I'm Rodger, and I'm an addict...

[drzebra]

We just adopted this 4 year old girl today. Came with a 40 gallon tank and accessories. She's a beautiful citrus color, but she's been kept on sand so she's a bit dull. (yes, the sand is going to go as soon as I get some reptile carpet)

She also seems a bit underweight. She only weighs in at 304 grams, compared to little Arthur's 311 and Fenchurch's 515.

Anyway, meet Trillian.

 

[drzebra]

Ok, after doing a bit of research, she falls within the healthy weight range of adult beardies.

I guess I'm just used to my other two being such tubs.

 

[PatsyB]

You'll have her fattened up in no time! Congrats on the new addition!

Sometimes I feel like I am somewhere between an addiction and hoarding, LOL.

 

[Fiona]

why does sand keep them dull? and are you talking sand or reptile sand or is there a difference.....I thought the reptile sand is ground up walnut shells....maybe I need to go read the bag......

 

[drzebra]

Whoo. One day down with Trillian. The poor thing is scared out of her mind. She recoils from my touch when I try to pet her. She's head shy, which I'm not used to in dragons. (my snakes are another matter)

The wife decided to give her a bath and she alternated between cowering in the water and trying like heck to scrabble out of the tub.

She did eat a few dubias. Also, until we get the room arranged right, the tanks are positioned where Fenchurch and Arthur can see Trillian (Arthur's tank is below Fenchurch's. They can't see each other).

It's been quite a noisy evening with Fenchurch and Trillian glass surfing and head bobbing like idiots. Little Arthur just laid on his branch, slowly waving his arms in the submissive circle.

We finally covered Trillian's tank and things settled down.

Growing pains.

 

[PatsyB]

You do have your hands full! Good luck, sounds like she just needs some more time to settle in. Baby steps.

@Fiona sand makes her dull because she's been on it for so long she's basically covered in sand dust. If the sand is calci-sand (which is the worst) she could be dull because the color wears off onto the dragon.

 

[drzebra]

Yes, it's the sand that's dulling her. After a bath, she was a very, very vivid orange/yellow.

Unfortunately, we're kind of stuck with the sand until we get the reptile carpets in (can't source the right size locally :-().

Her previous owner said that it was just reptile sand from the pet store, so I have to assume that it's calci-sand. She said that she pretty much had to use it because the dragon loves to dig so much. I say, "we'll see about that."

Impaction risk aside, I just don't think it's attractive and it's dusty and messy.

 

[Zilladragon23]

Unfortunately, we're kind of stuck with the sand until we get the reptile carpets in (can't source the right size locally

You can always get rid of the sand and use either paper towels or newspaper until you get the carpet.

 

[drzebra]

Would you please stop talking sense? I'm trying to get out of work for a bit. [emoji6]

In all seriousness, though, I'm also trying not to change everything at once. She's already really stressed in a new home with new lights, new dog, new dragons, new people.

I don't want to pile more onto the poor thing just yet.

 

[Zilladragon23]

Lol [emoji4] True, don't want to stress her out. Good luck! [emoji5]

 

[drzebra]

Well, she's still skittish as heck. She even puffed out her beard and gaped at me when I was putting her dish ofconti roaches in her tank. Of course, that just got her picked up and petted for a minute. [emoji14]

After that, she downed a few of her dubias and continued her glass surfing.

I'll get her won over.

 

[PatsyB]

I hate that the stores don't sell the right size repti-carpets. Then when I do find them they are like a half inch to big on both the width and the length and I have to cut them. Let me tell you, if I had to cut a straight line to save your life...it was nice knowing you, LOL! For 30 years my father worked in a factory that made emblems, all he did was spend his days cutting materials, I think me not being able to cut a straight line has been an embarrassment for him!

 

[drzebra]

Same here. I can't cut or draw a straight line even with a straight edge.

I do find that the 50 gallon Zilla carpets on Amazon fit the 40 breeder tanks perfectly.

 

[PatsyB]

I have an Exo Terra tank it's supposed to be 40 gallon. I guess that would be smart for Zilla to make their carpets just a bit to big for their competitors tanks

 

[drzebra]

What are your tank's dimensions? Mine are 36x18x16. I don't know the brand because I got the three dragon tanks all second hand. The Mrs. just bought another 40 gallon breeder aquarium (like, made to actually hold water) from Petco on their $1/gallon sale. It measures the same but doesn't come with a top.

 

[PatsyB]

What are your tank's dimensions? Mine are 36x18x16. I don't know the brand because I got the three dragon tanks all second hand. The Mrs. just bought another 40 gallon breeder aquarium (like, made to actually hold water) from Petco on their $1/gallon sale. It measures the same but doesn't come with a top.

My tank is 36x18x18 but I realized when I bought tile for the tank that that is the OUTSIDE dimension so the inside is an even smaller size. We went back to carpet from tile because Luci glass dances and with the tile not fitting completely snug he would rearrange it. Also, he filed his nails down to little nubs from running around so much.

 

[drzebra]

I had problems with tile, too, which is why I went back to carpet. Mine weren't cut right and the feeder bugs and other... uh... "debris"... kept getting underneath the tiles.

Plus it just seems easier to clean up by lifting the offending carpets out and dropping them in the washing machine. (I keep two carpets per dragon)

 

[drzebra]

Gave Trillian a bath tonight. She's getting better, but she's still figuring us out.

Here are some pics of her not being dusty.

 

[PatsyB]

Amazing what a bath can do, she's very pretty!

 

[Zilladragon23]

Pretty girl! Those eyes are amazing [emoji178] [emoji178]