02-2004, 9:20 PM
Yeah!!! Let's have a "behind the scene". [smilie=lol.gif]
reference this post --> http://aquatic-photography.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=619 for Draco's setup...
I went to my local pet store on lunch today to see if they have any of these, and they do... they have them labeled as "baby bearded dragon" and another "small bearded dragon"
the baby was $89 and was about 3" long not incluing the tail and the small was about 4" long not including the tail...
[smilie=ohmy.gif]
they didnt list anything about their color type, they both looked to be a pale yellowish color...
Dracofish
03-03-2004, 3:40 PM
I went to my local pet store on lunch today to see if they have any of these, and they do... they have them labeled as "baby bearded dragon" and another "small bearded dragon"
the baby was $89 and was about 3" long not incluing the tail and the small was about 4" long not including the tail...
[smilie=ohmy.gif]
they didnt list anything about their color type, they both looked to be a pale yellowish color...
If it was in a pet store, chances are that it was a common color type. I've never seen a morph in a pet store. Not to bash LPS's or anything, but I've had very bad experiences buying herps from stores. I'll never do it again. If they don't have mites, they're malnourished and don't have the proper habitats to be healthy. Every Beardie I've seen in a store setting was being kept too cold, on inproper substrate, and didn't even have full spectrum lighting. They're always stressed the hell out too. You can tell they are stressed when you see stripes on their bellies.
so where do you usually buy them?
Dracofish
03-03-2004, 10:40 PM
so where do you usually buy them?
I got mine drop shipped from a breeder. If you are interested in purchasing Beardies, check out http://kingsnake.com. That's where all the high-end breeders sell their stuff. Stay away from http://reptibid.com. Most of the Beardies being sold on there are super low quality (I've even seen a few Photoshopped pics being used) and are from "backyard" breeders.
hey Melissa,
Have you ever checked out http://www.reptiledepot.com/?
A friend of mine runs it, I just came from his shop he gave me such an education on beardeds. He's got a lot of adults and a ton of babies in there, some really nice colourfull ones. I saw a male with a totally black underjaw (spawning color?) go after a female biting her head and trying to turn her over , the whole bit, pretty crazy. I held a couple in my hands, they love sitting on your shoulder. Very nice beasts. Trying to talk my wife into getting a baby. Seems pretty easy to care for also.
thanx for the info draco...
Dracofish
03-04-2004, 2:41 AM
Most males and some females will develop the characteristic black beard with maturity. Mnementh is starting to develop his.
Dracofish
03-04-2004, 2:46 AM
hey Melissa,
Have you ever checked out http://www.reptiledepot.com/?
I checked the site out and I can get better prices elsewhere, sorry... I don't buy Beardies singly, I buy in lots, so I get a cheaper price. I started out with 30 in the beginning and got them for $29 a piece for 4 week old hatchlings. Prices go up dramatically as they get older. Asking $200 for ones like mine is on the cheaper side. I'm also not looking for anymore crosses. I have all Sandfire/Golds and will next be moving onto pure strains such as Citrus, Bloods, and maybe even Leucistics. Much more money can be gotten for pure strains.
I dont know about his prices. I can probably get much better, if my other half ever agrees to it (so far an emphatic NOOOOOOOOO). He's my customer, and I give him discount so should get some back, right???? [smilie=lol.gif] He might be on here later in the week, I gave him the address.
If I wanted to get just one, I think I can get a nice one from him. Now how do I con the wife???
ccplim
03-04-2004, 3:21 AM
Now how do I con the wife???
I hope your wife is not reading this [smilie=lol.gif] [smilie=lol.gif] . If not, think it might be "NOOOOOOO!" instead of NOOOOOOOOO [smilie=lol.gif]