Anorexic approx 2mo with failure to thrive

[phishphood]

I would just like to comment on all of your commitment to your beardies and all of your pets. i have followed from the beginning and have laughed and cried with all of you. I am warmed to the core with the love you feel about your pets and the love of your friends that own them. This thread has made me a people believer again, and i'd like to thank you all. and i wish you the very best with your healthy and not so healthy buddies!

 

[Esther19]

Glad you joined us, phishphood! Have you started a thread for your dragon yet?

Wow, Nathan. Half-inch is very respectable growth. I keep remembering how you said he was trying to get better, too, and that it was like a partnership. So true, and a very successful partnership, as well.
A big Whoo-hoo! for all of you!

 

[phishphood]

Thanks ester, I don't think i've started a thread..still learning how this all works. I've posted a question or two and have made a comment here or there, but not sure about pics and things yet. I have to admit I'm a creeper and read EVERYTHING lol. But i love this site it really has helped me tremendously !!

 

[diamc]

This thread has made me a people believer again, and i'd like to thank you all. and i wish you the very best with your healthy and not so healthy buddies!

Welcome, glad to hear that the site has helped you out a lot already.

Nathan, it's awesome that Strax has gained 3 grams AND 1/2" in growth too, what a great job you and your wife are doing. Can't wait to see some new pictures of him, bet his belly & tail are really filling out now too!

 

[woodnt]

Thank you for the encouragement, phishphood. We do love our little ones and have meet wonderful and helpful people on here like Diane and Esther and people going through similar problems and heartaches like Amie.

We are camping this weekend, but didn't bring Strax with us. I just didn't want a repeat of his getting stressed like he might have last weekend. He has built enough reserves IMHO that he could do with one feeding a day since he is eating a day's worth in one setting.

Diane, I think it were you who said you would like some more recent pics, so here you go.

Today, I found him here. It was so cute. Never before have I seen him get here.

After feeding (yes, I know it should have been before, but I hope he incorporates most of the food anyway), he was a 11 grams. That is one more that when I checked a few days ago. I really think he is in store/grow mode not a catabolic state anymore. He only at one larva. They have really slowed down, not moving much. It is like they know that if they are still, he'll eat them. Only one was wiggling, and that is the one he ate. He has eatten a non-wiggler before, but that was after a long time.

Just look how his pelvic bones are barely visible (which I would say he looks pretty normal now).

See how full and thick his tail is getting (I should have taken one from behind and closer, but he is basking now and I don't want to disturb him) ???

Our campgrounds are less than 10 miles away, so it is really easy to come home and feed the herps. He is doing so well, I wish our cham was that way. Our cham has gotten to where he doesn't like us even entering the room. He goes all dark and fussy. He'll lighten up after a while, and he doesn't look like he's thin (he even just shed) and he looks so much bigger, but, similar to what Yoda said to Luke, "How you get so big eating so little of the food of this kind?" (yes, I know that isn't an exact quote). Getting him out stresses him, too. It is a shame they don't like humans as much as beardies do. I think I'm going to have to find a good cham forum. I hope there is one 1/2 as good as this beardie forum.

 

[diamc]

Oh wow, just look at Strax, what a HUGE improvement. You're right, the tail is really filling out and he sure looks happy, content and very relaxed in your hand, so precious! Can't really see the pelvic bones now, you're right. Him/her weighing 11 grams now is exciting, will only get better now. You and your wife are doing an awesome job for sure!

The picture of him snuggled into the log is cute too. Does he still go into the cactus a lot?

Hope you can get your cham figured out. I've heard they don't like change either, you hadn't rearranged anything in his setup lately, right? Hope you can get more info to get the answers you need. I found this care sheet that I thought looked pretty good. Do you have a drip system set up for your cham? http://www.repticzone.com/caresheets/233.html

Have a great time camping and thanks SO much for posting those adorable pictures.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I just wanted to comment on your little baby.
You have done a great job & he is so lucky to have you help him so much. I am so happy to see him doing so well now! He looks wonderful.

Tracie

 

[woodnt]

Drache613, we are so happy to have him! Thank you for the kind words.

Diane, he still likes his cactus. I think he slept there last night. He isn't there quite as much, but he's still partial to it.

He ate a couple of BSF larva today, but was just more interested in running around. I don't know if he is getting tired of them or since he isn't "behind" on things, maybe he just doesn't feel the need to eat. Still, he is doing GREAT with the Repti-Boost. Another full day's worth just now.

Of note, he has started shedding on his chin. Initially, my wife thought it was leftover Repti-Boost (some of which it is), but it is shed as well. We're glad of that, but not surprised, either. The rest of his body doesn't show a hint of shedding.

Tonight is our last night of camping. We are breaking camp tomorrow and will be taking the RV in for repairs. Hopefully it will be soon, but this isn't the quickest (or most thorough) place, but it is the closed by over a 60 miles and it is still 40 miles away.

Strax can hopefully do better with feeders on the evening feeders, as it seems to be. The larva were much more wiggly today (I think that's why he ate 2), but he wanted to do his darting around.

I go to Reno, LA, and Las Vegas this week, but one person can easily feed Strax now that he doesn't need force-feeding (just syringe feeding).

