Care after shipping?

[Sadona]

Hello all, I will be getting a male baby beardie on Tuesday via shipment from HowlinGaleDragon. I can't wait! :love5:
I will be there when he arrives, but I have no idea what to do after that. Do I immediately put him in his new tank with the basking spot already warmed? Do I hold him for a while? Do I feed him? Do I give him a bath? Should I just leave him be for a few days, or should I start handling him right away?
I have no idea what to do... I want to make sure I'm prepared!
For those of you who have gotten a beardie shipped to you...how did you take care of it the first few days?
Thanks!

 

[Gail]

I usually give a bath or at least offer a drink of water, then let him bask for a hour or two before you offer food. I would keep handling to a minimum for the first week so he can settle in.

 

[Sadona]

Ok, sounds like a good plan. I doubt that I will be able to keep the handling to a minimum :silent: , but I will work on resisting the urge to cuddle him too much. lol

 

[spyder79]

yep immediate warm soak followed by drying him and putting him in his tank. To lower the length of relocation stress cover the sides of the tank so that he cant see out for the first few days. Then slowly remove one side of covering at a time. This should greatly lower the likelyhood of acclimation problems.

 

[Twobeardieguy]

I agree! :wink:

 

[Ragginout]

yep immediate warm soak followed by drying him and putting him in his tank. To lower the length of relocation stress cover the sides of the tank so that he cant see out for the first few days. Then slowly remove one side of covering at a time. This should greatly lower the likelyhood of acclimation problems.

What if you have three sides painted black to make the tank feel more secure? Go ahead and cover up the main window? or dont worry about it?

 

[spyder79]

make sure you paint the outside and that it dries thoroughly so that no fumes affect your dragon. Then yeah just cover up the front for a few days.

 

[Ragginout]

make sure you paint the outside and that it dries thoroughly so that no fumes affect your dragon. Then yeah just cover up the front for a few days.

The tank was painted prior to being used as an aquarium so it's long since been painted lol. I'll have to find a solid piece of felt around the house to use as a shade then. Thanks for the tip.