PicosParent
Hatchling Member
Hi, I just got my first Bearded Dragon on Oct 24th. He is an 8 year old named Pico. My husband saw him on Craig's List tank and all for $50.00, he asked if I wanted my Christmas gift early and I eagerly called the ad and brought home my beautiful little cuddle bug 
I spent the first night reading every web site and care sheet I could find on line to learn how to be a good Beardie owner (while he slept on my shoulder).
He had come with only a purple night warming light and his tank was full of sand. Within two days his little world was completely altered.....sand was replaced by the lizard cage lining and he has some nice slate to lay on, a hammock to lay in, a log to climb and lounge on, a UVB lamp and a basking lamp and the stick on thermometer was replaced with digital reptile thermometers. I put his tank up in our bedroom with a portion of the warmer side in front of the window and he loves to look out it all day long while I am at work. We live in MI so we have very good weather proof windows so there is no draft and he certainly will not get too hot from the sun here!!! LOL
He also has a slate slab with a rock to lay on and look out the window too. I am sure to keep that side between 95 and 105 (he does not like it warmer than that and will only stay on the cooler side if it gets any warmer). He has 3/4's of his tank shaded from the window and he can go into his log tunnel or under his climbing log if he requires or wants shade from the bulbs. He has slate to lay on on the cooler side of his tank too (I keep this side from 67-76 degrees).
He only had a small water bowl (looks like a rock) so I bought him one of the ones with the bottle (like a water cooler) so that if he can't knock it over and be out of water. I have been giving him a bath two times per week and it seems to be fun for him. I use a large glass Pyrex dish and have put non-skid things that go on the bottom of the bath tub in there so he won't slip. I make sure it's warm but not hot and he pretends to swim and seems to really like it (I have taken him out and he gets right back in and he is never hesitant about me putting him in there). I only fill it up to just under his armpits and take my hand and gently splash water over his back. I keep him in until he poops then I rinse him gently in the sink (outside of the Pyrex dish) and dry him gently with a paper towel. He has only pooped twice outside the bath is this normal? Should I bathe him more frequently to get him to poop? I read how horrid impaction is (which is why I got rid of the sand and make sure he gets nothing larger than the space between his eyes) and I worry that for all the years he was on sand that he may have a problem. Am I just being over worried????? I love this little guy with all my heart and I was sad to see on one site that 8 years might be as long as he has. I want to do everything to keep him alive for years to come because I can't imagine NOT having him now that he is in my world.
He seems to prefer to eat frozen peas over anything else on the planet. I take them out of the freezer and warm them in my hands with some warm water and he gobbles them right up. But, I think I have spoiled him because he will not eat unless I hand feed him now. I read a lot on here and on other sites about brumation and how they eat less this time of year. It doesn't seem like he eats very much to me but then again, this is my first dragon so I am very thankful to all of you who have shared their experiences on here to help me know how to properly care for him. I have bought all kinds of greens and he just won't eat them....only frozen peas or green beans and only out of my hand. He seems very indifferent to the live crickets and often just lets the majority die in his tank. He does love the canned black crickets and will gobble those up far quicker than the live ones (which is great because live bugs gross me out and I am not going to hand feed those to him...ugh). Are these canned ones bad for him? I am sure there are two schools of thought out there. I have had several people tell me to feed him meal worms and then others say that they are bad for him????? I would like to hear folks opinions and all the pros and cons because as I said, I want him around for years to come!!!! Is it true they only live until 8 years old?????
He seems much more "happy", active and playful as each day passes. I think the lights have made a huge difference!!! He seems to be very bonded to me and really doesn't like to go to other people when I am holding him. He rarely wants me to put him down unless he is having an energy burst and wants the run around the house (which I of course follow and keep an eye on him) and climb furniture. He always crawls up and sleeps on my chest or shoulder. I will often put on a sweater or jacket to fasten under him to give him support while I do house work. Getting him to go back into his cage is a challenge! He wraps him cute little hands around my finger and wraps his back legs around my forearm and hangs on for dear life!!! As soon as I get one little hand pried loose, he has tightened his grip on the other three He also sometimes takes his little hand and touches my face with it as though he was petting my face. It is so endearing!! My poor dog is so jealous so I try to make equal time but then Pico seems to get jealous if I am petting the dog and he'll run over and climb onto my lap or up onto my shoulder.