 

[woodnt]

Well, I tried to update on Strax yest while I was connecting through Dallas, but got kicked off and then was called to board and got in to Reno too late. Strax had a couple of BSF larva for lunch yest and 5 for dinner, and 2 full day's worth of Reptiboost. Just got off the phone with my wife and happily learned that Strax ate 9 larva for lunch and 3/4's of a day's of Reptiboost (which I'll allow him after having that many larva). I suggested to try him with some crickets tonight and see if he wants some variety.

I'll be glad when he gets big enough for superworms (not as a staple, but just to occly give him some variety). I'll also suggest she try some baby dubia again tomorrow. So far, he hasn't gone for this this side of his anorexia, but like them before that.

My wife also said his tail has started to shed today, too. I'm not surprised. Praxis's tail finally started to shed and is almost done. His legs are next, then he'll no longer be dull anywhere. He just tears up those larva, but he also goes after crickets and dubia. I am thinking about ordering some hornworms, too, to mix it up a bit for him and our cham. I don't know if I can get them small enough for Strax or not. Anyone have any recommendations on that.

In the airport waiting on a flight to Vegas by way of LAX. My ankle sprain is holding up, but I'm feeling it a bit with all this walking at the airports. Working in Vegas tomorrow and then start heading home Fri morn. Be very glad to see my beloved family and animals. This is a longer than normal time away from them.

 

[diamc]

Wow, Strax is doing VERY well. He sure is eating good, he may decide to take crickets and/or dubia now. That would surely make you & your wife happy. Those are both a little more filling too. Yes, you would be able to get small enough horns for Strax, they do go very fast though. You could get very small ones and ones that just hatched. At this site, you can get 3 cups of horns (any size you want) for $25.00. www.lindasgonebuggie.com Linda is great to deal with. www.mulberryfarms.com has different sized horns too and you can order them postage paid so that you just pay for the horns. They are also great to deal with and their customer service is awesome.

How exciting that Strax is shedding his tail. Shows he is really growing now. You are both doing an awesome job with him. How's his activity level, does he tire out easily or is he pretty active all day now?

Great that Praxis tail is shedding too. Can't wait to see his nice bright colors.

Sorry to hear that your ankle is still somewhat painful. All that walking probably isn't doing it any good.

I'll bet your beloved family and all your critters will be happy to see you too. Have a safe trip.

 

[woodnt]

Been having trouble posting and forgot what all I was going to say. HAHA!. Wouldn't let me post from LAX airport last night because it said the IP # I had had spamed the forum.

Yest, Strax ate 9 BSF larva for lunch and 4 for dinner. Repti-boost a day and 3/4ths. On the activity front, it is hard to judge. We are not constantly seeing him, but we do see him frequently at different places in his viv. When I do go and check on him, he has his eyes open most of the time. No where near that sleeping like when he was really sick.

I just got off the phone from my wife who conveyed he had 5 larva for lunch and 5 for dinner and 2 days' worth of Repti-boost. He just really loves that, I'm we're happy to give it to him.

I'm flying home tomorrow but will likely be pretty beat when I get in, so on Sat, we're going to go get some Strax-sized crickets at PetSmart and see if he'll go for some. Also thinking about ordering some Strax-sized hornworms. Might try some wax-worms we have again, too. Last time he had a waxy, he Ralph'd it up (and that was over a month ago; hopefully he won't be like me and have a food aversion to the last thing he ate after vomiting).

 

[Esther19]

Your long week is finally almost over! Strax sounds like he is doing so well! It's always such a pick-me-up to hear from you. Thank you!

 

[woodnt]

OK, Strax had another good day. He ate 7 dubia roaches at lunch and 1 dubia plus 4 BSF larva for dinner. He had a day's worth of Repti-Boost at each feeding. His tail is almost done shedding. He is on the "other" cactus in the viv tonight. It seems like he is bigger than when I left.

I came home and crashed for a couple of hours and just finished dinner so I was to tired to get him out and "play." His viv light is off now. Since he is still tiny like a baby, I'm pretty hard and fast about his day/night. We are more lenient with Praxis, and my daughter just got him out and put him on my chest while I'm typing this. His legs still need to shed. He looks bigger to me, too. These guys are just sweet and cute. Praxis is now exploring around the bed. The kids kept saying he is looking really fat. I think he just looks like a healthy juvie dragon.

Soooo good to be home.

 

[diamc]

Congrats on being home, bet it does feel good. Sometimes we have to think of ourselves and just crawl away for a couple hr nap, I'm sure you needed it & it made you feel better. Strax needs his rest too so you did the right thing letting not upsetting his sleep schedule. He'll be happy to see you tomorrow & I'll bet he'll put on quite a show for you.

Sounds like he is doing VERY well, what a great appetite he has. It's good to hear that he is quite active in his viv & also looks wide awake rather than sleeping a lot like he did when he wasn't doing well. Both of you should be very proud with how far he's come already.

Bet they've both grown since you were gone. Aren't they just the sweetest? :love5: It's amazing how quickly we can get so attached to them. Bet Praxis is enjoying himself right now.

Thanks so much for all the updates.

 

[woodnt]

Praxis crawled up in my luggage and fell asleep. I miss the days when he could fall asleep under my hand, but I'm glad he is getting big and strong. I can't believe the difference a couple of months make. I'll bet I'll be saying the same thing about Strax 2 months from now.

Esther, I'm glad it is uplifting for you to hear these good reports about Strax.

Diane, we are so very happy and pleased with his progress. He has come such a long way.