It's been almost 2 years!!!

March 26th is the day we brought Spike home. My 7 year old son picked her out at our local Exotic pet store and named her Spike. She was in an enclosure with other dragons around her size and away from the smaller ones. We were told that the babies she was in with were moved because 'they were growing faster than the rest'. Spike ran right to the front of the glass and started scratching when my son walked by. Needless to say, she got his attention and we took her home. She had a full body shed 3 days off getting her home, too. ('She' does look female (I looked when we brought her home, but not since) Spike is now, roughly 3 months old and weighs 31g at 9 inches long.
We have had some set backs with her lights, which you guys have so graciously helped me with, and her lack of eating for a little while due to her relocation stress, but she is definitely a hearty eater now. BSFL being her favorite.

When we first brought her home:

Throughout the month:

New tank:

Cuteness:

10 minutes ago, waking up and warming up:

Sorry for all of the pictures! ^-^

 

[smackey2]

I know you said a straw, but for some reason I can picture him with a straw hat on and one of those corn cob pipes. Haha.

It finally stopped raining and Spike has decided to become a lot more active in her tank. She was quite the lazy bones this morning.

 

[traildrifterphalanx]

I mean he could pull off the straw hat and piece of straw/hay in his mouth. My little farmer.

 

[smackey2]

Haha. I would like to see a picture of that.

I got 2 hours of cuddle time last night while I was watching the last few new episodes of Criminal Minds on Netflix.

This morning after Spike ate breakfast. My oldest loves spending time with her.

 

[SHBailey]

Amazing amount of cuteness for one thread. :love10:

Our beardie sits around with his mouth half open sometimes too. We usually threaten to stick a leaf in there, since it's so hard to get him to eat his greens.

This morning he went "downstairs" to have a little accident on the floor of his tank, and he stayed on the bottom at the back where I couldn't reach him very easily while I cleaned it up, so I just let him be, and it's taken him all day to work his way back up to his basking platform. He's about halfway up the ramp now. I probably should have taken a series of pictures to put together into a sort of a little comic strip. :lol:

 

[smackey2]

Haha. I would like to have seen that. Kind of like a mini movie, in slow motion.

Spike has been more cuddly and affectionate in the past couple of days. Last night, she started out laying on my upper tummy, cuddled under her blankie, then wiggled her way upwards. Before I knew it she had wiggled her way up and under my chin. Her little toenails and spikes irritated my neck from where she was laying, but I would have felt bad for moving her. She did her little dragon wiggle butt and never budged after that. I got 2 whole hours, maybe a bit more, after her lights went out of cuddle time. I probably could have gotten more, but my kiddos needed a referee.

 

[SHBailey]

They do seem to like to get up under your chin, probably because it's usually very warm there and they have this little ''shelf" over them that makes them feel protected, kind of like they're in a little cave.

I usually tuck a little towel under my chin when I do Puff's bedtime cuddle, and that becomes the "tortilla" for the "beardie burrito". It makes it easier for me to put him down later, sometimes without waking him all the way back up if I'm really careful, because I don't have to worry about his claws snagging on things, and I also have the towel between his claws and my skin if he decides to crawl up under my chin.

No rest for the weary when your kids need a referee, huh?

 

[smackey2]

Yeah, I should have moved her blanket up when she started to wiggle upwards but I didn't think it would irritate my skin. It doesn't itch, hurt, or anything, it is just red where she was against me. Live and learn.

Ugh. All I get accomplished is playing referee. 7, almost 8; 3, almost 4. Brothers. I have no idea how people have more than 2 children. Maybe it is just me, but these two fight worse than cats and dogs. If they are out of my sight for more than 5 minutes, the crap hits the fan. My family keeps telling me, 'its a boy thing" or "that is what brothers do".
Well, if that is the case, I don't know how my Grandma, on my dad's side, did it. 10 kids. 8 boys and 2 girls; my dad being the second youngest. I could not imagine having that many kidos, especially knowing how my dad and my uncles are. My boys definitely got their orneriness honest, but jeez.

On a happy note, Spike's new harness should be here tomorrow! I ordered an adjustable one in size, I am just hoping that it fits since she seems to be a little bit on the smaller side of the growth spurts. It looked like it went to a pretty small size, so I am hopeful!

 

[SHBailey]

It helps to keep their claws trimmed, too. Unfortunately, I don't have very good eyesight or a steady hand so I'm afraid to do it myself (their claws are so tiny), but the good thing is that my vet includes free nail trimming with an exam, and my beardie's claws don't grow very fast, so we get by.

When I first came to Alaska, I stayed with my sister and her 3 teenage boys until I found my own place. It was nuts. :shock: I could not have handled having kids of my own. The "scalebabies" are more than enough. :roll:

 

[smackey2]

I bought the slate tile for Spike's tank so thankfully her are quite dull and it works really well at helping to keep them trimmed down. I don't think I could ever trust myself to trim her nails if they ever needed it. I do my dogs, especially Xander's as his grows fast and become so sharp. His nails don't bother me, but then again he does have a big paw. Haha!

It wouldn't surprise me if my one neighbor across the street didn't think I had my very own circus over her. 2 kids, 2 dogs, and they have even seen me have Spike outside, too. It can get hectic at times, but when the boys go to their grandparents for the night, the quiet drives me crazy and I have no idea what to do with myself.

 

[smackey2]

Spike's new harness came today! Sadly, it is icky outside once again, but she had no problem trying it on for me. I am excited and it fit so well; plus it is 4 feet long! ^-^ I am very pleased with my choice! I was so scared that it wouldn't fit because she is still little, but it adjusts to even the smallest size!

 

[traildrifterphalanx]

She's ready to go!

 

[smackey2]

Indeed!
Now it just needs to be nice outside so I can actually take her out and not have the fear of her taking off and I can't catch her. I would never forgive myself if something happened to her.

I think I have found my new favorite website to buy bearded dragon things from: etsy. SO MANY cute and adorable things to buy! O.O

 

[traildrifterphalanx]

I'm pretty sure the leash I have is from Etsy, but a lot of the stuff I saw was stuff I think I could make myself like snuggle sacks and blankets and hammocks

 

[smackey2]

I wish I could. I am not quite that gifted, at least not with sewing and things like that.
I do think I am going to try my hand at making basking platforms and such here soon. If nothing else, just another way to keep me busy. At the rate I am going, I'll probably have ever show watch on Netflix. Haha.
I have no idea what to do with myself these days since I am now a stay at home mom. My house can only be so clean.

 

[smackey2]

Outside adventures:
https://www.beardeddragon.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=1806383



Also:

I FINALLY remembered to pick up a new measuring tape! And it probably helped that she was quite sleepy when I sat her on it, too. (Weigh in and what not isn't until Tuesday, but I was curious and wanted to try the new tape measure!)