11 months missing!

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Daymi

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Our beardie was just found today after missing for 11 months! We still cannot believe it! He was a little over one years old when he went missing. And we looked everywhere, multiple times. The door was left open so we thought he could have escaped outside. It was July in Northern CA so very hot, but when winter and freezing temps came around, we lost hope. And 11 months later, we hear scratching, turn over the couch and he pops out alive!!! Amazing! We can't figure out if he was in the couch the entire time. Impossible right? He could have been in the courtyard just outside the open door and then came back in through an open door and went under the couch. He would have had to get by us and two dogs.

There are no signs of him pooping anywhere, in the yard, courtyard, or under the couch. We think he recently started biting on and eating the plywood from the couch frame as it looks like a little quarter sized chunk is gone.

I immediately turned on his UV lights and heat lamps and gave him a bath to try to rehydrate. He ate a little arugula at first but then now just wants to sleep right under his basking lamp (temp gage says 100°). I have been reading about dragons coming out of brumation and it could take him a few days to fully wake up, but brumating for 11 months? How is he still alive? We're in shock!! Should I do anything else? I'm afraid of shocking his little system. I also gave him a drop of olive oil in case he ate all that plywood, but he wouldn't really eat any. He looks very pale compared to what he used to looked like. Thank you for any advice!
 

Darkbl2w

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Lol wow I’m sure he has a story to tell after 11 months on the lam. You should for sure take him to the vet asap though.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
If you take him to the vet do not have them do an enema!!!!!!!!!!!!!
viewtopic.php?f=45&t=252267
He needs to go the natural way w/ giving lacatives like baby prunes unsweetened applesauce shredded raw sweet potato etc
Karrie
 

Daymi

New member
Original Poster
I live in a rural area and the exotic pets specialist was supposed to be in town today but now they are not coming until Monday. My beardie is head shaking, not the behavior of head bobbing, this is more like a tremor and from what I've read is that it indicates sickness. I need to get him some vitamins but he isn't eating. I've tried meal worms sprinkled with calcium (an old favorite) and arugula.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
The head shaking is telling me hes calcium deficient -- its probably because he was incognito for so long --- what are you using for a UVB? Please no coils!! and where in the tank is it? What does his weight look like - is he thin? Basking temps what are they and how are you taking them? The vet needs to do a xray to see where he is lacking calcium- what is he on for a staple insect? Crickets dubias? And is arugula the only thing he will eat? No other greens ? Mustard collard turnip how about squash -- you may haft to either spoon feed or syringe feed - you can get some baby food squash and chicken and mix together w/ the calcium and vitamins --- you can start there and or wait and see what your vet has to say -- some others on here might have some more ideas for you -- is he hydrated ? they wont eat if they are not hydrated
Karrie
 

Daymi

New member
Original Poster
Hi Karrie, thanks for the advice. No coil, it's a flourescent tube lighting about 18 inches from the second level of a custom built cage. I've been taking him outside for 15 minutes of outside sun (100° outside) daily. He hangs out underneath the heat lamp on the top level. To measure the temps it's just a cheap temp gage on the wall under the heat, nothing fancy. As far as weight, he looks a little under weight from a year ago but not severely. A year ago he was fed a diet of crickets (gutloaded), arugula (his favorite of everything tried, and occasional meal worms for a treat. The only thing he has eaten since finding him 3 days ago is a couple bites of arugula. I will try the syringe of baby food with calcium & vitamins mixed in, that's a good idea. And I've been giving him a daily bath for 15 minutes. He was licking the droplets of water that I was putting on his nose, yesterday, but not today. He does seem a tiny bit more active today. Thank you for the ideas.
 

KarrieRee

BD.org Sicko
Beardie name(s)
Hiccup he is 6 and Blaze is 4
The UVB is a what? Brand and bulb---- it being 18 inches is too far for a T 5 it would need to be 12-15 inches from basking decor - and for a T 8 it would need to be 8-10 inches from basking decor -- or if your using a Arcadia 14% bulb the 18 inches would be fine --- this could be a cause for not eating -- I would cut down on the daily baths ---- hes gonna get moisture out of the salads hes eating and you really dont need to bath them that often in fact most on here only bathe if that is the only way they can get them to drink or have gotten poop all over themselves ---
Karrie
 
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What is a quick way to warm up a cold beardie? His heating element went out overnight and now he's very cold.
Pearl Girl wrote on moorelori1966's profile.
i feel so sad reading your about me 😢
Clapton is acclimating okay I think. He's quick as lightning so I'm not sure how much I should bring him out of his house yet. He's not at all interested in his salad though. I wonder if I should change what I'm giving him. Least he's eating his crickets.

Things to do:
Buy calcium powder
Material to raise surface for basking spot
Scenery decals for back of tank
Taking my beardie for a walk

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