Any and all advice you can give me will be most appreciated!!! Thanks in advance and Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!!! I am most thankful for my little Pico coming into my life this year Thanksgiving Day will be my one month anniversary of haivng him
I spent the first night reading every web site and care sheet I could find on line to learn how to be a good Beardie owner (while he slept on my shoulder).
He had come with only a purple night warming light and his tank was full of sand. Within two days his little world was completely altered.....sand was replaced by the lizard cage lining and he has some nice slate to lay on, a hammock to lay in, a log to climb and lounge on, a UVB lamp and a basking lamp and the stick on thermometer was replaced with digital reptile thermometers. I put his tank up in our bedroom with a portion of the warmer side in front of the window and he loves to look out it all day long while I am at work. We live in MI so we have very good weather proof windows so there is no draft and he certainly will not get too hot from the sun here!!! LOL
He also has a slate slab with a rock to lay on and look out the window too. I am sure to keep that side between 95 and 105 (he does not like it warmer than that and will only stay on the cooler side if it gets any warmer). He has 3/4's of his tank shaded from the window and he can go into his log tunnel or under his climbing log if he requires or wants shade from the bulbs. He has slate to lay on on the cooler side of his tank too (I keep this side from 67-76 degrees).
He only had a small water bowl (looks like a rock) so I bought him one of the ones with the bottle (like a water cooler) so that if he can't knock it over and be out of water. I have been giving him a bath two times per week and it seems to be fun for him. I use a large glass Pyrex dish and have put non-skid things that go on the bottom of the bath tub in there so he won't slip. I make sure it's warm but not hot and he pretends to swim and seems to really like it (I have taken him out and he gets right back in and he is never hesitant about me putting him in there). I only fill it up to just under his armpits and take my hand and gently splash water over his back. I keep him in until he poops then I rinse him gently in the sink (outside of the Pyrex dish) and dry him gently with a paper towel. He has only pooped twice outside the bath is this normal? Should I bathe him more frequently to get him to poop? I read how horrid impaction is (which is why I got rid of the sand and make sure he gets nothing larger than the space between his eyes) and I worry that for all the years he was on sand that he may have a problem. Am I just being over worried????? I love this little guy with all my heart and I was sad to see on one site that 8 years might be as long as he has. I want to do everything to keep him alive for years to come because I can't imagine NOT having him now that he is in my world.
He seems to prefer to eat frozen peas over anything else on the planet. I take them out of the freezer and warm them in my hands with some warm water and he gobbles them right up. But, I think I have spoiled him because he will not eat unless I hand feed him now. I read a lot on here and on other sites about brumation and how they eat less this time of year. It doesn't seem like he eats very much to me but then again, this is my first dragon so I am very thankful to all of you who have shared their experiences on here to help me know how to properly care for him. I have bought all kinds of greens and he just won't eat them....only frozen peas or green beans and only out of my hand. He seems very indifferent to the live crickets and often just lets the majority die in his tank. He does love the canned black crickets and will gobble those up far quicker than the live ones (which is great because live bugs gross me out and I am not going to hand feed those to him...ugh). Are these canned ones bad for him? I am sure there are two schools of thought out there. I have had several people tell me to feed him meal worms and then others say that they are bad for him????? I would like to hear folks opinions and all the pros and cons because as I said, I want him around for years to come!!!! Is it true they only live until 8 years old?????
He seems much more "happy", active and playful as each day passes. I think the lights have made a huge difference!!! He seems to be very bonded to me and really doesn't like to go to other people when I am holding him. He rarely wants me to put him down unless he is having an energy burst and wants the run around the house (which I of course follow and keep an eye on him) and climb furniture. He always crawls up and sleeps on my chest or shoulder. I will often put on a sweater or jacket to fasten under him to give him support while I do house work. Getting him to go back into his cage is a challenge! He wraps him cute little hands around my finger and wraps his back legs around my forearm and hangs on for dear life!!! As soon as I get one little hand pried loose, he has tightened his grip on the other three
He also sometimes takes his little hand and touches my face with it as though he was petting my face. It is so endearing!! My poor dog is so jealous so I try to make equal time but then Pico seems to get jealous if I am petting the dog and he'll run over and climb onto my lap or up onto my shoulder.Any and all advice you can give me will be most appreciated!!! Thanks in advance and Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!!! I am most thankful for my little Pico coming into my life this year
Thanksgiving Day will be my one month anniversary of haivng him 
Nhà Cái Cá Cược Trực Tuyến Đáng Chơi Nhất 2024
