How old? What type?

[MissMeela]

Hi there!

I'm new to this forum as I have recently rescued a BD who was being neglected The guy didn't have a choice..I was taking him! He told me that Ruger was "about a year old"...any ideas?? And what type might Ruger be..?? Any thoughts would be appreciated! I have a veiled chameleon and 3 tortoises, so I'm not new to owning reptiles, just would like a better idea about him!

 

[kingofnobbys]

He's a central.

If you are asking about his morph (colouring) sorry , can't help there , not into that kind of thing.

His scales appear normal so not a leatherback or silkback.

If he's been neglected, he's probably been stunted in the growth area so he'll be smaller than your'd expect for a similar beardie who's been cared for properly and given the nutrition and UV and heating he needs to thrive , grow faster and develop properly.

He'll never catchup, but hey, so long as he is has good care from now on , he still has about 12mnths growth in him and he can still have a long and happy, enriched and healthy life.

I note he has a hammock, is it a mesh type ? ..... if so I'd remove it and replace it with a nice bit of drift wood or a fallen tree branch section. (the risk is nails getting caught in the mesh and his hurting his toes / fingers and feet/hands and legs / arms getting un'tangled').

Also note you have him on sand - if it's calci-sand - that stuff is lethal for tasty feely lizards like beardies when they ingest it.
best not have sand as a bedding at all IMO, ,loose laid floor or wall tiles (no glue no grout) are pretty easy maintenance, as are lino , paper toweling .

 

[MissMeela]

Thank you for your reply!

Not worried about the color type, Central is the answer I was looking for. Both of my Sulcata tortoises are rescues and one of them is stunted too as "she" was malnourished and not cared for correctly. So I guess I just have a "Small" family!

His hammock is made out of an old T-shirt, no mesh or anything. He does have a piece of bark-like drift rood on the other side of his enclosure leaning on a rock so it's propped up.

The sand he is on is Repti-sand, only half of his enclose, the other half is small rocks, like aquarium rock..and I have heard everything from its ok to it's bad! As bad as his enclosure was I HAD to change it ASAP and where I live I only have Walmart as an option. I currently have new heat lamps and UVB lamps being shipped to my house, hopefully by Friday so I can be assured I know how old the lights are and that hrs getting proper UVB.

I am going to the next town over to get more supplies Saturday so I will definitely get some tiles from like Home Depot. Thank you for that!!

Soon he will be moved to a bigger enclosure, just needing to either buy our build a lid for it. Can't wait to let him have not room to run! I can tell how much happier he is! It warms my heart!!

Thanks again for your help!!

 

[kingofnobbys]

Thank you for your reply!

Not worried about the color type, Central is the answer I was looking for. Both of my Sulcata tortoises are rescues and one of them is stunted too as "she" was malnourished and not cared for correctly. So I guess I just have a "Small" family!

His hammock is made out of an old T-shirt, no mesh or anything. He does have a piece of bark-like drift rood on the other side of his enclosure leaning on a rock so it's propped up.

The sand he is on is Repti-sand, only half of his enclose, <<< personally I don't use sand in my beardie's tanks , I know many folks claim stuff like Playsand is safe for them , but I don't want to risk it.
the other half is small rocks, like aquarium rock..and I have heard everything from its ok to it's bad! <<<< if the stones are small enough to be swallowed by the beardie I'd remove them - better safe than sorry.
A friend's beardie ate a blue plastic bead it found on the floor (likely in her daughter's bedroom on the floor) and the impaction was so bad the vet had to open up the beardie - which died on the operating table - it was so ill from the rotting / putrifying food in it's guts that it couldn't pass it's immune system was breaking down. ..... as result we've become obsessive about ensuring there is never anything on the floors that any of our pet lizards can ingest that might do them harm.
As bad as his enclosure was I HAD to change it ASAP and where I live I only have Walmart as an option. I currently have new heat lamps and UVB lamps being shipped to my house, hopefully by Friday so I can be assured I know how old the lights are and that hrs getting proper UVB.

I am going to the next town over to get more supplies Saturday so I will definitely get some tiles from like Home Depot. Thank you for that!!

Soon he will be moved to a bigger enclosure, just needing to either buy our build a lid for it. Can't wait to let him have not room to run! I can tell how much happier he is! It warms my heart!!

Thanks again for your help!!

 

[AHBD]

Although he's a bit thin he looks reasonably healthy. He may grow a bot more or might just fill out a ittle bit with good care + regular meals, but don't go overboard with heavy insect meals , this can lead to gout.

I do want to strongly urge you to take the stones/gravel out. Hungry and bored beardies love to to taste + swallow foreign objects...these forums are full of threads where beardies ate rubber bands, coins, hair scrunchies, twisties,plastic toys ,sandwich bags, band aids and many rocks.

For his flooring you can use newspaper or non adhesive shelf liner [ from any Walmart or similar store ]

 

[NBGwen]

Glad you were able to rescue him! No doubt you'll be a much better home than what he had

 

[MissMeela]

I will definitely change the bedding in his enclosure!!

Do I need a background on the back so that it's more "enclosed" making him feel safer?

My first thought that he was thin, so I was trying to fatten him up a little by feeding him twice a day. All together, (not all at once), he gets crickets, dubia roaches, dark greens, superworms and wax worms. I didn't realize that too many bugs can cause a problem too! Ok, I'll get this right soon.. Thank goodness for forums like this with REAL info!!

 

[kingofnobbys]

I will definitely change the bedding in his enclosure!!

Do I need a background on the back so that it's more "enclosed" making him feel safer? <<< no , all mine can see through all 4 of their tubs or tanks walls , seem to enjoy being able to what's happening while they are safe in their tanks or tubs, if they want privacy , they all have 1/2 log hides.

My first thought that he was thin, so I was trying to fatten him up a little by feeding him twice a day. All together, (not all at once), he gets crickets, dubia roaches, dark greens, superworms and wax worms. I didn't realize that too many bugs can cause a problem too! Ok, I'll get this right soon.. Thank goodness for forums like this with REAL info!! <<< one good quality live bug meal per day for him should be fine ..... since he's over a year old .... if you want to give him worms , your best worm for him to have (can even use as a staple / some everyday in the bug mix) are medium (2" long and large about 3" long silkworms .... he'll likely go nuts for them ....)