Abandoned Bearded Dragon Gets Mansion Vivarium (Giant Bioactive Build)
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- Опубліковано 18 сер 2023
- About a month ago, I unexpectedly adopted a bearded dragon. It wasn't an animal I planned for, but I'm glad it happened the way it did. He has quickly become part of the family and is a great addition to animals.
He's one of the biggest dragons I've seen, but he was in a small enclosure. I knew I had to go big for him, so I painstakingly built him a custom 310 gallon bioactive ecosystem. I will have to spot clean, but otherwise it should mostly maintain itself.
Something I didn't discuss in the video is that I never got to speak with the family that had him previously. Also, to my knowledge, the employee that brought him to me doesn't know who I am. I'm just in the store often getting food for the animals. I guess she thought I was the right person to ask.
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As I said, I never really wanted a bearded dragon of my own. That said, I knew if I ever ended up with one, it would be something like this. I’m so happy to have this done, finally! Not only to share with you but especially for Big Tony. I love being able to provide better living conditions for animals that otherwise wouldn’t live this well. I’m sure I’ll go bigger down the road, but for now, Tone finally got the mansion he deserves! Let me know what you think, and have a great weekend SerpaSquad!
It's a really great setup for a great guy; I love how easy going he is, napping on the couch and perching on your shirt, no angst, no problem. You're both lucky to have 'found' each other!
Next time something goes wrong with a setup, Big Tony will look at you and say “Alright, but you gotta get over it”
isn t one allone kinda sad
So beautifully done. He seems so happy in this new setup and the digging is amazing! I always wish I could see more of the animals enjoying their new enclosures haha.
I'm curious if the store employee recognized who you were, or if they were just going around asking random customers if they happened to want a bearded dragon.
As an Australian, thank you for your rant. To see our native animals living in distress really upsets me.
I have the same reaction when I see our animals, particularly in America, being treated like toys. They are amazing creatures, but never seem to be cared for correctly. 😢
As an American I can confirm, a good portion of us are awful with animals. But thankfully people like this awesome lad are helping to spread education on how to give these adorable critters the lives they deserve :)@@jordannahgalea9506
@@jordannahgalea9506 America has this really weird culture of seeing animals as toys. It's really gross.
I'd give anything to be able to live in Australia however I just don't know that it's in the cards however if it is! It wud be a dream come true
@@reptiletailz108 Our rental prices are insane right now ;D Best wait a while TBH.
What a lucky lizard! From a crappy home to you, he really lucked out on his owner!
Frfr!
He sure did jackpot
Indeed he did.
I'm gonna make my a machine soon.
I wish I could get my beardie a vivarium exactly like this. But I simply don't have the time or know how to build one.
Great job! My daughter got my grandson one for his 8th birthday. It didn't take but a week before he decided she wasn't what he wanted I reluctantly took responsibility for her,"Mango". I thought," Great,just what I needed, a cold blooded reptile!" BUT, from the very first we bonded. We are together as much as is healthy. She actually snuggles as I play video games and we sit outside and read. She is more a small dog than reptile. I was amazed at how much personality she has. I'm no bleeding heart, I'm a 71yrs old ex construction worker that fell for a Bearded Dragon. I researched and learned all I could and she seems a very healthy and happy dragon. Perfect pet for me. At 71 I'm rather active for my age and she is just the ideal companion, don't tell my wife!
71 wow. What games do you play
thats why bearded dragons are so popular i believe 😁🫶
Will you call ours our scaly dog LOL
@@wildboystv3013tennis for two. That's what all 71 year olds like.
