Welcome Blaze

After losing Kadia and wanting another dragon but not in the shape she was in and a heartbreaking one at that I contacted a breeder in St Cloud asking her about a tank before getting Kadia - looking for a 40 gallon and she had none but said she had a bunch of babies for sale - I said I was looking at re homing at that time --- so I got a hold of her again and my daughter and I went and looked at her babies Fri- she has a lot --- I told her I was looking for a Red Leatherback but she didnt have any of those but a Red Translucent- so we went and looked and she wasnt kidding she had a lot of them - different kinds - so we picked out the runt - he was the smallest and getting picked on so we took him - she said he was a male dont know how she can tell but beings shes been looking at butts for so long I guess she can tell - so Blaze is the name after changing it 2 times we decided on Blaze - since hes gonna be more vibrant coloring- and he is part wiblet --- we saw momma and daddy - daddy being the red and momma being the wiblet ----- he is 7 weeks old - eating and pooping and sitting in his water bowl - he is eating well in fact -- I have kept him warmer at nite since he is so small--- this morning he ate 9 small roaches 4 BSFL and greens - in a matter of 4 hrs - I am feeding him greens before bugs --- this morning I ticed him w/ the BSFL in his greens he went for it --- he is skittish at this point and very curious --- his basking temp is around 105 on top of the rock and different temps on the rock - he was gaping when sitting under the 105- is that a good thing? Hes not sitting there for long periods of time and was wondering if I should tone the temp down or leave as is --- ??? Hes got different spots to sit running from 99-109 Here are some pics - for now he is in the 20 long gallon tank - the 4x2x2 will be here this week but for now I am keeping him in the 20- its easier to care for him and he is really tiny -- I am gonna set the tank up similar to Hiccups - I have another Zoo Med coming T 5 24" and already have the Arcadia 14% bulb here -- basking bulb the same 150 watt and another heat emitter for winter --- I have tile too that will go into the tank -- right now he is in the 20 gallon w/ part tile and I have put a dish towel on the hot side to cover the glass - its easier to pull and wash than the piece of carpet - and since he pooped on his rock / cave this morning that was a breeze to clean up w/ the vinegar/ water --- he is shedding right now so its hard to see the coloring but you can see it on his tail --- so we will see how this goes --- hes got some relocation stress marks going but it hasnt slowed him down from eating --- today is Sunday and he really ate --
Karrie

Blaze is a cutey!
Im happy you were able to get another one karrie.

The gaping is normal and perfectly ok

Who was the breeder? Or is she just a local?

-Brandon

She is just a local and went to school for Biology at SCSU graduated w/ a Bachelors -- had opened a shop in St Cloud called Fins and Friends and ended up getting screwed over by 2 people she had brought in -- dont know the full story but she is a reptile nut -- -- she has her house full of fish turtles geckos bearded dragons etc............ she closed in May and had the only Gentle Giant Dragon I have ever seen -- Nova she was huge ---- well she quit eating and she gave her to the girl her co partner and for some reason they dont know why Nova died -- she was 4 -- we were bummed when we went to see the babies as we first saw her way back when when she had her in the store --- I can get a hold of her at anytime and she said she wanted updates on the little dude so we will keep in touch -
Karrie

Very exciting ! He looks good Karrie, and it's actually better to start the off in a 20 gallon if they're really small. He doesn't look TOO small, about 7-8 " maybe ?

I think so I actually havent weighed him or measured him -- he is eating like a champ including his vegies -- I feed those first w/ a few nutri grubs on top so he goes right for it - then about an hour or so later I feed him his dubias -- he ate around 8 yesterday and today he ate 11 -- tried feeding again this afternoon and all he did was sit on top of his log and watch from above-- I think he was too full from this morning -- I asked the breeder the feeding schedule and she told me vegies first before bugs--- she said she put a few small super worms on the salad and that gets them to eat the vegies -- I didnt have supers so I used BSFL-- he ate 4 yesterday and today he ate 2 then the vegies --- so I am happy- he just shedded all the top off his back today -- and hes pooping every morning -- so the relocation stress doesnt seem to bother him to bad --- he is skittish tho - but in time that will disappear--- I think Hiccup is starting brumation --- hes been sleeping for the past 2 days - I ve got a weight on him now and I am going to pull him and give him a bath --- I dont want him dehydrated --- he had a good poop on the 11th and it was huge and lots of white urate w/ a little water --- he weighs 470 grams by my digital kitchen scale --- I am thinking that is good weight to be going into brumation in-????
Karrie

Sounds like a good routine with Blaze already, he's off to a good start ! Hiccup is definitely a good weight for brumation, nice + hefty as long as he's healthy.