Russian Tortoise... or Lawson's Dragon?

[Autumnglory]

I'm a newbie, looking for advice...

I've got a pair of Lawson's Dragons. They came to me in November, and have pretty much chosen to sleep ever since. Wish I'd heard about brumation before getting them! At any rate... I'm starting to wonder if I've made a good choice in my first herp pet.

A bit about Lawson's Dragons. They are pretty much identical in color to a regular Bearded Dragon (pogona vitticeps) - only they max out between 10" - 12", making them MUCH handier to house in small spaces. They also seem to prefer living with at least one companion. I've been told that personalitywise, they are just like their larger cousins... but carewise, they are almost entirely insectivorious. I am still getting the "hang" of care... when to feed, how much to feed, etc. As the boys are just waking up, I'm also just getting to know them.

Due to some family issues, I'm starting to wonder about whether I'd have been better off with a Russian Tortoise. I'm weighing the benefits of a vegetarian pet vs. the need to keep the dragons in crickets and superworms, since breeding the little critters (bugs, not dragons) is NOT going to happen any time soon. I simply do not need one more tankful of mouths to feed (I've also got rats, gerbils, cats, and dogs... and a toddler!)

Also... I could feasibly set up an outdoor paddock for a Russian during the warmer months... put the critter out in the morning, take it in at dusk. Seems fairly simple to set up, though of course I'd want to know if folks would want me to sink some wire underground to prevent digging, if the RT wasn't outside 24/4. The dragons would need an outdoor gazebo, screened on all sides. (Our lawns are prime for tortoises, by the by... no fertilizer or weedkiller at all, and when we bought the place, I think the former owners counted dandelions as the "mature plantings" they mentioned. One i dug up last summer had - no joke - a taproot as thick around as my thumb, about three feet long before it finally broke... the leaves were all about 12" long, with seven or eight flower heads!)

I know herps are not "easy" pets because of the amount there is to simply know about them. I'm just wondering... comparitively speaking... is a Russian Tortoise easier than a dragon, carewise? Hoping someone out there - or multiple someones - has both. A fellow on Craigslist has offered me a 7 year old RT in trade for one of my dragons, and will pay for the other if I want to part with both... so I'm trying to figure out my plan.

~Chris in CT

 

[jlyoncc1]

Chris, I am the former owner of 41 bearded dragons, frilled dragons and rankins. I have to say that the whole cricket thing got a bit to much to handle (but of course I had alot to feed). I now have 5 Russian torts along with some others and truly enjoy it and do not see it as a chore. Unfortunately, sometimes we don't know what we really like until we try. So, if you are not truly enjoying the dragons then I say go for it. I really, really love my torts and no longer have dragons! Russians are a great beginner tort!

 

[Itort]

I too have gone the insect eating and even carnivorous lizard route and have found I'm much happier (as is my wallet) with in my case omnivore torts and lizards (blue tongue skinks). I think you would be happy with russians. I assume that have some of the hardware for keeping torts already, so you have one up on other new tort keepers (though I have to put in a good word for my favorite redfoots).

 

[Cam]

We have both...kind of.
We have a 5 year old Lawson and a 7 year old Greek Tortoise (similair in care to the Russion).


We got the Lawson 3 years ago and the tortoise 4 months ago.We have 3 boys 11 years old and under.

Lawson:
Personally I like the brumation...
This year Ickthy was asleep from October 30th - Feb 18th. While worrisome and perhaps boring, he hibernated through the height of school work and holidays making it very simple to 'care' for him.
He is a PICKY eater...wax worms, phoenix and mealworms only for him (which are far less expensive ordered than bought in the petstore). Which is fine by me the crickets stink and escape all over the house anyway.
He eats only 3 times a week and poos about 2-3 times a week...no smell to speak of...

Tortoise:
Eats 2 times/day....pees and poos parallel to his eating... and you KNOW when he poos!


All that said...I adore them equally.
Everyone is different...a pet that is not enjoyed is a chore that becomes despised...
Give yourself a bit of time (week-month-year) and go from there.

I think most folks know what is going to be in their and their pets best interest.
Remember those Lawson's will be with you for up to 15 years and the tortoise for up to 50 years...


A side note...our corn snakes are easy (IMO).
Eat once a week. Poo once a week (Yes it stinks). Easy to hold. Eat frozen food...just a thought



Another note...In the US Lawsons are nearly impossible to find.We paid $130 for our 2 year old guy that was a rescue!
Keep that in mind when making your trades.

 

[Jacqui]

What are you really looking for in this pet?

How much room do you have to keep the Russian? Do you live where he will have to be inside at least part of the year? Do you want to hibernate one? Are you ready to build that outdoor pen?

Yes you have weeds now in your yard, but will you all year round? Can you buy the veggies food local when you don't have your own?

How much handling/interaction do you want to have?

I have several types of reptiles and they each fill a certain niche. I can't say which is the better choice for you only you can decide. Just don't rush into anything. Take your time. Research and really think about your wants and needs...and that of each animal.

P.S. Just a side note, I enjoy watching the animals that eat bugs much more than the vegetarians.

 

[cvalda]

Russians shouldn't eat twice a day unless they're hatchlings, actually. My adult Russians eat every other day during the winter, as they're fat and lazy. Of course they could be hibernating (maybe next year)...

 

[Autumnglory]

Okay... this helps me get my thoughts together.

What are you really looking for in this pet?

I am looking for a pet who won't freak out if it doesn't get daily handling and attention, but will still accept and enjoy it; I plan to keep either the dragons or the tortoise in my classroom during the school year, except for long weekends and vacations. My rats, when they were permitted, came and went with me EVERY weekend.

How much room do you have to keep the Russian? Do you live where he will have to be inside at least part of the year? Do you want to hibernate one? Are you ready to build that outdoor pen?

In order... yes, Connecticut; not particularly, but I will if it's best for him or her; yes, since it doesn't seem too difficult to do.

Yes you have weeds now in your yard, but will you all year round? Can you buy the veggies food local when you don't have your own?

Yes, I can... plenty of good food from farmer's markets during the growing season, and good grocery stores in the off.

How much handling/interaction do you want to have?

Some. The students - 6th graders - would like to hold and interact with the pet on a limited basis; I'd like a pet who responds to me and recognizes me, who likes being petted gently and shows it, but I really don't have the time for another high-intensity mammal-type personality (like my home pets - gerbils, rats, cats, dogs).

P.S. Just a side note, I enjoy watching the animals that eat bugs much more than the vegetarians.

I have to say, that's a fun part, too. One of my dragons is awake right now, and if I just let him be and didn't handle him at all, he'd be perfectly fun to watch - but I'm going to need to hand-tame him, if for no other reason than I may NEED to handle him for veterinary reasons, and he does NOT want to be hand-tamed - so I've no idea how long this is going to take. Lots of puffing, hissing, escaping... it makes me feel guilty just touching him!

Let alone trying to explain to the kids that the next door teacher, who has a redfoot that he lets crawl all over the room, can hold HIS pet all he wants, and I may have to tell my students that no, it's too stressful for the dragons... Sigh.

Thinking. Taking my time, and thinking.