| I consider myself a Dog person; I need the | | | | rough skin and the spikes on the side of the face. In |
| dependency that dogs bring. When my dog pasted | | | | a split second the tiny Bearded Dragon looked up at |
| away I didn't know how to fill the void. I had my | | | | me and I swear I heard it say "mama." I was in love!!! |
| Chihuahua for 15 years, we practically grew up | | | | I started to negotiate, I needed a tank, lights, sand, |
| together and now my best friend was gone. I didn't | | | | food, a rock, a perching branch, etc. this little girl was |
| know what my next move would be but I knew I | | | | going to have the best condo in town. Mr. Pet Shop |
| needed a best friend. I looked around different pet | | | | Attendant set everything up for me, got everything |
| shops; different breeds but I just couldn't connect | | | | together and sent me on my way. I got home set |
| the dots. One day I went to pick up Chinese food at | | | | Ophelia up in her new deluxe condo and got on the |
| strip mall by my house and I noticed a Reptile Pet | | | | Internet, I need to know everything there was to |
| Shop. I decided to stop in with no intention of every | | | | know about Bearded Dragons, I wanted to be the |
| purchasing a Reptile. | | | | best Mom in Bearded Dragon World. |
| To me reptiles were cold, could not associate and all | | | | Here are some of the things I found are truly |
| they wanted was food from me, I really didn't see | | | | important if you decide like me you want one of |
| them in a very good light. I went in anyways | | | | these beautiful and gentle pets. |
| because I was curious and I wanted to confirm my | | | | The lighting is extremely important, you need UVA |
| assumptions. I went in and the first thing that hit me | | | | and UVB. In simple terms you need a light to keep |
| was the smell, WOW! What was that? It was reptile | | | | them warm and you need a light that provides sun |
| smell! Something completely foreign to me. I looked | | | | rays. Basically you need to provide them with a |
| around; I saw snakes, lizards, turtles and spiders. The | | | | habitat that is similar to their environment. They will |
| whole time I was there I had goose pumps and a | | | | use the heat lamp to assist them with there body |
| stranger tingling sensation all over my skin. At some | | | | temperature and with there digestion. They will use |
| point I was sure this place was not for me and I | | | | the Florescent looking light for the sun rays. There |
| could not understand why people were interested in | | | | are many types of heating elements you can use, a |
| Reptiles, I knew at that moment this was not the | | | | Hooded Lamp, Heating Rock, Ceramic Heat Emitter, |
| pet for me. Well, what do you know I walked around | | | | Heating Pad, etc. what's important is that you provide |
| towards the front of the pet shop and I see a tank | | | | them with a source of heat. Along with that if you |
| full of tiny little lizards and I thought how cute! | | | | select sand, which is the way I went, the sand has |
| I asked the pet shop attendant about the little lizards | | | | calcium which is a supplement they need. In my |
| and he told me "These are Bearded Dragons" and I | | | | opinion since Bearded Dragons are from the |
| thought what a name, kind of scary. The attendant | | | | Australian Desert I felt that sand would be closer to |
| asked me if I wanted to hold one and I thought I | | | | there natural habitat but you can use wood chips, |
| was going to die, naturally I declined. I left the pet | | | | newspapers, etc. And finally Food, what I have found |
| shop feeling a little better I thought huh, those little | | | | to be best food for my Bearded Dragon has been a |
| Bearded Dragons are extremely cute, I wonder if | | | | combination of Crickets, Super worms, Wax (Only as |
| they bite. | | | | a Treat) Worms, Romaine Lettuce and Shredded |
| I kept visiting the Reptile Store and staring at the | | | | Carrots. |
| tank with tiny Bearded Dragons, I kept thinking about | | | | She bathes once a week which helps her with her |
| it and one day I decided I'm going to pet one. I | | | | shedding and it also assists her with her digestion. |
| asked the attendant who now knew me by first | | | | My Ophelia (By the way a reference to |
| name and had granted me visitation rights if I could | | | | Shakespeare's Hamlet) is now 2 ½ years old |
| hold one and he almost fainted. I wish you could | | | | and when ever I walk into the Reptile Pet Shop |
| have seen his face; he was so confused, I had | | | | people are amazed with her. She has an orange color |
| crossed over to the other side. He reached in and | | | | to her, she's big and chunky and very alert. |
| selected what seemed like the smallest Bearded | | | | So if you are like me and decide to cross over to |
| Dragon in the tank and laid it on the palm of my | | | | the other side, I highly recommend the gentleness of |
| hand. I thought I was going to die when I felt the | | | | a beautiful Bearded Dragon! |