We realize that educating our children is the best way to preserve the ability to own reptiles. In to many cities accross the country, reptiles are being banned. It is getting harder to own these wonderful creatures because of shear ignorance and baseless fears. By getting into the classrooms and letting children see these magnificent creatures close up, they learn not to fear them, they learn the truth. If you are a teacher in Dade County, Florida and would like us to come to you, call us to discuss it, IT'S FREE. It can also be aranged for your class to come to our facility for a field trip. We also occationally donate animals to schools for the classrom. Contact us for more info.
Click here for some pictures of our school outings.
Click here for some pictures of our school outings.
Beardie Dragon also supports the
Miami Museum of Science and we participate in Lizard Day and Snake Day annually.
Miami Museum of Science and we participate in Lizard Day and Snake Day annually.
Come see us at Lizard Day at the Miami Museum of Science August 7th 2005
Posted on Mon, Jul. 12, 2004
MIAMI MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & PLANETARIUM
Visitors to the Miami Museum of Science on Sunday got an up-close look at all manner of slinking lizards
BY REBECCA DELLAGLORIA rdellagloria@herald.com
With his jowls protruding and forked tongue darting in and out of his mouth, Fred, a four-foot long, 25-pound red tegu, doled out kisses to the delight -- and, in some cases, horror -- of a steady procession of young girls.
And if any of them had been female lizards rather than humans, the kissing could have led to, well, a lot more.
' 'If you were a girl tegu and you saw these big jowls, you would go right after him,'' Fred's owner, Bennett Greenberg, explained to an inquisitive admirer. ``The girls love it.''
Enticing characteristics of male tegus were just one of the fun lizard facts Greenberg dished out Sunday at the sixth annual Lizard Day at the Miami Museum of Science & Planetarium. Another involved somewhat more disturbing aspects of the South American creatures' mating habits: When a male is ready to mate, he runs after the female and grabs her by the back of the neck.
''If you would see tegus breed, you would be appalled,'' Greenberg said as his demure 3-year-old pet rested on his chest. ``The lizard world is a rough world if you're a female.''
Fortunately for female lizards everywhere, their kind was in short supply. The display was, instead, overrun by males like Fred -- who, for the first time, won the award for being the largest lizard in attendance. Previously, the honor had repeatedly gone to Luther, a 4-year-old Water Monitor who recently passed on.
''He will be sadly missed,'' Greenberg said of the longtime crowd favorite.
Awards were also handed out in three other categories, including best of show, which went to a more petite lizard: a brightly hued chameleon named Lazaro.
Though the main draw was clearly the animals themselves, reptile lovers like Lauren Jeschonek took the opportunity to network with fellow owners -- educating themselves and sharing their knowledge.
''You get people who love their animals to share their expertise,'' she said.
Jeschonek came down from Lake Worth to show off Wilson, a 5-year-old black-and-white tegu from Argentina who came in third in the best of show category.
With beaded scales resembling the fabric of a designer handbag, Wilson is lucky to be in this country -- in his homeland, he would be rounded up, skinned and made into a purse. Here, Wilson is free to lounge, snacking on Rice Krispies Treats with a side of cricket.
Fred, on the other hand, is strictly forbidden to nosh on junk food. He eats mostly fruit and rats, with scrambled eggs once a week.
''Animals give so much love and affection. If we're gonna keep them, we need to take care of them,'' said Greenberg, who houses more than 200 reptiles at his Kendall estate. As he cradled the four-foot-long creature, he mused: ``Fred's living large.''