Hello, Recently I adopted an older dragon from a family who was giving her away, I was pretty dissappointed at her lack of care, and even though I shouldnt have adopted a potentially sick beardie I figured I could do a better job giving her a better life just by switching up her routine, diet, environment.
She's five years old, they fed her on mealworms and superworms mainly most her life, and grasshoppers if they catch them. The cage setup was pretty ghetto with just a window screen atop an open cage and a single heat lamp.
Im not sure about the bulb Im contemplating replacing it ASAP with a UV-B/UV-A bulb like my other dragon has.
I didnt inspect her all too much, but her scale color seemed very dull, she seemed a bit scrawny, and four a five year old dragon she was not much bigger than my one year old (not sure if that's "normal"?). However, as soon as I brought her home in her new tank setup she stood on her legs right away the way dragons do when they are alert, and when I fed her she took to the dubias I fed her right away, so even if her physical condition seems lacking, behaviorally she seems quite healthy.
Im contemplating taking her to a vet though Ive never taken a reptile to a vet and am not sure what the cost would be for a general checkup.
Do you guys have any experience rehoming older dragons? How long did they live after? Can I expect her to live at least another two years in my care (given that longevity is 5-8 when basic needs are met). I want to give her a good life with what she's got left.
She's five years old, they fed her on mealworms and superworms mainly most her life, and grasshoppers if they catch them. The cage setup was pretty ghetto with just a window screen atop an open cage and a single heat lamp.
Im not sure about the bulb Im contemplating replacing it ASAP with a UV-B/UV-A bulb like my other dragon has.
I didnt inspect her all too much, but her scale color seemed very dull, she seemed a bit scrawny, and four a five year old dragon she was not much bigger than my one year old (not sure if that's "normal"?). However, as soon as I brought her home in her new tank setup she stood on her legs right away the way dragons do when they are alert, and when I fed her she took to the dubias I fed her right away, so even if her physical condition seems lacking, behaviorally she seems quite healthy.
Im contemplating taking her to a vet though Ive never taken a reptile to a vet and am not sure what the cost would be for a general checkup.
Do you guys have any experience rehoming older dragons? How long did they live after? Can I expect her to live at least another two years in my care (given that longevity is 5-8 when basic needs are met). I want to give her a good life with what she's got left.