A new update on Sirius

[ownedbyP]

Before i get further into it, and to relieve you from the start: She is doing well. She is also a She, not a He. Lol. Instead of Sirius her name is now Iris

Hi guys. I posted this a while back: https://www.beardeddragon.org/threads/an-update-on-sirius.269778/ which explains the backstory. I know some of you would like to know how it's going and i am really sorry for not updating sooner but it has been very frantic.

I was supposed to get Iris start August but I had been dealing with my other beardie, Stella (who is from the same breeder, and who i got from there in June), having diarrhea. For a while we thought it was moving stress and then it began looking more normal, but then it started again, so I had a feces test done. It was Coccicia and nematodes. (Stella is a sturdy 5 month girl, so there was no concerns with her at any point, she got her meds and is due for a followup test to see if we have gotten rid of it, next week. Her feces have returned to normal now, since she got the medicine.)

But the breeder had feces tests done on Iris as well. She had them too.. And if you've followed, and as you can see by the pictures I will be posting, Iris is a very small 4 month old. She lacks toes and a third of her tail from sibling attacks. I have been very concerned for her health. But the breeder managed her medicine and everything, and she has been tested clear. I got her home, finally, last wednesday. I would've preferred to wait for Stella being cleared but the breeder couldn't keep her any longer. I'm still pretty paranoid about it all, especially since Stella hasn't been cleared yet, but both girls seem to be doing very well.

Iris loves her new home and has dared to explore most things already, although she still keeps to underneath her hide a lot. From what I can see her toes and tail has healed up nicely. Shes very curious. She has the most beautiful eyes. I am so happy I finally have her home.

If you have any tips on anything, or any questions please bring them. I will be adding pictures from my phone in a second

 

[xp29]

Before i get further into it, and to relieve you from the start: She is doing well. She is also a She, not a He. Lol. Instead of Sirius her name is now Iris

Hi guys. I posted this a while back: https://www.beardeddragon.org/threads/an-update-on-sirius.269778/ which explains the backstory. I know some of you would like to know how it's going and i am really sorry for not updating sooner but it has been very frantic.

I was supposed to get Iris start August but I had been dealing with my other beardie, Stella (who is from the same breeder, and who i got from there in June), having diarrhea. For a while we thought it was moving stress and then it began looking more normal, but then it started again, so I had a feces test done. It was Coccicia and nematodes. (Stella is a sturdy 5 month girl, so there was no concerns with her at any point, she got her meds and is due for a followup test to see if we have gotten rid of it, next week. Her feces have returned to normal now, since she got the medicine.)

But the breeder had feces tests done on Iris as well. She had them too.. And if you've followed, and as you can see by the pictures I will be posting, Iris is a very small 4 month old. She lacks toes and a third of her tail from sibling attacks. I have been very concerned for her health. But the breeder managed her medicine and everything, and she has been tested clear. I got her home, finally, last wednesday. I would've preferred to wait for Stella being cleared but the breeder couldn't keep her any longer. I'm still pretty paranoid about it all, especially since Stella hasn't been cleared yet, but both girls seem to be doing very well.

Iris loves her new home and has dared to explore most things already, although she still keeps to underneath her hide a lot. From what I can see her toes and tail has healed up nicely. Shes very curious. She has the most beautiful eyes. I am so happy I finally have her home.

If you have any tips on anything, or any questions please bring them. I will be adding pictures from my phone in a second

I really had faith she would make it after seeing the tail had been handled. It makes me so happy you finally got to bring her home. The habitat looks amazing and she looks very happy. I love the picture of her peeking out of the hide, she is stinking adorable .
I think you are going to give her a great life, she had a rough start and she deserves it (a great life)

As for the Coccidia, it is one of the hardest parasites to get rid of but it can be done. The thing to know is that it is friggen resilient. It is impervious to most cleaners including bleach.
The only thing that kills it is strong ammonia and high heat (200ish plus degrees) either has to be in contact for about 10 minutes to kill it. Ammonia is toxic so it has to be rinsed and aired out to zero fumes if used.
The best way to defeat Coccidia is to break it's life cycle. In order to reproduce it has to be pooped out and reingested. And that's were you beat it. Stay on top of poops, clean them up A.S.A.P. so you beardie can't track through it. They test everything with their tongues so when they track through the poop and spread it around, they eventually reingest the parasite. No poop no breeding for the parasite.
Once the meds reduces it in thier system, their system will keep it under control as long as you can break it's life cycle externally.

 

[ownedbyP]

I really had faith she would make it after seeing the tail had been handled. It makes me so happy you finally got to bring her home. The habitat looks amazing and she looks very happy. I love the picture of her peeking out of the hide, she is stinking adorable .
I think you are going to give her a great life, she had a rough start and she deserves it (a great life)

As for the Coccidia, it is one of the hardest parasites to get rid of but it can be done. The thing to know is that it is friggen resilient. It is impervious to most cleaners including bleach.
The only thing that kills it is strong ammonia and high heat (200ish plus degrees) either has to be in contact for about 10 minutes to kill it. Ammonia is toxic so it has to be rinsed and aired out to zero fumes if used.
The best way to defeat Coccidia is to break it's life cycle. In order to reproduce it has to be pooped out and reingested. And that's were you beat it. Stay on top of poops, clean them up A.S.A.P. so you beardie can't track through it. They test everything with their tongues so when they track through the poop and spread it around, they eventually reingest the parasite. No poop no breeding for the parasite.
Once the meds reduces it in thier system, their system will keep it under control as long as you can break it's life cycle externally.

