Beardie noob

[mtchillin]

Well, I guess not too noob. Just found this site a week or so ago and got the beardie a month ago. We (wife and I) bought him for our son who's 10, soon to be 11. There is a local guy that has hundreds of reptiles and does shows around here all the time. My son really liked the lizards and the guy stronly suggested beardies..so here we are! Fireball (our son named him) is a 2-3 months old Sandfire. He is in a 40 gal. tank (breader size I think) and is currently on Aspen chips...The pet store has all there berdies on the stuff and recommended it, but after reading some other post I am starting to wonder...Anyhow, Fireball has been a good pet and is very fun and educational for our son too! I'll be posting my noob questions on the other boards...or else this post would be way too long

 

[DemonicWolfie]

Hola! Since I'm a "noob" too, I can't say that this is totally correct advice BUT it just makes sense :
The aspen chips are kind of a bad idea.. can he try to eat some? He might get impaction...

But, anyway - welcome to the boards!

 

[kreger101]

yeah, you have to get him off those aspen chips, because if he eats even a few of them he could get impacted and possibly die. since hes still young i would recommend you buy reptile carpet, tile, or non-adhesive shelf liner. pm me for any questions.

Jason K

 

[mtchillin]

Yeah, I figured that. We plan to get him off it this weekend. He does get some in his mouth on occasion but seems to spit it out easy enough, I don't think he has actually digested any, but better to be safe. Probably go with the shelf liner because I cannot find the capet in my size locally.

thanks

 

[mtchillin]

Well, he goes to the vet today for his first check-up...good thing too because he has not eaten for the last two days and yesterday was very very sleepy, sometimes not even opening his eyes when I patted him, kinda scary. :shock:

 

[mtchillin]

Sorry, duplicate post

 

[mtchillin]

Bad news


[ Invalid URL Removed / p= t=35062 f= ]

 

[Bianca]

I am so sorry about your beardie So the vet thought it was parasites?

 

[mtchillin]

I am so sorry about your beardie So the vet thought it was parasites?

He thought that may be the case. He wanted to try to get his appitite back up and do a test on his poop. As it turns out it was too late : (

I don't know. This being our first reptile pet maybe we didn't see the sings? But really, up until the last two days he seemed fine...eating crickets, alert and active for the most part. I think a lot had to do with how young he was. From what I have been told when they get parasites at a young age they can go down fast.

It's been an emotional weekend and, although my son was very heartbroken, he says he wants to try again as Fireball was a good pet dispite his short time with us. I am hoping we can find a good sub-adult/adult. Would't those be a little easier than babies?