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!

 

[Tonja]

Glad he ate a little something for you and glad you found him or heard him. They sure know how to annoy and scare us when they get away or do something that makes us just shake our heads with our hearts and stomachs in our throats. He is safe and sound now and that's the important thing.

 

[sweetiepie9]

I left Nathaniel out one day, after all the living is completely partitioned off, so he can't get out, right? So got home a hour later, no Nathaniel, checked EVERYWHERE, luckily my bedroom door is always closed so he wasn't there. He climbed the couch, ran across my desk and knocked a few things off (first clue), jumped off the desk, under the dining room table and right underneath my big china cabinet. Luckily the bottom has large cutouts, so found him using the flashlight and hauled him out by the side. Needless to say, he's only out now when I'm home & Gabriel is the dragon of choice when I'm out, as he never leaves the ramp & he's too heavy to climb the couch. Brat, just like Sidney. And to get behind his dresser, guess he was trying to get home. Little stinkers, both of ours :lol:

 

[BrendaKay]

Yes I'm glad he shows interest in food and at least DOES eat Tonja, by I'm still worried. I bought vitamin liquid too, because I couldn't remember if I had any. I know I have it in powder, but since he doesn't eat it's kind of worthless.

Deb his tank isn't on his dresser so he's just a turd. He probably would have just went to sleep there for the day. It's not very cold out anymore and he would have been fine, but he had JUST eaten the worms!

Ugh

 

[BrendaKay]

Here are my two $4 finds at Petsmart yesterday. I washed them both, sprayed them with the pink disinfectant stuff and set them out in the sun for the afternoon.

I had forgotten I did that too. Geez, now that I think about it, I probably took a TWO hour lunch break yesterday, not one.

 

[Goonie]

I finally heard him behind his dresser. Little turd.

:laughing6:

They sure know how to make us worry. It's amazing how fast they can disappear, then mysteriously reappear out of thin air.

I hope Sidney's refusal to eat is just simple move stress (from packing up of the previous house to moving to the new one), and that he'll be back to his regular schedule soon.

 

[BrendaKay]

He's SHEDDING. Of all times...... he's got a blotch starting on the back of his neck, and both back legs are changing color. No WONDER why he's not eating.

But he will eat dandelions and superworms. He won't eat the Dubia's or salad. Obviously its ok though, because he's shedding...........................

He's been real good about drinking in his bath the last few times. I think he enjoys a bath in the sink more so than the big bath tub.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

He is looking really good! At least he is still eating something while he is shedding. Most tend to slow down on eating during that time.
How old is Sidney now?

Tracie

 

[BrendaKay]

He just turned 3. I think he's gained about 100g since I've had him. I've had him about a year. He's a big boy, but not fat. He's about 800g and I still haven't measured how long he is. I'm guessing 22-23 inches. He can still jump pretty high and climb real good so I don't think he's overweight. lol

 

[sweetiepie9]

He sounds the same size as Rubio was. Glad he's doing so well. We're going through a shed explosion at this end. Puff is shedding almost everywhere (at least she's turning colour) and Gabriel has been shedding in little bits and pieces for over 3 months now. Makes him so miserable. He still eats but he looks so depressed in the morning when I greet him, but then he loves to make me feel guilty :lol:

That's his "I feel miserable look"

Hope Sid feels better soon & no, he's not overweight at that length at all. He doesn't need to eat much to maintain his weight either & I know how active he is

 

[BrendaKay]

UGH! I got a phone call at 5:50am yesterday from Life Alert telling me my mom had fallen and paramedics were on the way. She broke two ribs........

Needless to say she is in NO condition to sit in a moving truck for two days to move down here tomorrow and Saturday. My brother still flew to NY today to load up the truck and bring it all here. My mom will recuperate at my sister's house until she's well enough to travel.

SO, now my brother, the truck, her furniture and her cat will be arriving tomorrow night (probably pretty late) instead of Saturday dinnertime. My brother said he would just push though to make it in one trip since he will be alone. We both know people who have had moving trucks stolen out of motel back parking lots. When they found one of them, it had been rummaged through and then torched. So he was worried about that - but now he won't be staying over night on the road.

That also means I get to spend more time with him!

So, change in plans, but still happening. I hate my mom got hurt, but we didn't see any reason to cancel the move altogether. Now I might fly up in early June, help get her house on the Market and then fly her back down with me. OR my sister or neices might fly down with her at some point.

So, still a lot of work to be done this weekend, but now i'm not quite as stressed. Her cat will be a little lonely in her apartment - but hopefully he'll settle in because his chair and sofa will be there for him to continue to sleep on. If he gets along with my cats, I'll let him into my part of the house too.

Oy vay.

 

[sweetiepie9]

I'm sorry your mom fell and hurt herself but glad she's staying with your sister until she recouperates. Wow, never rains but it pours. And your brother's making that trip & moving all her stuff, lots of work this weekend for sure. Hopefully her cat gets along with yours and can visit...hope all goes well and that your mom gets better soon.

 

[Goonie]

Oh my, how scary for everyone.
Healing prayers to your Mom and hope that she'll be able to move to NC soon.

 

[BrendaKay]

Her cat is a little love bug! What a trooper after 12 hours in the moving truck with someone he didn't know! After an hour of howling, my brother let him out of his kennel and he free roamed the cab. He eventually settled down and slept face down in the passenger sleep. After an hour or so of that position, my brother poked him to be sure he was alive and then cracked up because there was a drool spot on the seat! ROFL!!

I went to the driveway at 10:30pm to greet them and get the cat out of the truck. He purred the whole time. We left him alone in the empty apartment that night. i had put in a cat bed for him, some food and a litter box.

The next day he had to be locked in the bathroom while we unloaded the truck, but we were pretty much done by 10:30 - 11:00. He was never fazed. He snuggles and naps with you when you watch tv. Which, we hang out in the apartment as much as possible.

Although, we've let him free roam the house, and only minor hissing from one of my cats so far. They are all fine!

Mom was release from hosp. and transferred to PT rehab to get stronger. She looks and sounds very good now. Whew!

That's my quick update.

 

[sweetiepie9]

But what a wonderful update. Hope your mom gets her strength back soon so she can move in. I'm so glad her cat is so lovable and easy to get along with, that was a long trip for your brother and the cat. Sounds like it's all working out, now for your mom to get better & stronger. Hugs to you and her & lots of strength thoughts & prayers going her way.

 

[Goonie]

How cute that your Mom's cat wanted to be out of the carrier and be with your brother in the cab of the truck! What a mental I had of him face planted in the passenger seat, then with a spot of drool :laughing6:

Has he met Sid yet?