Foster

[muddboy2]

Hi everyone.
I brought home Foster about 3 weeks ago....he's about a year old. I had been eyeing him at my local pet store since he was a juvenile and he was originally housed with 3 other beardies. Two of them were sold and the third died a few months ago, although from what I don't know. When I saw Foster was moved to a smaller enclosure he seemed really depressed and lonely. ( if reptiles can actually feel that way ) I decided to buy him and give him a good home. The people at the pet store absolutely loved him and hated to see him go. I know he was well taken care of there but I still brought him to a reptile vet and found he had parasites. He got some parasite meds and also got an enema since he hadn't pooped in over a week. He is slowly getting adjusted to his new home and he spends a lot of time in my huge screened-in porch basking in the sun. He's not a very active beardie but I think he's just a lazy branchpotato. He's never really been out of his pet store enclosure except when it was being cleaned so I think he's enjoying his outdoor time. I started researching beardies a year ago and have learned a lot but I'm still a bit confused about a few things. So here I am...hoping to learn even more about beardies from the people who love these wonderful, sweet lizards. I'm so glad I have Foster and I want to make sure he has a happy, healthy and long life.

 

[Bianca]

Hello and welcome :wave: Good for you for giving that beardie a better home!

 

[barti1]

Can you give us some info on your set up, and beardie? Welcome to the forum, I hope you enjoy your time here!

 

[glowgirl]

Welcome to the forum honey ... If I can be of help ... Just Call :wink:


Big Hug's ...... Glowgirl xxx

 

[muddboy2]

Foster spends half his time outside in the very safe screened-in porch and half in his 40gal breeder enclosure. At the pet store he had that walnut shell substrate ( which I suspect may be the cause of his cage mate's death ) but now he is on a reptile carpet, but I am thinking of using playsand. He has a basking light at one end of his cage with a an average temp of 95oF and the cool end is around 75-80oF depending on the room temp. Both are measured with digital thermometers with probes. He has a ReptiSun 10.0 UVB light and currently his lights are on timers for 12/12. He has a shallow water bowl ( which I've not seen him near or in yet ), a basking stone, a large piece of driftwood that he sometimes climbs, a hide box which he uses at night and a food dish for his salad and superworms. He doesn't seem to like crickets much but he devours the superworms like crazy. He hasn't eaten a lot of greens yet, but I think as his parasites get under control he will eat more...he does pick out the peas though. He's been to the vet's twice...both times he had enemas and they found a huge urate plug that was hard for him to squeeze out. Once that was gone he #2d a LOT! How often do adult beardies get a BM? I am uncertain if I should be giving him a vitamin supplement? I dust his supers with calcium powder, but not at every feeding. He doesn't seem to want to bask much and sometimes he just hides all day. I know he is adjusting to his new home but I am concerned that he doesn't seem to want to bask that much. I give him at least (2) 15 minutes baths per week and I lightly mist him once a day, which he seems to really enjoy. He weighs 510 grams and is 17" long. I notice that when he is sleeping his beard is partially black, but when he wakes up it goes away. He is very sweet and loves to be held, but I know he is not well and I am worried about him. The vet seems to think that he will be fine once the parasite meds do their job but I think they are making him ill. I spend a lot of time taking care of him and I want to make sure I am doing everything right. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.