Watching the vid gave me a good feeling, reading your story was even better. Enjoy the gaming, the dragon and occasionally the wife ;-)
Your focus on recreating the native environments of your animals is unmatched. The attention to detail and focus on the wellbeing of your animals is inspiring!
its a double edged sword. imo this is the only way to ethically own one of these animals, to rescue or rehome one. But the fact he profits off of it makes it iffy. He is self aware of that though it seems.
how could the things that people say made the universe get here is there was nothing God made it all so many prophecies are being filled from revelations telling us that Jesus is coming back they are happing right now in the world he loves and cares😊😊🎉❤🎉❤🎉
@@doggodoggo3000 how could the things that people say made the universe get here is there was nothing God made it all so many prophecies are being filled from revelations telling us that Jesus is coming back they are happing right now in the world he loves and cares🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Revelations is basically a fake book of the bible. Its more or less a critique of the roman empire.
this comment is weird and filled with errors? are you stupid or a bot? @@sophia23346
@@doggodoggo3000how is him making profit iffy? He does what he likes he helps the animals AND he as a bonus makes money off of his hobby isn’t that everyone’s dream? Money he’s making off of the videos also allows him to better care for the animals there’s not really a downside I can see
Literally teared up when he was digging. We love to see natural behaviours 😭😭😭❤️ best beardie set up I've ever seen. Big Tony is living his best life now!!! Makes my soul happy. Thanks so much for sharing!!
Yeah same here, got very emotional. Animals deserves love, attention and a proper home and boy have tony gotten a good home.
how could the things that people say made the universe get here is there was nothing God made it all so many prophecies are being filled from revelations telling us that Jesus is coming back they are happing right now in the world he loves and cares😊😊😊
@@RMJ1984 how could the things that people say made the universe get here is there was nothing God made it all so many prophecies are being filled from revelations telling us that Jesus is coming back they are happing right now in the world he loves and cares😊😊
Just "WOW"!!!
Yep I cried my freaking eyes out lol, wish everyone was this nice to animals and each other
That's the best bearded dragon enclosure I've seen, Big Tony really landed on his feet with you. So cute to watch him exploring with his little dirt hat.
Everything about this enclosure is amazing. The design being akin to his natural habitat, being mindful of the UV level for the elevated wooden piece, the substrate depth and texture allowing for digging, ahh. So lovely. Every captive animal deserves to live like this. Seeing him check out his new home with wonder, made me tear up. What a sweet boy, Big Tony ❤ thank you for doing so much for him
Well said, and AMEN! 🙏
I wish I could get my beardie a vivarium exactly like this. But I simply don't have the time or know how to build one.
yeah, if only everyone had the funds for an enclosure this good
Not only did you build an awesome enclosure but the touching story behind it all was the cherry on top. Thanks for sharing.
I enjoy so so much that the local pet store knows Tanner well enough to just gift him live animals on the spot
I had a beardie for 15 years, as we both got older I kept trying to improve his setup and thanks to you and others gave him a few years in something that pales in comparison to what you have made. thank you for continuing to inspire others to do the most for their pets.
It really warms my heart to see how happy he was the second you introduced him to the new home! And makes me feel bad for the reptiles I've had in the past. Thank you for shining a light on the subject. If there is another reptile in my future, his habitat and care will receive EVERYTHING they truely need. And thank you for being amazing!
This guy hit the jackpot when you took him home. But what I’m really hoping, and I’m sure you are too, is that you’ve inspired lots of reptile keepers to do a little better for their pets. I love the idea that this video isn’t just about Tony getting better care and a happier life, but lots of animals getting a little upgrade. I know if I am ever able the get a reptile you have inspired me to make them a palace.
Or just stop keeping reptiles and let them live the role in the nature they have to begin with.
I was definitely inspired by this channel and gave my ball Python a huge enclosure upgrade as a result, and she seems much happier. Hopefully, even more are in the same boat
I have to give the prior owners credit that he looks as healthy as he does in the set up they had him in. And that they realized they couldn’t take care of him before he became truly neglected and unwell.
I’m glad you found each other and his life will now be what it was meant to be!!
(Also, now feel bad about my beardies’ bland set up… But, it gives me something to work towards!!)
This is a good point. Surrendering a healthy animal you can't care for is better for everyone involved than someone feeling guiltier and guiltier as their neglected pet declines before finally admitting the situation.
he wasnt healthy though
*relatively* healthy.
There are some seriously terrible rescue stories. And this one, in the sad set up, is a good weight (at least not UNDERWEIGHT), minimal MBD… all in all… they realized before things became severe. And now he’s going to spoiled and loved! Which is awesome!
I agree. The previous owners admitted they were inept and made the responsible choice. Congrats to both owners and the lizard!