Thank you! I'm so happy to hear from you. She is so sweet.
We steamed all the items in the vivs and scrubbed the viv itself with f10 and swapped the mat out for paper that is swapped out easily ! Fingers crossed it worked

 

[xp29]

Thank you! I'm so happy to hear from you. She is so sweet.
We steamed all the items in the vivs and scrubbed the viv itself with f10 and swapped the mat out for paper that is swapped out easily ! Fingers crossed it worked

Keep us posted
Also keep us posted on Iris's journey and growth with you

 

[ownedbyP]

Keep us posted
Also keep us posted on Iris's journey and growth with you

I definitely will. Just got a major update right now. She hasn't eaten since she got home and i just tried to handfeed her. She ate three roaches and some salad and afterwards she sat on her baskingspot for a bit! I'm so happy. Syncronized with her sister. Look at the size differences.. Only a month apart in age

 

[ownedbyP]

My girls

 

[xp29]

My girls

They are both very pretty
For us a month isn't that long, but for hatchlings that's a whole lot of time in terms of growth so it doesn't really surprise me the size difference. Up towards a years old the older one will slow down and the younger will catch up

 

[ownedbyP]

They are both very pretty
For us a month isn't that long, but for hatchlings that's a whole lot of time in terms of growth so it doesn't really surprise me the size difference. Up towards a years old the older one will slow down and the younger will catch up

Aren't they! Big sis has become a little bit chubby so i'm cutting down on the bugs but she stuns me everyday. Her colors are insane. never thought she would look like that.
Oh thats good to hear. I have no idea, i just know how much bigger Stella was when she was younger than Iris is now. But it makes sense!

 

[xp29]

Aren't they! Big sis has become a little bit chubby so i'm cutting down on the bugs but she stuns me everyday. Her colors are insane. never thought she would look like that.
Oh thats good to hear. I have no idea, i just know how much bigger Stella was when she was younger than Iris is now. But it makes sense!

It really depends on husbandry. The better the husbandry the faster they grow. You have to be careful to not let them grow to fast though, it can cause long term health problems.
Zsa Zsa was under sized for her age when I got her. Now I've had to put her on a diet also, she is getting chubby to .
I think it's mostly because we just can't provide the kind of exercise they get in the wild.

 

[ownedbyP]

It really depends on husbandry. The better the husbandry the faster they grow. You have to be careful to not let them grow to fast though, it can cause long term health problems.
Zsa Zsa was under sized for her age when I got her. Now I've had to put her on a diet also, she is getting chubby to .
I think it's mostly because we just can't provide the kind of exercise they get in the wild.

Too fast? How would that occur? And how can i avoid it?

That is true lol. But i do think in my case ive also been a bit too soft. When i see those eyes looking at me. Its hard to say no

 

[xp29]

They grow to fast from over feeding. In the wild it's advantageous to grow as quickly as possible, so in captivity with an abundance of food they can be adult size in just a few months. Also they can pack on a ton of weight which is also not healthy. There is no one size fits all for feeding them so as keepers we have to be diligent for each ones needs.

 

[ownedbyP]

They grow to fast from over feeding. In the wild it's advantageous to grow as quickly as possible, so in captivity with an abundance of food they can be adult size in just a few months. Also they can pack on a ton of weight which is also not healthy. There is no one size fits all for feeding them so as keepers we have to be diligent for each ones needs.

That makes sense. I will keep this in mind, especially for the baby. But where Stella ate 30 bugs a day no problem, Iris will eat maybe 5

 

[xp29]

That makes sense. I will keep this in mind, especially for the baby. But where Stella ate 30 bugs a day no problem, Iris will eat maybe 5

I'm betting after Iris settles in that number goes up

 

[ownedbyP]

I'm betting after Iris settles in that number goes up

She has been like this the entire time at breeders as well, never ate more than 5 a day even when offered a lot more. I don't know what that is about.

Although, slight improvement, today she ate 4 from my hand, one more than yesterday. She was offered at noon and evening since she was asleep in the morning, but wasn't interested at noon. In the evening however, it was like she remembered thats when she ate the day before. She sat ready on her baskingspot!! She is also shedding like crazy, her head shed looks like a tin can that cartoon exploded lol. She also ate a bit of salad from my hand. She moves so fast that my mom was like "you better WATCH that she doesn't get out, we will never catch her" and i think thats true. Never seen a beardie move so fast lol

 

[xp29]

She has been like this the entire time at breeders as well, never ate more than 5 a day even when offered a lot more. I don't know what that is about.

Although, slight improvement, today she ate 4 from my hand, one more than yesterday. She was offered at noon and evening since she was asleep in the morning, but wasn't interested at noon. In the evening however, it was like she remembered thats when she ate the day before. She sat ready on her baskingspot!! She is also shedding like crazy, her head shed looks like a tin can that cartoon exploded lol. She also ate a bit of salad from my hand. She moves so fast that my mom was like "you better WATCH that she doesn't get out, we will never catch her" and i think thats true. Never seen a beardie move so fast lol

I didn't get Zsa Zsa out for the first couple months for the same reason. I was living in a 120 year old house with WAY to many places she could squeeze into. She was insanely fast. None of my other hatchlings had ever been that fast.
It's probably best to handle Iris on her habitat until she is a little bigger and slower.