Hello All!

[Richard D.]

How is Everybody doing! My name is Richard, and I live in South-Eastern Virginia!

I've owned my Chip for about a month now, but just got home from a business trip, so i can now start to build the foundation of our relationship. (My wife took care of "her" until i got home)

I had actually looked to join the community for some impaction help, but after I had already given her several baths, joined the community and set an appointment with the vet.... the stinker went, lol.

Soooo, here I am, thought i'd make a formal go at it! This is my first beardie, so gentle! I bruise easy (not really)

Ill post pictures here in a little bit once my human children go down for nap.

Thanks in Advance
And i am more than open for conversation!

 

[diegothediggy]

Hi Richard and welcome to the forum. Its full of lovely helpful ppl who r polite and luv to hear bout ur beardie. My names Penny im from the UK. I have 2 beardie Diego 9 month and Boris 10 months. They r such great pets and they love love love a snuggle. Nice to meet u cnt wait 2 c sum pics

 

[Richard D.]

Nice to Mett you Penny! I have no idea how old my Chip is, but the vet should help clear up a lot for me.

Let me start off on the defensive here, lol. i know the cage is too small, but she spends a lot of time outside of it. And I know i shouldn't use the sand, but the breeder she had come from used it, so i was trying to keep her comfortable. Besides, its all temporary until i can gather the stuff for a custom vivarium.

Chip's not terribly sociable yet, and when i let her down on the desk, she takes off. But we have made leaps and bounds in just today as far as her staying calm while im in the cage. My wife hadn't done a lot as far as socializing her, so I've been at square one this week, lol.

 

[diegothediggy]

She dnt look very old Diego was 5 months wen i got him n he was a lot bigger than her so she quite young. As for the same i wudnt worry 2 much at the min just feed her outside the viv in a small box of sum sort iust so u know she.not eatin the sand with her.bugs u shud have.her basking temp around 100-110 with her bein so small. As for the bonding it dnt take long. Keep her in the room her vivs in when u get her out for a while iust till she settles. They r quite skitsish wen they get to a new home they get moving sickness and it can take a few weeks to pass. Let her yave a lick of u wen u feeding or picking her up so she can get use to ur smell also i kbow this may sound wierd but mine like skin on scale. So try takin ur top off n sitting her on ur chest. I think its the body heat tyey like im not sure but skin on skin always settles mine. They like a stroke on the nose n beard but make sure u go with the grain. Once she relises u not there to hurt her she will love you. Gentle constant talkin to them also calms them dwn. Try getting her out just b4 lights out when she sleepy makin sure u give her enough time to warm up b4 lights out. Sorry i threw a lot of info at u but i just wanna help it dnt take long beardies r really smart

 

[Richard D.]

That IS a lot of info! thanks so much!

I figured she was younger than what the store told me, thats why i'm waiting for the vet tomorrow. they may also be able to tell me the gender! i'm so excited, lol

Shes been here for about a month know, like i said, but i was just able to start socializing her this week.

But being so young, then, she should be mostly bugs right now anyway right? i was starting to worry, and so was my wife, that she wasn't eating veggies and greens. They ARE offered every day, though.

 

[Elemental Dragon Lord]

That is normal. Young dragons like live food. Welcome to the forums

 

[diegothediggy]

Sounds like u r doin a gud.job then yeh wudntbworry bout the vegfies at the min.

 

[PatsyB]

Welcome to the forum Richard! Everyone is real nice here and nobody judges anyone. We're just all here to learn from everyone's experiences. Penny has given you some really good advise.

Just a few things I noticed. A digital thermometer is better than an analog to get the exact temp in the basking spot. The analog is only measuring the temp at glass not where the beardie is actually sitting. Also, like Penny said she needs a basking temp of about 110 so make sure she is getting close enough to the basking light. She should also be able to get at about 6 inches from the UVB to get the full effect. As far as the tank being small, I think it's fine as long as she is going to get a bigger one when she grows and that there is a gradient in temp. They need their basking spot but also a cooler part of the tank.

My guess is she's around a month and a half

 

[Richard D.]

Haha! good guess, buts thats about how long ive had her, lol. We will have a good guestemite tomorrow, i'll let you guys know as soon as i get home.

I'll be getting a digital therm once i have some extra money to start splurging. but i WILL move the UVB closer (it's definitly NOT 6 inches, lol)

You ALL have been giving good advice! I really love talking to people and learning from personal experiences.... it's so much more comforting to hear it from somebody than trying to learn from a book.

I think i may be sticking around for a while, ladies!

Thanks for everything, by the way, lol

 

[ilovebeardies]

She looks pretty small probably only a month old, I bought my first beardie from petsmart and was told he was 5 months old only to find out he was basically a hatchling! Good luck with your beardie they love small crickets at that size by the way vs. Veggies

 

[Richard D.]

Back from the Vet! Verdict is in. Doc puts her at about 3 months old; 22 grams is her official weight. Doc also said Chip was a little young for her to comfortably sex yet. Other than that, clean bill of health, and a good benchmark for our weight to track growth!

We were also a lot more comfortable on daddy's shoulder then in the box for the trip. lol

 

[PatsyB]

Great news! She really is a cutie!

 

[diegothediggy]

Hehe that great news its usually the way Diego luvs goin out in the car. Boris not so much xx

 

[diegothediggy]

Hehe sorry i didnt mean to put kisses. Its just habbit sorry.

 

[Josh]

Hello and welcome! What a great looking dragon!