Hoggle... My new baby!

Hello everyone...

Update:
I haven't been on in a while - I moved from CT to FL and was forced to part with my beardie Falkor.
We did not have room in the truck w/ furniture and our 2 cats and took several days to get to FL (I couldn't convince anyone to overnight her to me). The good news is my friend Amber is a huge reptile lover - she has a tegu, 3 snakes and now Falkor. I gave her everything she would need to take care of her and she send me pictures all the time, I know she's in good hands (ofcourse I still miss her terribly).

Well, we have been living in FL for just over a month and I decieded I would start looking for a tank on Craigs List and saving for a beardie at the upcoming Reptile Expo scheduled for June in Tampa. Well, Charles at Tundra Dragons was giving away a beardie for cost of shipping only so I emailed him... I must be one lucky girl, because it all worked out (earlier then I planned to get a beardie - but I feel so blessed, missing Falkor hasn't been easy). Charles mailed this little guy to me on Wednesday, and he arrived yesterday evening. Wow- he was so small compared to Falkor's 19" (but she was smaller than he is when I got her), it's so weird holding a tiny beardie, lol.

Anyways, he is such cute little guy. These pictures don't do him justice (he's got such beautiful colors already). He's got quite a bit of stress marks, but I guess if I was in a box for 24hrs I would be stressed too... :shock: I was trying to think of a fun name for him and I came up with "Hoggle" from the movie Labrynth. Let me know what you guys think of my new pooper... :?:

He was a bit shy when I first put him in his new home...

Here's his tank for now - I'm hoping to have something nicer in a month or two...

He was glass surfing after about an hour of being shocked in the corner, lol...

Here he is, all settled in before lights out!

 

[Momto3boys]

I'm sorry you had to leave Falkor behind But it's nice that you get updates on her.

Hoggle is a total cutie!!!

My best friend had a pot bellied pig named Hoggle :love5: It's a great name!

 

[Angiecountrygirl]

Thank you Brandy...
I do miss Falkor, but having Hoggle makes it easy
(and like I said, I know Falkor is in a good home too).
Wow- Someone else used the name, that's cool

 

[Sadona]

Thats terrible what you had to go through. At least Falkor is with somebody you trust!
Hoggle is beautiful. How is he doing with being handled?

 

[Angiecountrygirl]

Thanks Sadona...
I am upset about having to let Falkor go, but Amber takes real good care of her and as long as that's the case I feel better about it (I just don't want it to seem I'm replacing her, because she was one of a kind and that will never happen). I am glad I got this new lil' guy- and I'm sure he'll be happy here (he does make me happy, but again... just fills another spot in my heart, not replacing Falkor).
Hoggle is a little jumpy, but I've been trying to keep myself from holding him for a few days because I know about the "relocation stress", and he has alot of stress marks (although they are finally starting to fade). I gav him a bath yesterday, but no poop. With Falkor the minues she got in the water she pooped, I just hope he goes soon (and even with a 1/2hr bath- nothing). He's eating alittle (maybe 30 crickets a day - that's no where near what Falkor ate when I got her, this one must want to watch his figure, lol). He touched his salad - but when I say that, I mean that's about it (I haven't noticed him really eating out of it (but I continue to give him a fresh salad daily- hopefully he'll eat it sooner or later). Falkor ate 1-2 large salads daily, so I'm just a bit nervous. He's very small- Hoggle is 5mths (per Charles at Tundra Dragons) and only 10" and 50grams... hopefully he'll bulk up soon (Falkor was almost 17" at that age, lol.
Well, only time will tell - I just hope he warms up soon.

 

[Sadona]

Most beardies go through the adjustment stage when arriving to a new home, and they eat at different rates. Some of em just don't eat much! Cinder is one of those types. The most crickets he has eaten for me has been 11, and I have tried everything...hes got all the right lights and temps and he is 100% healthy and active, just doesn't eat much (I have no idea why!)
I would give Hoggle another week, he will probably start picking at his salad around then. Try holding a piece of it up to his face, maybe even try to pet him a little. Brightly colored fruit and vegetables grab their attention - try putting some pieces of carrots, mangos, red peppers or strawberries in his salad. My boy loves his carrots, but not so much the leafy greens.
Hoggle's appetite will get better as time goes by...hes just gotta get used to things.

 

[tundradragons]

hey Angie,

Thought I'd stop and say hi!

I personally love the name hoggle and I'm glad I could help you fill a void.

On a side note, he was never one much for the frozen veggies, he really devoured the kale and collards I gave him though, so I'm sure his salad appetite will come around, my hatchlings have been offered and eating greens since day 1 of hatch. I can tell you he never ate a LOT at one sitting, he was more of a nibbler, but he'd finish his entire bowl over the course of the day. (I leave a bowl of collards or kale for them while I'm at work to nibble on, it stays fresh for a good length of time so they can eat a lot of it.) 17" at 5 months is HUGE, the biggest one I had at his age was the red I had at 13", and she ate like a cow, non stop! how big is falkor now? srry off topic but now i'm interested in that size!

I keep detailed hatch records so if you ever want, I can give you his exact hatch date

please feel free to ask any questions,

Charles

 

[Angiecountrygirl]

Sadona-
Thank you for the advice... I was using fresh mangos in the salad - but I just tried the carrots yesterday you recommended, he loves them. I'll make sure not to give him too much though, I think they are very high (almost too high) in Vitamin A. Well, it worked, it brought him to the salad and now he's eating it, lol.
Charles-
I can't stress it enough, "I love Hoggle", and "Thank you so very, very much". He is so adorable and uch a gentle little pooper. He's starting to eat the greens and rest of his salad - I think he was just warming up. He's even eating more crickets and pooped in yesterday's bath.
As far as Falkor goes- she was 17" when I had her 5mths, but to be honest she came from a petstore. I was told she was only a couple weeks old when I got her, but I think they didn't know what they were talking about - so there's really no way for me to know for sure. Hoggle is only my 2nd beardie so I only have Falkor's past to go by. Either way, I'm sure Hoggle is right where he needs to be in size- I just have to get into the groove of being more gentle when handling him because he's smaller, lol. Also, I'm glad you like the name Charles.

So, just to let anyone reading this know... My little Hoggle is such a cutie, I love him to pieces, and you
should all join Tundra Dragon's mailing list and think about buying one of the new hatchlings when available. Hoggle has amazing colors - the pictures do him no justice. He's very sweet- you can tell he's been handled. Basically, I will be ordering from Charles again if I deciede to get another beardie in the future and I'm spreading the word now as well.

P.s. Here's a new picture of my lil' guy...

 

[tundradragons]

so how's hoggle?

 

[Angiecountrygirl]

Charles,
I tried writing you back last week, but I kept getting "fail" on the email.
I was having trouble - but meant to write you again when my email started working again, I'm sorry.
Unfortunately, due to personal reasons I had to part with my little buddy Hoggle (the job I was promised fell through, and I no longer had enough money to care for him ).
I gave him to our friend who lives down here and has a son who was excited about caring for him (they also have 3 other beardies). I can visit as often as I want- He's doing well (but I miss him much ). I guess I should have waited until I started the job before making a commitment - but I really believed it was going to work out. I have new pics of him I will email you tomorrow with his measuremnts, and just to let you know he is gorgeous. He has shed twice already - growing well, and his colors are beautiful. I will keep you updated (I'm glad I can still check up on him). I will talk with you soon.
Thank you for everything,
Angie

 

[tundradragons]

aww,

I'm sorry to hear that Angie, I'd love to see the pic of him when you have a chance, were you able to find a job yet?

I know the market down there is tough.

Charles