September means back to school, and it also means we welcome back members of Fauna’s Herpetology Club!
Our first meeting served as an introduction to the science of herpetology as we learned the key distinguishing characteristics of reptiles and amphibians, as well as the differences between the two.
We then had an extensive hands-on session in our Reptile Room, as we met all the new reptiles at the shop. We had a chance to compare the different textures of the reptiles’ scales, and learned about key differences between lizards and snakes.
Both members of the Order Squamata, lizards and snakes are quite different. Besides possessing limbs, lizards such as this Bearded Dragon are different from snakes in that they possess ear holes as well as eyelids.
Our meeting ended with a behind-the-scenes tour of the shop where we got to see where the animals’ meals are prepared and where our breeding reptiles are kept.
Written by Jose Rodriguez, Fauna’s Eco-Education Coordinator. Jose runs various programming aimed at different age levels.
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Hi, My (almost) 11 year old son really wants to get his first pet and he’d love to buy a Bearded Dragon. He’s heard they make great pets, are docile and friendly, and don’t bite. Are they a lot of maintenance? Also, do you advise one or two? He’s very responsible and nurturing, so I’m hoping this is the pet for him. I read that they require at least a 40 gallon tank. (We have an empty 30 gallon in our basement — should we not use?). How much do the the Bearded Dragons cost? Your store sounds ultra cool! (I used to have tons of pets growing up so I’m looking forward to visiting and reliving my youth!) Thanks for any advice you can give me.
Bearded dragons definitely make great pets and do well by themselves. The only general care you would have to do would be daily feedings with calcium and vitamin powder, cleaning the carpet he’s on, and occasionally giving him a warm bath.
The 30-gallon tank you have should work fine for now, assuming it has not been exposed to any harmful cleaning supplies. Otherwise, you can wash it out with Wipe Out and set it up. What are the dimensions of the tank? They make 30-gallon tanks in a few different dimensions and knowing that will be important in determining the right equipment to use.
There are a few different morphs of bearded dragons that range in price, but the captive bred individuals we currently have in the store start at $100.
Please feel free to stop in if you have any more questions, or call us at (212) 877-2473.
For more information on Bearded Dragons, please visit our ASK MEGAN page at http://www.faunanyc.com/about-us/ask-megan/