AlwaysLost
Member
Hello Everyone!
First, I would like to say how impressed I am with this site and how informative it is! I run a rescue, foster and rehoming program where I live. I just recently rescued a bearded dragon. She came to me without a name. The owner had her for a year and didn't bother naming her. That is sad to me, and for some reason irritates me to no end. I'm not even sure why. Anyway, her name is now Sunrise. I would like to give the previous care during the first year of her life, then follow up with the care she is receiving now. If there are any suggestions on changes that I should make, please do not hesitate to let me know as this (and baby Legion) are the first bearded dragons in my care.
When I got Sunrise, she was delivered by my life partner. Sunrise was in a smaller enclosure, I would say about a twenty gallon.
Name: Sunrise
Age: Between 12-18 months
Sex: Female
Substrate: Calcium Sand
Diet: Bearded Dragon Pellets with 10 crickets per day. Vegetables offered once in a while as a treat.
Lighting: 75w house light
Heating: No extra heat provided
Soaks/Bathing: Once per month
Enrichment/Exercise: Spent most of the time out of the enclosure to roam freely around the house. Would be returned to the enclosure at night.
So, after quite a bit of researching (before I saw this site as I tend to watch videos or gather information from veterinarians) I purchased a 40 gallon terrarium. I placed a hammock in the basking area of her enclosure. She also has a couple of basking rock caves. (I will provide pictures in a following post as my photos are on my phone at this time.) She also has a large feeding bowl.
Substrate: Substituted sand for tile flooring to reduce paper waste and for the ease of cleaning
Diet: Daily salad consisting of a variety: (Not all of these at once, I mix it up each day)
Greens: Dandelion leaves, romaine lettuce, white clover leaves, collard greens (more greens than any other ingredient)
Vegetables: Carrots, green beans, squash, broccoli stalks, peas
Fruits: At this point she has only been offered bananas and enjoyed them. She gets a tiny bit in her salad a few times a week. She has been offered strawberries but did not appear to enjoy it.
Bugs: mealworms, grubs, superworms, hornworms, dubia roaches (I have recently began a roach colony)
Supplements: ReptiCal and Multi vitamin powder
Lighting: 10.0 UVB at 75 W
Heat: Non light ceramic heat bulb (Temperature readings range between 85-90 degrees)
Soaks/Bathing: Spray down daily, soak/bath weekly
Enrichment: Due to the following observed symptoms, along with other animals within the house, enrichment outside of the enclosure has been limited. However, she is taken out of the enclosure for some free roam time in order to observe physical abilities, and will be taken outside of the enclosure for bug hunting exercise.
Noticed Symptoms: As Sunrise walks on flat surfaces, her hind legs drag behind with no real movement. She prefers to not support herself in an upright position but rather lays her head on her arms. She is able to climb using an army crawl style on furniture of while being held. She seems to struggle climbing to her hammock. A rock cave has been placed near the hammock for assistance. She does not utilize the full length of her enclosure. She will only roam to the cooler side when eating. No visible signs of eye infection. No visible scarring. Skin was wrinkled, possible from dehydration which improved within the past few weeks. Visible diamond shaped white scales near her tail. (will provide pictures in the following post)
I believe that Sunrise may have MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease) However, I am not a vet, so can't be sure. I have been having difficulty finding a vet who cares for Bearded Dragons in my area. Any help with ideas for care would be greatly appreciated.
Baby Legion
Once I brought Sunrise into my home, I decided to add a baby bearded dragon into our family. At this moment, Legion is believed to be a male. He is less than six months old so it is hard to be sure (or so I have been told) His diet consists of mostly a mix of bugs with a small amount of salad. That is mostly the only difference in the care I have given him except that his temperatures run higher than Sunrise. His temperature is usually running between 98-105 degrees
About me: There is not much to say except that I have a huge love for animals. My life partner has cut me off from the amount of pets that we have. I have decided to keep Sunrise, to not rehome her. So, that makes the animal count as: 2 dogs, 2 bearded dragons, a ball python, and 4 ferrets. I have been with the local humane society for over a year as a volunteer foster fur parent. However, they do not take in exotic type pets so I created my own little rescue. I have been studying and caring for animals of all ranges since I was a child with over 35 years of experience. Bearded Dragons are a new species for me and I find them to be one of the most extraordinary animals I have cared for. I am a current college student, attempting to get my first degree in psychology. I have been with my life partner for 8 years. If you have any questions, ask away! I am quite chatty at times.