@@Stien58_for the conditions he was healthy. I don't know how many rescues you've seen but often they're in far worse condition, and not as friendly due to lack of interaction. And unfortunately those usually come from homes where the owners don't have the brains to realise or admit that they are neglecting their pet. These people at least knew that. And to be honest his enclosure was def not the best but could have been worse. He's clearly been fed as he's not anorexic. But probably not an appropriate varied diet. Thankfully they obviously cared enough to surrender him ❤
My dad got a beardie from someone, she was missing a lot of her toes. We renamed her Shelia because they come from Australia! Her favorite thing was laying on my dads stomach since it was nice and warm. Sheila always got so excited when we came into the room too. They have such huge personalities and are amazing friends
Nice 1⚘️🤙
Nothing makes me happier than seeing animals properly cared for.
Educating people on pet responsibility and the importance of their pets unique habitat needs is huge. You are helping a lot of people understand their own pets' needs, therefor, making better lives for many. Cool, Tanner. ❤🦎❤ Mad respect.
As I’m only 16, and with limited resources living with my parents still, my dream is to do exactly what you are Tanner! I’m upgrading my beloved crested gecko’s enclosure right now, and helping my friend do the same. None of this would have happened without you! And although I wish I could do more, I can’t quite yet. Thank you for allowing me to live my dreams by watching you fulfill yours! ❤❤ Congratulations to Big Tony!
You should give making process videos a try some time and see if you like it!
I also started at 16 I had 3 geckos , two leopard and one crested ( each had there own bioactive setup) I had to move pretty far and couldn’t take them with me ( from USA to Europe ) and ended up giving them to a reptile rescue, miss them a lot, anyway sorry for the story but keep going, you’re always getting better with each day ❤️
The actual materials aren't expensive at all. You just need the lumber cost, carpentry skill, and the space for an enclosure this huge. You can also cheat it by looking for old rectangular floor-standing aquariums, selling the glass aquarium tank, keeping the pedestal, and then simply building a new wooden frame top enclosure part for it all.
You sir are a hero. Helping and caring for animals in need shows a great character.
Look at his precious little face, so cute.🐉💚 What an amazing job you did on his new habitat!
The enclosure is beautiful and you’re giving Tony such a good home 💓 my favorite is the upgrade in his enclosure - the size, and that you tried to make the space close to the animals natural environment with the substrate and plants - the footage of him exploring is priceless 💞💞💞💞
Big Tony may have never encountered real plants before this has to be a wonderful surprise for him!
Beautiful environment you made for Big Tony. My brother passed away unexpected. Left behind were his pets, we had no idea how to appropriately take care of his parrot or the Bearded Dragon or what was the correct food. Nobody we knew wanted them, so we put out an ad under the pets section for the sale of these pets. After sorting thru the people, we found a couple of separate homes, with people who actually knew how to care for them. These people were willing to pay, but we said no, just glad to see them go to good homes.
Wow.. ok that’s.. weird. Why didn’t you just do some research and keep them?
@@Iamaguienapig Not everyone want's more responsibility in their lives. I would say they did the right thing.
@@IamaguienapigNo one wants to be burdened by animals they don't want or have no interest in keeping. Better they go to people who will actively care for them appropriately.
@@oscarlindvall1053 Oh yeah I get that.. but.. the animals belonged to her late brother? Surely you would want to keep something he loved so dearly? Seems hella weird to me tbh!
@@BearSwipes Sorry but if my brother died I would take in his 3 dogs with zero hesitation!
Aww it just warms my heart to see Big Tony so happy and loved. I think I'll get a beardie one day and will come back to this video for inspiration on building the enclosure.
What a character! Anthropomorphizing be damned, he's definitely having a blast exploring his new home and hanging out with you. Happy squints while napping are a constant across all species.
I'm in a similar situation. I got asked to babysit a beardy and they had it in a plastic storage tote. No hides it could fit in. No timers on the lights so it was on for days and off for days. I told them I would keep it and put it in a tank with a 3D background that has shelves and a cave. I learned how to make that by watching your videos. I hooked everything up to timers so she has stability. I brought her to the vet for a checkup and also purchased medication for her heart condition. She's doing a lot better now that she doesn't scratch plastic walls all day.
