Barney

[Flandergon]

Barney is a rescue lizard and our first reptile. He is estimated to be 5+ years. I have no idea who owned him before us. He was a christmas present for our 9 year old son, who just adores him. I want to be clear here - he fascinates me, he has a ton of personality - but I just can't bring myself to touch him yet. We have had him about a month and are still on a steep learning curve. Barney is missing a few toes.

His tank is fine - it is huge, about 55 gallons I believe. We are lucky in that we have a pet shop nearby that specializes in reptiles and he helped me set the tank up. He gets loads of out of the tank time every day, and seems to defecate about 2-3 times a week and always after his bath, which he loves. He is alert, climbs around his tank - is starting to recognise different voices, takes great interest in his surroundings. He has a favourite wide branch under his basking light that he just sprawls all over, looking much like a teenager in a hammock.

My biggest concern is that Barney is not getting enough food. We took him out of his tank and fed him his crickets in a different container the other day and he went nuts for the crickets. Turns out he is a crap hunter of crickets even when they are in front of him and he went from 5-8 a day to 20 yesterday. I feel he has lost a little of his condition since we got him. He simply does not eat his veggies. If we stand in front and wave pieces of bok choy for what seems like forever he might, might take a bite. If not, the vegies just languish. I feel I have tried every kind of fruit and vege my local shop has. (We do live in Asia and can't get things like collard or mustard greens, but we of course can get bok choy) He is adept at avoiding the pellets I mix in with the salad.

I would like to feed him a little baby food. I have read they can get addicted to it, and I have no problem with that. I really want to get a little of his condition back. I don't think he is de-hydrated as his messes have pieces of urate in. We mist several times a day and he gets a bath on the weekend.

Other than food, he is a happy chappy and welcome addition to the family.

 

[brittani299]

Hello Not all adult beardies will eat greens right away. You can try putting some greens on top of feeders so that he might grab a green with a feeder. I wouldn't mist the cage anymore. That can lead to a uri. Beardies need low humidity.

 

[Flandergon]

Here is Barney chillin' on my Son's arm.

I see I have been a little unclear. I don't mist his cage, just his head a little bit at a time, as shown me by my local reptile specialist.

We are thinking he has been kept for a while in a cage much too small. Now that he has been excercised thoroughly, his movements around his tank are much, much more fluid, and he is getting better and better at catching his crickets.

He is very easy going and loves being picked up and held - even climbing on a hand once it enters the cage. I just want to get his diet sorted so I can relax.

 

[brittani299]

Cute

 

[zandi202]

Barney sure is a cutie.

I just want to mention that 55g isn't the best tank. A beardie needs a 40g. I know it sounds smaller, but it has more floor space than a 55g. 55g are meant to be fist tanks where as 40g are more for reptiles and other critters. More floor space to run around.

 

[Flandergon]

Sorry, I did reply but I guess it did not go through. I am really happy with the tank but I may have mislead you. I deal in metric and I pretty much guessed the size. It is a custom made tank with lots of air vents both top and bottom. It has fantastic doors so cleaning the tank is a breeze. It is high, but also has a good floor space. He has his hide, on top of which he basks. That is two levels. He has a really comfy branch near the light that he loves, then it is slightly cooler down. On the cool side of the tank he has more climbing stuff and he can wander around the bottom or climb. All of which he does. He has about 6 basking spots that he likes.

I finally got up the guts to hold him and am now smitten! He is a great snuggler. We had a BBQ on Sunday and he was passed around from pillar to post and seemed very happy with the experience. Converted more than a couple of people to the lizard as a pet thing.

Happy Chinese New Year
Lisa

 

[DixieLonestar20x]

What are the measurements of your tank ( Length x width x height)

Post above is correct about the 55. If you haven't dealt much with aquariums and such the sizes can seem misleading.

Congrats and your rescue beardie though! An adult is a good one to start with.


- Justin