**Edit**
The temperatures that were listed were for the basking areas. The cooler sides are typically around 75 degrees for Sunrise and 85 degrees for Legion
First, I would like to say how impressed I am with this site and how informative it is! I run a rescue, foster and rehoming program where I live. I just recently rescued a bearded dragon. She came to me without a name. The owner had her for a year and didn't bother naming her. That is sad to me, and for some reason irritates me to no end. I'm not even sure why. Anyway, her name is now Sunrise. I would like to give the previous care during the first year of her life, then follow up with the care she is receiving now. If there are any suggestions on changes that I should make, please do not hesitate to let me know as this (and baby Legion) are the first bearded dragons in my care.
When I got Sunrise, she was delivered by my life partner. Sunrise was in a smaller enclosure, I would say about a twenty gallon.
Name: Sunrise
Age: Between 12-18 months
Sex: Female
Substrate: Calcium Sand
Diet: Bearded Dragon Pellets with 10 crickets per day. Vegetables offered once in a while as a treat.
Lighting: 75w house light
Heating: No extra heat provided
Soaks/Bathing: Once per month
Enrichment/Exercise: Spent most of the time out of the enclosure to roam freely around the house. Would be returned to the enclosure at night.
So, after quite a bit of researching (before I saw this site as I tend to watch videos or gather information from veterinarians) I purchased a 40 gallon terrarium. I placed a hammock in the basking area of her enclosure. She also has a couple of basking rock caves. (I will provide pictures in a following post as my photos are on my phone at this time.) She also has a large feeding bowl.
Substrate: Substituted sand for tile flooring to reduce paper waste and for the ease of cleaning
Diet: Daily salad consisting of a variety: (Not all of these at once, I mix it up each day)
Greens: Dandelion leaves, romaine lettuce, white clover leaves, collard greens (more greens than any other ingredient)
Vegetables: Carrots, green beans, squash, broccoli stalks, peas
Fruits: At this point she has only been offered bananas and enjoyed them. She gets a tiny bit in her salad a few times a week. She has been offered strawberries but did not appear to enjoy it.
Bugs: mealworms, grubs, superworms, hornworms, dubia roaches (I have recently began a roach colony)
Supplements: ReptiCal and Multi vitamin powder
Lighting: 10.0 UVB at 75 W
Heat: Non light ceramic heat bulb (Temperature readings range between 85-90 degrees)
Soaks/Bathing: Spray down daily, soak/bath weekly
Enrichment: Due to the following observed symptoms, along with other animals within the house, enrichment outside of the enclosure has been limited. However, she is taken out of the enclosure for some free roam time in order to observe physical abilities, and will be taken outside of the enclosure for bug hunting exercise.
Noticed Symptoms: As Sunrise walks on flat surfaces, her hind legs drag behind with no real movement. She prefers to not support herself in an upright position but rather lays her head on her arms. She is able to climb using an army crawl style on furniture of while being held. She seems to struggle climbing to her hammock. A rock cave has been placed near the hammock for assistance. She does not utilize the full length of her enclosure. She will only roam to the cooler side when eating. No visible signs of eye infection. No visible scarring. Skin was wrinkled, possible from dehydration which improved within the past few weeks. Visible diamond shaped white scales near her tail. (will provide pictures in the following post)
I believe that Sunrise may have MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease) However, I am not a vet, so can't be sure. I have been having difficulty finding a vet who cares for Bearded Dragons in my area. Any help with ideas for care would be greatly appreciated.
Baby Legion
Once I brought Sunrise into my home, I decided to add a baby bearded dragon into our family. At this moment, Legion is believed to be a male. He is less than six months old so it is hard to be sure (or so I have been told) His diet consists of mostly a mix of bugs with a small amount of salad. That is mostly the only difference in the care I have given him except that his temperatures run higher than Sunrise. His temperature is usually running between 98-105 degrees
About me: There is not much to say except that I have a huge love for animals. My life partner has cut me off from the amount of pets that we have. I have decided to keep Sunrise, to not rehome her. So, that makes the animal count as: 2 dogs, 2 bearded dragons, a ball python, and 4 ferrets. I have been with the local humane society for over a year as a volunteer foster fur parent. However, they do not take in exotic type pets so I created my own little rescue. I have been studying and caring for animals of all ranges since I was a child with over 35 years of experience. Bearded Dragons are a new species for me and I find them to be one of the most extraordinary animals I have cared for. I am a current college student, attempting to get my first degree in psychology. I have been with my life partner for 8 years. If you have any questions, ask away! I am quite chatty at times.
**Edit**
The temperatures that were listed were for the basking areas. The cooler sides are typically around 75 degrees for Sunrise and 85 degrees for Legion