Vet care for neglected Beardies is key to rehabilitating them
Thank you for taking her from an awful situation and making her life so much better
I’m so happy you and Big Tony found each other ❤ thank you for taking him in and giving him a great life!
What a beautiful enclosure. Big Tony is blessed to have found an awesome new home with an amazing caregiver. He's living his best life now.
This brought a tear to my eye, one of my favorite parts of your channel is how obvious it is that you care deeply for your animals. I'm glad the universe brought you and Big Tony together!
I've always wanted a bearded dragon, but I know I'm not in a place in my life where I could responsibly have one. It's such a pleasure to see a wonderful fellow like this get a good life, and to really see what responsibility and care looks like for one of these guys. Big Tony is a lucky dude!
Love your videos, been watching for such a long time. There are so many youtubers making videos on animal keeping who just use animals for videos and do the bare minimum to care for them. It's so great to see how much you actually care and go far above and beyond for your animals.
This almost brought tears to my eyes, what a wonderful upgrade for big tony. if only every reptile keeper could do this!
Rescues in need seem to find their way to those whom keep an open heart. Glad to see Big Tony was taken in by someone willing to provide not just the bare necessities, but one whom goes well above and beyond their best in caring for their fellow creatures.
Aaaww, this story is so wholesome and heartwarming. I love the terrarium and Tony seems like such a fun character. He was lucky to find you and you were lucky to find him.
This pond is absolutely beautiful. I am happy that you are sticking it with your goldfish. They are also my favorite.
Wow!! Thank you for helping Big Tony...and such a great home for him.
Glad to see this beardy getting some love. They are my favorite reptiles, my parents used to call our beaded dragon our scaly cat. They were not reptile people at all but came to love him. He would reach up and jump into your arms and love to just hanging out with people for hours on end.
That's so cute! As I read it I imagined this smiling dragon jumping up for cuddles ❤ haha scaly cat 😂
You did an incredible job. It's heartwarming to think of what a quality of life boost that is for Big Tony. I like to think rescues are the best pets you can have, and this is a great example of why.
The lizard scored. His old family dumping him turned out to be the biggest blessing.
Wow, what a lucky boy! He looks so happy in his new home. Thank you for spreading awareness of proper research as well. It's so important that we make informed decisions before deciding to take an animal into our lives.
Big Tony really is a huge guy, wow! He'll do amazingly under your care. I was pleasantly surprised that you took his ability to burrow into consideration - his enclosure looks amazing and just perfect for a dragon. Hope to see an update on him and the enclosure in the future!
Poor Tony…it’s very upsetting so many people see living beings as disposable. He’s a gorgeous boy and living in a mansion. And he’s truly loved,
Don't feel too bad he just hit the jackpot
@@LivingNed Yes he did but a]neglect and abuse is widespread.
Thank you Tanner, you just put a huge smile on my face :)
The exploration part was so wholesome, I'm really happy for Big Tony
thank you for letting tony come home with you!
This is so lovely!! Big Tony is awesome. How serendipitous that he found you. Also I laughed at the little dragon burrito of him hanging out on the couch 😍
We all knew you were taking him home, but I swear I cried tears of joy when you said you couldn't resist his little face staring back at you. 🤗
Big Tony is going to live out his days in complete comfort. He really loves his cave and digging in the substrate. I'm so glad you two found each other, and I love how dedicated you are to making sure each one of your animals has the exact habitat required for their species. Give Tony a smooch on his adorable horned head for me, please.
at 11:19 you can see the smile on Big Tone's face. the way in which you got him in the first place is honestly so fitting, randomly walking into the pet store at the exact time he was being dropped off, you can't tell me that's a coincidence. That was some divine intervention in both you and Big Tony's lives, awesome video, even more awesome dedication to giving your animals good lives!
The luckiest dragon in the world! I thought I had made my dragon a really nice enclosure and then you had to go and do this! I am really going to have to step up my game. Looks like Delilah will be getting a home makeover. Thank you for always inspiring all of us to create the best environments possibly for the creatures we are fortunate enough to care for.
