Introducing Spike

[SpikesSlave]

I have done a lot of research on this site. I hope I am doing everything right for my little guy. Here is the info I have so far. Any suggestions welcome.

Male
Approx 11 months old
picked up on February 17 2013
17 inches 11.7oz

36x24x24 Zoo Med Vivarium
Substrate of newspaper at the moment
Repti Sun 10 (less then 6 months old, it's written on the end of the bulb, not double checked date yet)
Basking Bulb wattage 110
Basking temp ranges from 102-110
Cool side is 75-85
Gets down to 70 at the lowest at night
Can get within 6inches of UVB ( is closer bad, cause if he sits right up he will get closer)
Probe Thermometer
Feeding roaches and veg/fruit from list
Feed morning 1 hour (approx) from basking light going on,3pm & 6pm.
Lights on at 8am,Lights out at 8pm
I offer a bunch of feeders at each feeding, until he gets uninterested approx 25-30
Feed roaches- all the fruits/veg from list + grain mix
Calcium 1x day and sprinkled on veg that is available at all times, vitamins 1x week
Regular bowel movements, usually one in the morning while I'm getting ready to feed, and once in the afternoon. They have been a bit hard and runny at the same time, but he's only been with us for a few days now.
I do offer a small bowl of water in the viv, as I do not want to cause a humidity issue.

He is getting very accustomed to us. Even in such little amount of time. We let him out of his room once or twice a day for about 15-20 min a time. He gets to run around the bedroom floor and up over egg crate and such. My son believes its a dragon playground.

We are currently purchasing material to upgrade him to his forever home which will be about the length/depth of a standard closet. He's going to have a sweet pad.
I do need suggestions on building supplies, ex, wood to avoid, ways to seal things, substrate(tiles, looking for something to keep his nails a bit dulled.

Thanks for any advice. I will post a pic as soon as I figure out how to do it from the IPad.

 

[brittani299]

It sounds all good . I dot think you can put photos on here from your iPad. I can't from my iPhone.

 

[SpikesSlave]

Can I feed him to much? As much as he wants in 15 min right. Well this boy can eat. He's already eaten through my med feeders, about 350-400 in a week. He's now just desecrating my baby bin and the adults are not breeding fast enough to keep up. I thought I had a large colony. Yikes.

He has a salad of fresh squash and endive available to him all the time. He eats everything offered to him. Loves his mango, just as a treat cause he would eat the whole bowl if I let him.

He's so spoiled already. We take him out at least twice a day for 15-30 min a time. I even go and get him when people come over, just to get him socialized. He does have a strange habit of running into white objects. Walls, doors, garbage can. If its white, he will run nose first int it.

I still have so many questions. I just want to do right by him. Make it as comfortable as possible for him to live with us.

Thought something was wrong today as my kids came running down stairs ( one of them is 16, so it's totally supervised ) lol, anyways. Mom, mom, Spike. Me thinking the worst.

He pooped on the floor. OMG people, clean it up. Duh. Same thing you would do if it was the cat or dog.

Glass walking? Does that mean he wants out?

 

[brittani299]

Yep feed him 2-3 times a day as much as he can eat in 15 mins. You will for sure find yourself going through a ton of feeders. Lol, my bf won't clean up poo either. He just says look she went to the bathroom and when walks away. When he is jumping on the glass, at least for mine it means they want out.

 

[Supamom73]

Ha Ha! Poop on the floor that's it? ... I was giving meds (my daughter holding Fuego, so we could get the mouth open to syringe feed)... and we hear a little fart sound then suddenly my leg was wet! Fuego had pooped all over my daughters hand, my leg and the was continuing to poop until we put him back in his viv... He did NOT.. i repeat NOT want his meds !!!!!.. He ate good that night.. since there was no poop left in his system hahah! I didn't know those little guys could poop so much!

 

[PerrysPeople]

ive since explained to them that there are signs to look for, especially with him anyways. if you are paying close enough attention, which i do. lol, kids not so much. Anyways, Spike will always stop and I swear hes giving me that uh oh look. I have about 10 seconds to get him to an appropriate area. Once the new viv is done, i will try to train him to go on the tiles (yah right). I can train my dragon, i know I can. My dogs are trained. My cats could care less, but they are cats. Im sure I can get him to figure it out. Maybe not. whos going to be training who, here. I clean up right away when he goes right now anyways.

 

[SpikesSlave]

I know they eat alot, but I was under the impression that the feeders are suppose to slow down and he should be eating more salad, the older he gets. He loves his roaches. lol Can I feed him to much? I guess if he gets fat fast, ill cut back. Heres another question. as many as he can eat in 15 minutes. Wow he will just keep eating. anyways. I know that everything should be smaller then between his eyes. Now with regards to the roaches. He is quickly eating though the appropriate size feeders. which he was eating about 20-30 of the suckers 2-3 times a day. will he be getting the same nutrition from the smaller ones, if I give him like 50. All I have left is adults and maybe 2 week olds and nymphs. And how do I offload my adult males. To many.

Spike is just about a year now, maybe a little over. But according to my 9 year old "HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPIKE!!"

I just want to make sure im doing everything right with this guy. I cant find any of the greens from the list that are actually in the green section of the list. Is it ok to alternate the black list greens. I never feed anything other then the green or black items from the list.

Thanks for the help peeps.

 

[brittani299]

Since he is older he should eat more greens. The smaller roaches should have just as much protein as the bigger ones.

 

[SpikesSlave]

Well he is eating alot more greens then he got before we got him.
Getting more of everything since we got him. I just want to make sure
I'm doing everything right to keep him healthy and happy
He had taken to basking on his log instead of his rock. I guess that's
ok as long as the temps are right?

Somewhat concerned about a very watery poop this morning. I'll have to keep an eye in that.
His temps are ok, but since yesterday he's been gaping a bit. I changed things around. Could it be his way of being upset about it.
Some behaviors are hard to interpret

 

[Supamom73]

Well i've noticed gaping is normal behavior if it is on their basking area. Kinda like a dog panting.. it helps emit the heat they absorb. I've taken to feeding my little lady salad in the morning.. have a nice bowl there for her when she wakes up.. its nearly gone by noon which is when i feed her the first helping of her roaches. I always have greens available in the viv... and i feed her a dinner helping of roaches around 5-6. She has just started eating her greens really well since I put them in there and that is all there is until lunch Might be something to try?

 

[brittani299]

If the poo stays too watery that is a parasite problem more then likely and you will have to get a fecal test. When they bask with their mouths open it is called thermoregulating.