Found in bush in Cali / Not growing after 32 days?

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carlota

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Hi! I found what I believe to be a bearded dragon in a bush while I was walking my dog (don't ask me how I knew it was even called a bearded dragon, but I did, somehow)... I reached out my hand and he crawled right on. That was around 4 weeks ago. My friend fostered him while I was out of town after I bought him the basics with the help of a local reptile shop –– lighting, small terrarium, crickets, worms, veggie dish, basking area.

Wanted to show you all some pictures and get your opinion of how he is getting on because it doesn't look like he's grown much lengthwise, but he is a lot more active, eats, poops and finds his way to the sun every morning. Right now (day 33) he's around 8 inches, I did not measure him when I first got him. See pictures below and let me know your thoughts? Thanks!

Day 1

DAY
NIGHT


Day 32

DAY
NIGHT
 

kingofnobbys

BD.org Sicko
He's only young , maybe a 4 to 6 months old. Looks like a very sweet little dragon who is lucky you found and rescued it. I'd say some college kid dumped the dragon when they went home. Your dragon now.

So 2 meals of live insects per day.

I'd be weighing the little dragon once a week, same day same time each week and you'll soon see how he's growing.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
What kind of set up do you have for him ? If you can tell us the husbandry we can guide you to see if you need more advice on correct lighting or heat temps etc.... that could be one reason why hes not growing --- tell us what your using for tank size UVB and his basking temps- and how your taking those basking temps -- that all plays a huge role in the over all health of the dragon
Karrie
 
Your new little one looks to be a Leatherback.

Often times, a traumatic experience will stunt their growth, or postpone growth as they try to recover from the stresses and shock. In the first pic, the dragon looks to be in less than stellar health (a bit on the un-nourished side). just getting back into a good eating/pooping cycle will help git it growing again. BSFL (Phoenix Worms) are a great source of nutrition for Beardies, and your little one would likely tear them up (in a good way!).

Good UVB lighting and basking temps will help grow your little one up healthy and happy.
 

Aaradimian

Juvie Member
Wow, a lucky find for you both! My wife got me a book on the Lizards of the Southwest (US), and beardies were mentioned as a non-native species that has established a small foothold in the San Diego area. Is that where you are?
 

kingofnobbys

BD.org Sicko
Aaradimian":2g1uyqhf said:
Wow, a lucky find for you both! My wife got me a book on the Lizards of the Southwest (US), and beardies were mentioned as a non-native species that has established a small foothold in the San Diego area. Is that where you are?

OP mentioned that this rescue is very tame indicates to me it's been a pet and not a wild dragon.

If it was wild born it's unlikely to have been so tame from the getgo.
 

carlota

New member
Original Poster
kingofnobbys":e8t3ohkt said:
Aaradimian":e8t3ohkt said:
Wow, a lucky find for you both! My wife got me a book on the Lizards of the Southwest (US), and beardies were mentioned as a non-native species that has established a small foothold in the San Diego area. Is that where you are?

OP mentioned that this rescue is very tame indicates to me it's been a pet and not a wild dragon.

If it was wild born it's unlikely to have been so tame from the getgo.


Yeah, I figured that was the case too! There was no way it would be so excited to take a nap on my hand instead of relaxing in a bush if it was wild. Also, I'm in Los Angeles ;)
 

carlota

New member
Original Poster
kingofnobbys":2y17z8za said:
He's only young , maybe a 4 to 6 months old. Looks like a very sweet little dragon who is lucky you found and rescued it. I'd say some college kid dumped the dragon when they went home. Your dragon now.

So 2 meals of live insects per day.

I'd be weighing the little dragon once a week, same day same time each week and you'll soon see how he's growing.

FOOD RELATED:
He seems to prefer mealworms over crickets. I feel like the mealworms casing is so thick, however, so I'm trying to do the crickets before any crunchy worms. Is there a reliable place online to order live bugs? The PetSmart close to me is always out of most bugs other than crickets and the reptile specialty store I got my beginner's supplies from is super far away from my house (they had the phoenix worms, hornworms and a bunch of other options and also set me up with a proper uvb light, basking light, etc)

He also is really picky about veggies and fruit – he won't eat raw spinach but if I thaw frozen chopped spinach he will eat that, for example. The only totally fresh greens I can get him to eat is bunches of cilantro of all things!

I've only seen him drink water from a dish once but have been giving him baths and see he is getting h20 from the wet spinach.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
I haft to ask what kind of UVB did the reptile place set you up w/ ? If its a coil -- bad news - I call them death coils-- as far as nutrition here is a website for that please NO more spinach --- also prickly pear is a good staple as well
http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html--- he needs salads so to speak every day --- collards turnips mustard greens and kale fresh - look at the website it will tell what to feed how often to feed and what NOT to feed
here are some websites for live insects -- meal worms are not a staple -- if he doesnt like crickets get these dubia roaches and BSFL-- order large of the BSFL--
http://www.dubiaroaches.com
www.https://symtonbsf.com/these do not need to be dusted w/ calcium D3 or the vitamins
www.http://www.mulberryfarms.com/
http://www.abdragons.com
http://www.joshsfrogs.com

You need to be dusting his bugs 5 x per week w/ the calcium D3 and 2 x per week vitamins--
And as far as tank what size do you have him in right now? His basking temps should be 105-110 for him and as he gets older they need to be 95-110 -- 2 good lights are all you need for him --- one bright white basking bulb directly over head and one good UVB -- a Reptisun 10.0 TUBE either the T 5 or a T 8 -- basking temps need to be taken w/ a infrared heat gun / and a digital probe thermometer - the probe can be bought at petco petsmart for like $5 and the heat gun from your local home improvement store for around $10-12 -- stick ons are inaccurate and you need an actual basking temp --- cool side of tank should be around 80's during the day and not below 65 at nite --- NO Colored bulbs -- dragons sleep in the dark
Karrie
 

carlota

New member
Original Poster
Hi hi, Just wanted to update you on "Ernie" who is doing great and now a beautiful orange-yellow citrus with purple spots.

He's shed twice, now in a 40 gal tank, but loves to climb so I also have a mesh habitat for supervised exploration (complete with fake, easily cleaned plants). Super fun for hunting crickets (I dust with calcium and/or vitamins depending on the day – thanks for all your tips). He just LOVES exploring and climbing, and loves relaxing in the sun, on my chest, and under the uvb tube. The only veggies he eats at this point are cilantro (but eats quite a lot of it), and carrots and kale if I cook them first and cut em up, but we're working on it. Still loves live worms over anything else, but also have done Phoenix worms from a can and he chows down on those too.

Here are some updated pics I just took as I wrote this! I just love him (and yes, I've gendered him as male at this point).

 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
You dont need to cook the Kale its actually better for him same w/ the carrots just shred them they are better raw- and so glad to hear he is doing so well ---
Karrie
 

McBeck

Member
Sweet, little guy. Looks like mine has a very similar temperament. Been easygoing from the moment I brought her home. Allows me to hold her, clean/work in her cage without freaking out. She also has a very good appetite for all things bug...
 

saraho

Hatchling Member
You can grow cilantro right in his terrarium. I found Charlie will eat it if its mixed with his other vegetables like peppers, but he's not a huge fan. His favorite vegetable so far has been the green tops of carrots. They aren't easy to find though so we keep experimenting. Glad to hear you and this little boy stumbled upon each other. He's so handsome!
 
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