During my childhood, I had a sister who unfortunately fell ill. It was a challenging period for our family, but amidst the difficulties, my pet lizard Brutus played a remarkable role in bringing happiness to my sister's life. I vividly recall the joy that would light up her face whenever I brought Brutus into her room. Their connection was truly special, and witnessing the bond they shared was incredibly heartwarming. In those moments, it felt like Brutus had a healing power, providing comfort and solace to my sister during her illness. Looking back, I am immensely grateful for the positive impact Brutus had on our family during that trying time.
is she doing ok now?
That was an amazing build. Great appreciation for you knowing the actual needs of the animal. He seems happy...😊
Tony knew the right human to chose. Now he's got a fantastic new place to live (in and out of his enclosure) and somebody who loves and knows how to care for him. Congratulations to both of you.
It makes me so happy to see someone make such an incredible home for a beardy! They're great animals with so much personality and spirit. The prickly pear especially really ties everything together, potentially ironically since they're invasive in Australia. I particularly love that you gave him digging space and all those basking spots seem perfectly set up for his wellbeing and to provide a perfect framing of him for any human looking
That scape is absolutely stunning, Tanner. I had a very similar vision for my ackie enclosure, but as usual, your execution blows mine out of the water. Your stacked slate in particular looks fantastic!
I always appreciate your advocacy for responsible, ethical animal keeping. People who view pets as expendable, and the companies that mislead new keepers into poor standards of care to make a profit, are infuriating.
Amen🙏...beautifully said💞!
People like you warm my heart! Those who don't have any idea of how to care for an animal should not attempt it without getting educated. You are wonderful and Big Tony looks extremely happy!
At least his owners recognized that they couldn’t take care of him and re-homed him. I had to do that with my cat that I loved. But I knew if he stayed with me he would be run over by a car. No matter how careful we were he would bolt outside. I found him a family that was a match made in heaven. All he ever wanted was a kitty porch and his new family had everything he could have dreamed of. Shortly after I bought a small parrot and she is a better match for me and we been together for 10 years now ❤
Big Tony certainly found the person he needed - talk about a case of right place, right time. It is so rewarding to be able to learn from animals (great and small) when we allow them to live in circumstances that cater to their needs and replicate their natural environments as best we possibly can. The dirt on his nose 🥺 I've been around the barnyard for decades but your channel has really opened my eyes to the charms and personalities of reptiles. Thank you for the continued education.
A huge thank you from Big Tony, a remarkable story. Thank you so much for looking after him, as well as you do with all your other animals. He's gorgeous, wish him a happy life with you 🙂
Im so happy Big Tony is with you. Beautiful home you created for him. Nice dragon family. ❤
That's the most content bearded dragon I've ever seen. He's so lucky to have someone as caring as you are. Absolutely wonderful story!
That’s a cool enclosure. Big Tony definitely found a great new home.
Love Big Tony and hope to see a lot of him in the future. Thanks for showing the world how to properly care for the pets. 🎉
That is the most magnificent enclosure I have ever seen! Big Tony is fortunate to have you in his life. I wish you both very long lives. 🥰
Beardies are such wonderful characters. Kudos for what you have done for him. 😊
Thank you for making and sharing this video. It brought tears to my eyes, as I used to own a bearded dragon, and was one of those pet owners who wasn't able to provide the home that he needed. He died because I was a bad owner, and I will not own a reptile again until I have the space and means to create the best habitat for it. The videos you create, particularly the ones involving your animals, help to show myself and others how to provide homes that our animals can not just survive in, but thrive. Again, thank you. From the depths of my heart.
At least the previous owners didn't just 'dump' him in the wild!
That cage set up is awesome and i'm sure big Tony is going to enjoy it.
No idea why this came up in my recommendations, but I'm so glad, it reminded me there are still truly good people in the world.
You should film live videos of your animal enclosures! I could watch them roam around their enclosures for hours 😍
Im so happy for you and your new family member. This was meant to be!
They are such smart and personable lizards. You did a fantastic job with his home. What a great demonstration of how they will use the space if you provide it!
