Introducing Gorbash II

[Ralis]

I've finally plucked up the courage to bring home a new beardie!

OK first let me explain the name. Initially it felt more than a little odd to give my new beardie the same name as my first one. My original plan had been to name this one Smrgol, Gorbash's older and wiser cousin. However, I have two young children who rapidly became attached to Gorbash I and my husband suggested than since we didn't have him for very long, it might be easier on the children to plant the suggestion that he went to the "vet" because he was sick and then we would bring "Gorbash" home at a later date once we'd chosen a new beardie.

Anyway, I first met Gorbash II on a trip to Petco shortly before Christmas when Gorbash I was still with us. It was then that I realised, at 5.5", just how small Gorbash I really was. They had 4 beardies in the enclosure and they were all at least 7" long. After disinfecting and some major tweaking of the viv setup, I popped back to Petco a few days ago and they still had him, at least I'm pretty sure he's the same beardie, so I brought him home. I had some concerns about impaction since they were keeping the beardies on sand and feeding crickets at least twice the size of their heads (plus mealworms and lettuce for greens!) but he's so far been pooping like clockwork at 8:45am every morning. When I first got him he was very grey, and I think a little dehydrated. He shed his whole body and head the day after I got him, and I've been bathing him every day and he's now a beautiful colour.

Here he is on his favourite basking spot shortly after he shed


He's about 9" long and has a good healthy appetite. He's eating crickets (between 20-30 a day) and has fresh collards and butternut squash. He's nuts about his collard greens. Here he is mid strike at breakfast this morning


I had ordered some phoenix worms too, but since USPS don't understand the concept of priority 2-day shipping I have no idea if they'll arrive alive or not. I ordered them from http://www.phoenixworm.com/ on Wednesday morning and they were dispatched Wednesday afternoon. They spent 26 hours in a sorting office in GA before USPS actually bothered to send them on. I might get them by Monday...

Aaaanyway... Just because, here's one more picture of Gorbash II on top of his cave

For some reason he looks skinny in this picture, but he's a fatty up close.

 

[brittani299]

He is cute

 

[Ralis]

Thank you

He's turning out to be a real sweetie. He loves to perch on anyone's shoulder and licks everything! I've dropped the baths to every 2 days now that he seems more hydrated. I'm considering dropping it again to every 3 days and spraying him the other days. I'm not sure how much hydration beardies need.

The phoenix worms arrived intact and he loves them too. I ordered the mediums and he ate 25 this evening! I've been feeding calcium or vitamin dusted crickets in the morning and undusted phoenix worms in the evening. Does this sound ok?

 

[brittani299]

The feeding sounds ok but I wouldn't mist your beardie. It can cause a uri. Beardies need low humidity.

 

[Ralis]

Are the baths enough on their own? He doesn't have a water bowl in his tank because I didn't want to raise the humidity.

 

[brittani299]

Yea baths 2-3 times a week for about 20 times with be fine.

 

[Tonja]

Baths are fine 3-4 times a week, just make sure the temp is that for a human baby and the water level no higher than his shoulders. Do not bathe him 20 times, I think she meant 20 mins each time as they will absorb water through their vents. Some will drink water out of the bath and will if you drip it over the end of his snout to lick off. You can also train them to go potty in the bath saving cleanup in their tanks.

 

[zandi202]

He's a cutie!