First time baby beardie mum to Little Billi x tips needed :)

Hi there, I'm Emma and I live in the UK.
I recently became a first time beardie mummy, and I'm very excited and nervous about it. I found this website and really enjoyed reading other posts, i believe I can learn a lot more on here from other beardie lovers than other internet websites. So I decided to join and become a part of this fun and happy place, and share my beardie experiences.

Il start at the beginning.....
I got a baby beardie on Monday the 6th of September, me and my boyfriend went to a breeders house and saw lots of babies to choose from, it was a very hard decision but we finally chose a baby to take home with us. He gave us a few crickets and sent us on our way, is set up my vivarium in advance and put our little baby in on his basking spot to warm him up a little, (i say him, but I haven't a clue at this stage as he's only a tiny little dot) 6 inches from head to tail and 10 weeks old. We then offered him a few crickets and he gobbled down 4. I didn't bother him too much the first night as I wanted him to settle in.

Me and my boyfriend decided that he looked like a boy but just incase he wasn't we should try and find a unisex name, we named a few but none seemed to fit, then we said Billi and we knew straight away that he looked just like a billy. His full names Billi Reptar Soup-Dragon. As I'm using my phone I can't upload pictures but he's a real cutie.

Since then little Billi has been having about 15 crickets a few times a day so he's eating really well and pooping 1 to 2 times a day (they look like little bird poo's which I was suprised about lol black and white haha) <~~~hope this is right

He's doing really well and I'm so glad he's eating properly, he still gets a little dark under his belly now and again is this normal at first as I don't want him to be stressed or upset.
Charlie pie my little pookieman (dog) loves him already, he's grown up with mice and rabbits and cats and loves all little creatures he even kisses the mice.
Well Billi should be having another feed soon so I best go and prepare the crix.

I'd really appreciate any tips or advice as I'm a first time beardie-mum and would love for people to share my journey with me

Il keep you posted on billi's progress and try and get a pic uploaded (difficult on my phone)

Bosh x

 

[definitions]

well congrats on becoming a new beardie owner.. They are fun and exciting I am sure you will enjoy Billy. From what you are saying sounds like everything is good that you have going on . He is eating 15 crickets a couple times a day.. Perfect amount!! Try to offer hm a nice green salad see if he takes to that. He should if he came from a breeder well I can't say he should but, usually they do. You should be dusting your crickets with a Calcium powder at every feeding. Babie beardies need lots of calcium. If you could please explain your tank size and your lighting and heating source.

 

[Livey]

hello and welcome!
baby beardies eat alot!
what temps have you got the viv at?
the stress will just be relocation stress it will go in about 1 week

 

[xboshbeardiex]

Hi
Thanks for replying, yes I have been dusting them with calcium every time he seems to enjoy his crickets but he's only had about 25 today in total :S
I've also dusted them with reptivite once, this week, I put fresh salad in everyday. Curly kale, celery leaves, and yellow pepper but he doesn't eat it, I tried making it wriggle but he tried one piece and realised it was salad lol. Guess he's not the vegie type but i will def keep trying, is there a set feeding time that works best for you? Which could help make him eat his greens? He's only 6 inches or so and I'm worried hes too small but he does have a fat little tummy. he's 11 weeks old tomorrow I will have had him a week then
He's in quite a large viv tbh 1 meter by 50 by 50 cm
He has a 60 watt heat lamp, the basking spot is about 100f and the cool side 80ish he has a UV light which stretches the length of his cage (possibly the reptisun 10 or something) can't remember the name off the top of my head, he has a hide but he's never been in it, he does like to climb his fake plants on the warmer side(usually sleeping In them)
Hope this helps

Emma x

 

[jeritta]

Hi and welcome. It sounds like you are already becoming a good slave. We are all slaves here to our beardies.
It is good you are dusting your crix. Also make sure 2 times per week you dust with vitamins. I usually do calcium during week and vitamins on weekends just to keep a schedule i can remember. It is also good you are offering salad though at that age they do not usually eat much of it. there is a link on here somewhere to a site with a list of foods you can try for mixing in your salads but I can't remember it right now hopefully someone else will. Good luck with Billi and again welcome.

 

[definitions]

Here is that link
http://www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com/Nutrition.html

 

[xboshbeardiex]

Hi all,
Thanks for the tips and the link I will try some of those when he starts trying his salad a little more.
Yes I give him reptivite at weekends, that's the vitamins and calcium during the week too, much easier to remember which ones for which day, so is his size a worry or is he ok?
I'm such a worrier and don't want him not to grow properly!
But thanks for all the help, I've been a slave for the past two years with my little Charlie so I'm sure Billi won't be a problem
Emma x

 

[beardie parents]

Hi Emma, Welcome to our on-line home. I just want to let you know, the Reptisun 10 tube uvb is a good one but, since you are in the UK, there is one that is a little better, it's called the Arcadia 12%. I say it's better because I've read Tracie say that. She's our resident expert on uvb. She works with a lady on your side of the pond named Francis who, if I remember correctly, is a retired vet. Anyway, other's over there have posted that it's cheaper than the reptisun 10 tube as the reptisun 10 gets imported to your country and the Arcadia is made in Europe, I believe.

 

[xboshbeardiex]

HELLLOOOOOO

a little Billi update!!

Billi has been growing big and strong hes been eating bathing and pooping like clockwork which im soooo pleased about!! i was worried id have a problem dragon but from day 1 hes been wonderful!! falling asleep on me and being the cutest little thing ever!!

i finally managed to get some pics too!!

here he is chillin after he had eaten all his crickets up!! full belly and digestion time!!

he's even gone through his full shed!! which went very smoothly, he only went off his food a little for one day, still had 10 crickets or so tho!! nothing can stop our bilbo from eating!!
still not sure if he is a she yet! had a look the other day but im no expert and i think he may be too little to tell yet, i will keep checking tho!!

well nearly feeding time so i best shoot!! hope the pic works and u can see hoe beautiful he is, i have looaaddss but havent put them on my comp yet!! will get to it!!

 

[spikerocks]

Lil Bill is too cute! U might want to try and give him a bath for hydration. Babies that little don't drink standing water normally and if he's not eating his greens, he could probably use some H2O. Just fill a plastic container with luke warm water (like u would for a baby) and only fill it so the water reaches his elbows. Even if he doesn't drink, he will absorb water thru his vent. Three of my four dragons love bath time, the third tolerates it but he does drink while in there. I use a plastic tote for baths, almost like a litter box.

Good luck with him and keep us posted!!!!
Jane