Fabulous. It is wonderful to see someone taking such care of their animals.
I'm so glad that Big Tony is now living his best life.
That is an absolutely amazing habitat for him! I am so glad you had it in your heart to give Tony a good home!
Wow, what a glow up for Big Tony! He’s so cute and personable, I was tearing up when he started digging and making himself at home
This is so sweet, incredible build. I'm so happy for Big Tony finally getting a good place for himself
So happy for Big Tony. What a fabulous home for him to enjoy his life. It’s a joy to see such care and dedication to our beautiful unique animals we share the planet on. 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗
Amazing work! He's really lucky he found you in the pet store that day!
Thank you for who you are and giving rescued animals a good life! I hope this gets more popular!
Thank you for this! I run a 501c3 rescue in Central Virginia and bearded dragons are our #1 surrendered animals, most are not in the best shape when they come in, and many of them are surrendered to us after only having them for 6 months to 2 years. It's very sad. We can't always take all of them due to funding and space, but we try to help as many as we can.
I'm happy Big Tony is happy! He finally has what he wanted, a beautiful home of his own and someone to share in his new adventures with. Someone who will love him and care for him properly.
Man that enclosure is beautiful Tanner! It really looks perfect and he looks so comfortable roaming around so naturally. Big T hit the lottery, well done my friend! 👍
My god, your work is astounding!
And your respect for the animals so heart warming.
Wonderful! I'm getting a little abandoned beardie soon myself, so this is great inspiration.
Well, this is wholesome. Tony deserves that home. You deserve a pat on the back, sir.
Nice work. I have been researching leopard geckos and your habitat design would look great, just needing a wet hide. Looks great!
Se lo ve 🦎 cómodo y contento en su nueva casa. Hábitat muy bien condicionado lo aceptó y es feliz 👍🤗
This is one of the best vivaria you’ve ever done!
Wow such an amazing animal and now even a very beautiful Vivarium. Was last month in Zambia have a piece of land their. Planted some mango trees, then suddenly my wife spotted a beautiful small chameleon. It felt like he looked at me as well, felt tempted to take him home. Then realized he's better of in his natural habitat, so when I'm lucky I find him in one of our Mango trees... over the period I was their spotted him couple of times...
Hats off to you my friend, you've outdid yourself as always. So glad to see you make a difference in another animals life. Animals can communicate with us in ways we just can't fully explain. The connection was definitely there immediately, I'm sure!
your editing has gotten so freaking good! also thanks for educating people on proper pet care, so important!!!!!
What a fantastic job you did building his new home ..and taking care of Big Tony..👍👍👍🤟
This is one of the BEST bearded dragon enclosures I have ever seen. 🎉🎉🎉
Big Tony is so lucky to have you as his new owner. You clearly care so much for your animals and I stumbled across the video and you’ve gained a subscriber. You quite clearly saved his life and on behalf of big Tony, thank you!
I loved your mini rant! I had pet mice and pet rats collectively for a little over 5 years (our mice lived for about 2 years and our rats lived for about 3) and it frustrates me to no end how small enclosures would be advertised as enough space, or how pet stores will encourage people to only get one rodent when theyre social animals - and god forbid they stop selling pine bedding because pine is toxic to most rodents!
Thank you for all you do and feel free to voice these things in your videos, it's cathartic
I’m not a reptile person but I can tell you love those animals. It touches my heart
Thank you for giving Big Tony a beautiful home!
Big Tony won the human lottery 🎉🎉Awesome job on his new home.
Wow! I can't describe how much joy this video gave me, as Big Tony deserved so much more and you provided the perfect home for him! It makes me happy to know you two have each other, hopefully for many years. Beautiful work!
I really appreciate how observant bearded dragons.
Thank you so much for making an amazing environment for Big Tony! It is really heartwarming to see someone take so much care with their reptiles home and happiness! Thinking back to my last dragons Sassy and Drag, both who were rescues, they would have adored this! Keep up the great work❤❤❤❤
Thank you for saving such a precious goober!!!
This was one of the most heart warming and meaningful eco system videos I have ever seen! Thank you for saving Tony and giving him such a lovely life! Thank you for sharing!