Sidney : I haven't posted in forever.....

Hello all. I'm starting a new thread for my new dragon and will do a memorial thread for my beloved Zilla, who was my first dragon.

We've had Sid for 5 days now, and wow! I can't believe how different of a dragon he his compared to Zilla! I still consider myself new to beardies since I'd never really even heard of them before around two years ago.

We are still in a learning process with Sid to try and figure out his likes and dislikes with foods and temperature etc. The woman I got him from had a toddler and a three week old baby, and wasn't spending the time with him that she wanted to. She didn't give me a whole lot of info except he loved roaches and didn't eat greens like she thought he should. That he was an every other day pooper and usually only on the left side of his tank. Not even positive what his basking temp was because the end of the thermometer hung down halfway in the back of the tank.

But so far so good with him! He ate a roach the first day and three superworms, but then threw up the next day. A piece of carrot either didn't agree with him, or I hadn't gotten his basking high enough. The next day he didn't eat, but I lowered his light and he eventually started gaping. Yesterday I coaxed him into 10 worms, and today he ate 25! That was WAY more than I intended to feed him, but honestly, it had been SO long since I had seen a healthy beardie eat! He even washed it down with some water dripped onto his nose. I snuggled with him a bunch after that, but new he had to bask so didn't keep him out to long. He promptly black bearded and glass danced to come out, so I took him out. Then he crawled up my shoulder and head and hung out and dozed. I put him back after awhile and he basked.

Here's some pix!!

First day!

First day neck snuggles with daddy

Yesterday, checking out Mt. Shoepile

On the couch with his mouth open

Black bearding the back of the couch with his mouth open

Today, very happy to be out of his tank

Black beard fading since he's out of his tank

How we snuggled for awhile after he ate 25 worms

He always touches my cheek or sticks his nose in my ear when he's on my shoulder

He was very lazy/sleepy today

Look at that black beard after I put him back to bask!!

I have NEVER seen a beard so black!! And look at that one spike. Pretty sure it's shedding.

But he's a very pretty color! And I think he's got blue eyes!

 

[sweetiepie9]

Congrats, looks like your schedule is going to stay on track! Moving this weekend? Good luck with everything!

 

[BrendaKay]

Yep. Saturday will be a looooooooong and crazy day I'm sure. But that's why I'm bribing my friends with beer, wine and pizza.

Enlisting friend-help starting tonight. One of my friends is popping over to see the new house before my cats move in (she's allergic) and will help me sketch the rooms for furniture placement. And tomorrow night another friend is coming to help me wipe down all the cabinets.

 

[sweetiepie9]

Having an empty house to move in to is helpful, too. Glad you're doing this in steps to get ready for the big move. Then it's going to getting your Mom's apartment ready. At least you have all of April to get everything done the way she wants it. It'll be so exciting when you're in the new place, settled in, and your Mom moves in, too! This is very exciting!

 

[BrendaKay]

WE DID IT!!

 

[Goonie]

 

[BrendaKay]

Sidney stayed warm in his tank all day during the move. He seemed to enjoy all the action and commotion happening! When they were ready for his tank, I put him in his carrier and then went with them to get him settled and warm quickly. I purposely did not change anything in his tank, not even the newspaper. He stayed bright orange. Nothing phases my fat boy!

 

[sweetiepie9]

So glad to hear he moved well and didn't have a black beard to show you! Hope the rest of your move goes well, too!

 

[BrendaKay]

It all did go well. Only one dresser damaged, but i think we can fix it. The cats settled in quickly as well. We have a little bit left at the old house, and then it needs a good cleaning - but we should be totally out by Saturday night.

We had about 14 people helping us, so it did go quickly, but woah, - on Sunday neither of us could do a THING. We lounged as much as we could. I feel much better today and will do more at the old house each night. My clothes are still over there. Hope to get all of the tonight. And the coat closet.

 

[sweetiepie9]

So glad it went well, moving is such a stressful thing. But having 14 people helping you sure makes it go much faster! Almost done!

 

[BrendaKay]

I am at my wits end to try to get Sid to eat veggies. I just don't know what else to do to get him to eat more of a variety. For most of the last year he would only eat super worms. He finished the 1,000 or so that I had and now after some coaxing-after-starvation-will-of-the-wills-tough-love, he eats Dubias and really likes them.

But that's ALL he will eat. Sometimes he readily eats a couple bites of yellow squash and also will happily pig down a few blueberries.

That's it. Squash and blueberries. I'm going to plant a pot or two of Clover and a pot or two of Nasturtium soon to see if I can convince him. I'll look up the flowering plants he can eat as well and try that too. I guess if I can't convince him with more veggies, I'll go the flower/weed route.

Brats. They all are, aren't they? We exist to be slaves, don't we?

 

[sweetiepie9]

Mine only eat collard greens, some red pepper and they were eating squash but none of them can digest it, so that was that. Leo eats bok choy & red pepper, but that's it. Have you tried snow peas, green beans, peppers, mustard greens, dandelion greens (mine like the flowers, too). Here's a great list of edible flowers www.beautifuldragons.com. Under nutrition at the end of the list.

 

[Goonie]

Mine would only eat escarole, and only the dark part of the leaves, not the stalk nor lighter green/white part of the leaves. They all thought that bok choy, collard greens, mustard greens, dandelion greens, and parsley were poison and refused to touch them. They do, however, love peas, green beans, and carrots. As for fruits, it's bananas (tried strawberry, blueberry, watermelon, melon, apple, but no go) for everyone. And of course, Banana Nut Cheerios when they don't feel like anything else.

Yes, they are brats, and we are only here to serve them. :lol:

 

[BrendaKay]

I got parsley tonight at the store. Will try Cheerios too.

He got some company last night too. My neighbors grand kids wanted to see him again. There were four boys and two adults. I plopped him on the big ottoman so they could pet him. He was fine for it, but then it made my heart melt when he came over to me and climbed on my arm to stay content and watch everybody.

That's the second time he has snuggled into me when he felt a little insecure. Awwwww. Love him!

 

[sweetiepie9]

They just tug at your heart strings...sweet Sid. Glad Mommy was there for you. Now eat your veggies :lol:

 

[Goonie]

He got some company last night too. My neighbors grand kids wanted to see him again. There were four boys and two adults. I plopped him on the big ottoman so they could pet him. He was fine for it, but then it made my heart melt when he came over to me and climbed on my arm to stay content and watch everybody.

That's the second time he has snuggled into me when he felt a little insecure. Awwwww. Love him!

:love5:
My kids had done that before, too. It sure does make you feel good to know that 1) they know who Mommy is and 2) they know that you are there to protect them.