Brand New Beardie

[sheilapb]

Hello all. My name is Sheila and today my family and I adopted our very first beardie...Carl. Carl is a 2 month old leatherback and is just beautiful. We're very excited and a bit nervous as this is our first reptile. This has been a long time coming (2 years) and want to make sure we get it right.

Have looked at many sites and have talked to quite a few people but feel a little overwhelmed with the amount of information and it being so different from site to site and person to person.

I read another poster's comments about being told to not feed your beardie when you first bring it home for a few days to give it time to de-stress as that's what we were told as well. I'm nervous with Carl being so young and worry about dehydration. I'm thinking we'll try feeding a Carl a few crickets in the morning and just go from there.

Then we were told to feed him once a day while all the sites say to feed baby beardies from as much as 2-4 times a day until up to 5 months...what is a mother to do?

Then what's all this about wrapping your beardies up in fleece blankets at night, am I supposed to do that?

How long can you keep them out of their tanks while holding and socializing with them before they get too cold?

Ah, so many questions this new beardie mom has!

 

[Rankins]

Welcome to the world of reptiles
Tell us more about your enclosure temps (basking and cool side), lights, and substrate.
As for how many times a day to feed a baby...I would try 4 times a day, if he doesn't eat, then 3 times, but at least twice a day.
As for the fleece blanket...a lot of people do it but it isn't necessary. I have never done it......

 

[Rankins]

Forgot about hydration...my answer depends on what substrate you use. Babies should be on newspaper or tiles. Then you can mist him a couple times a day and offer veggies.

 

[sheilapb]

Here's all the info on the enclosure. Purchased everything from a very reputable reptile center in Mesa, AZ.

*Age = 2 months (hatch date 11/4/16)
*Size = 6"
*Size of Enclosure = 3’ x 2’ x 2’; solid enclosure with two vents on the back wall and glass sliding doors
*Temperature = cool side is 80 degrees Fahrenheit; basking side is 90 degrees Fahrenheit; basking spot is 109 degrees Fahrenheit and overnight temperature is 71 degrees Fahrenheit (temperature measured with a mercury thermometer)
*Type of Lighting = Basking side has a Solar Brite (R30 Frost Mercury Vapor) 100 watt UVA/UVB/Heat lamp (internal/built-in) and then there is a 23” fluorescent tube light in a hood that is 24" centered in the enclosure; not sure what type of fluorescent tube light it is but can call the reptile shop to find out
*Type of Substrate = paper towels
*Diet = have attempted to feed a few 3/8” crickets on the day we got him and on day 2 but beardie is not interested; did eat a little mashed banana (which I understand is to be used only as an occasional fruit)

My son has been handling Carl today and I have noticed very little signs of stress lines/marks. Carl's belly has been an almost solid creamy color.

Carl as defecated and urinated twice since we got him late yesterday afternoon.

I do like the idea of using tiles as opposed to paper towels. It seems like they would clean up a lot easier. What type of tile is recommended...porcelain floor tiles, slate?

When spritzing your beardie do you do it inside the enclosure or outside the enclosure? If inside the enclosure do you worry about the humidity levels?

Thanks for the insight.