Hello! Meet *Cho*

[BeardiesDen]

Hello everyone We finally went down and got Cho, our first bearded dragon. He is a boy, approx 3-4 yrs old. Previous owners got him in 2011 as a baby from a pet store. So we made the 4 hr trip into no-where and found *Rhino* (we changed the name to Cho- not sure if anyone here watches The Mentalist?). His tank was the one they had him in since he was a baby and is half the size we have him in now. He was fed on frozen peas/carrots/etc, mealworms (staple/ mealworms every 2 days) and spinach :? Planning on changing his diet to dandelion greens as a staple with frozen and fresh veges in his salad every so often, butternut squash daily and crickets daily. Will still feed mealworms but only a few times a week.
They didn't bathe him because he apparently hated water :?: Going to try that out next week if he looks like he's settled in. He really enjoyed the car ride, pooped twice :roll: and doesn't have any stress marks at all I think he measures 45cm, but haven' properly weighed/measured yet so will do that asap. Just wanted to know if I can/when I should start handling him properly as in taking him around outside on a leash and letting him out inside the house? Owners said he loved running around, he's so friendly, he spent the whole ride on my arm (except when he pooped )

He's such a cutie!
Just wanted to let all you guys know Any advice on what to do with new beardie? I'll probably leave him to it for the first week so he gets settled. Will post pics soon- photo bucket isn't working

 

[waltersgirl]

Best to let them acclimate for a week or so. Only handle as necessary for care. I have two beardies I got as adults and both rode home on me too. One was a 3 hour ride other was just 30 minutes. I personally ignored the acclimate for a week or so advise...but then again I never was one to listen. Popeye my male is a spoiled thing and gets melancholy if I don't spend enough time with him in the week. He starts hiding, doesn't eat as well, etc. I sure love him and he gets to go to work with me once a week when the weather permits ( I own my own business and have a cage set up there.) Pumpkin is my female and until recently when she started being under the weather was full of life and personality. She had never taken a bath before either and was 2.5 years old. I started her with a short bath on day 3 in my home by putting nice warm water in the tub and holding her on my hand in the water for about 5 minutes. I slowly worked to have her more off my hand at each bath until she was standing in the water on her own. Within 2 weeks she was exploring the water on her own, walking around, sitting on the rock I put in the tub with them. She doesn't swim like my Popeye who was given baths since he was a baby, but she doesn't seem to mind her baths. She drinks from the tub often (I use reptisafe in the water since it is city water) as well as licking the drips I drop on her nose in the tub.
Congrats on your new addition. Enjoy Cho and the joys that a beardy brings to your home.
P.S. They have a beard...just depends on if they feel the need to show it to you! And while no fire is breathed...they will add spark to your life.

 

[BeardiesDen]

thank you that's helped me a little Served him his first salad this morning with dandelion greens, will see if he eats them. The previous owner told me that sometimes he has days (sometimes a week) where he hides under his log and doesn't eat as much, because they are a young couple w/ first baby they didn't have as much time anymore for him. Sounds like what you described when your Popeye gets melancholy...

thanks again! will keep updated

 

[BeardiesDen]

He isn't eating his salad (not surprised, he used to only eat spinach and peas) but he only ate 2 mealworms! I tried giving him crux but he didnt even look at them! I think he may already be underweight, will update soon. He has been digging so I put in a blanket to see if he wanted to make a sleep-whole :/ he has also been climbing his log and trying to climb onto the UVB???! I put the log down a bit. He seems a bit afraid but hasn't shown any stress marks i don't know whats wrong.

 

[BeardiesDen]

He ate crickets today!!! So happy because he had no interest at all before, he didn't eat anything these last few days except mealies I put his bowl in a different place where he usually likes to sit and he ate all of the dandelion greens/2 blueberries I added I got home and fed 4 mealies, tried a cricket but he wouldn't eat it. Showed him a mealworm he ate it straight away So i crushed (only a little) the cricket (it was half dead feel sorry for it now) and put it next to him and he ate it!!! :mrgreen: woohoo

 

[BeardiesDen]

he measures 47cm / 18" but he is so hyper i couldn't weigh him he wouldn't stay still :roll: :lol: