Jace, Zy, Sorin, Ava, Nissa, Koth, & Phoenix -->Vet Update

Hello,
My name is Liz and I have been a member of this website for a year now. I have had another blog about my reptilian babies (http://www.beardeddragon.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=185026), but am starting a new one. I want to start the new year with a clean slate - especially since it will also start with a new moon. I want to move on from the problems of the past and look forward to the new adventures that lie ahead.
A little about me: I'm twenty-two years old and am an author - (A Shadow's Lullaby by: E. Rexer). I go to Western New England as a Creative Writing major with a minor in Philosophy. I own six reptiles, three bearded dragons and three leopard geckos. I have been with my boyfriend, Paul, for four years. I currently work two jobs - Heritage Woods (assistant living) and Table and Vine (liquor store) though I did try to quit Heritage Woods and was guilt tripped into working there per diem (once a month). I will be putting in my two weeks notice with them in February. Unfortunately it is a sad job and emotionally I cannot handle it anymore. Table and Vine doesn't give me the hours I would like, but I worked out a deal with my grandfather that will help me out financially. Now enough about me.

 

[zandi202]

Phoenix Update:
Paul and I couldn't do it. I had a break down writing his "For Sale" page and I just couldn't. Maybe if he was going to a friend, it would be easier, but because he'd most likely be going to a stranger... I just couldn't. He's my Pheeny, and it may sound selfish, but I can't loose him.

Quick, Get Rich Schemes:
Does anyone have any quick, get rich schemes? I need to figure out how to get Sorin to the vet asap. Not only that, but my car is acting up. It's making a weird rumbling sound, almost like metal grating against metal. It doesn't last long, but it doesn't sound great. So $450 on top of this. I'm ready to just break down. I've sold everything possible that I own on Craigslist. All I have left is stuff no one wants: books, dvd's, etc. So I don't know. I don't have much time between school, work, and cleaning my uncle's house.

Deb:
Maybe it's a female beardie thing? They like dark crawl spaces because it simulates being underground like when they dig and lay? It would explain why it's the girls and not the boys.

I've read it, but don't comprehend it. I need a straight forward Q and A. Such as: Do I feed them? If so, how often? Do I still give them their supplements? How often? Do I keep the lights on so they are warm or just minimum heat? How often to I bathe them? Will the get dehydrated, hungry, need to poo? etc.

I'm glad you like the pictures. I already sent mine in, actually. Don't remember which ones as it was a while ago. I don't think there is any way to check with this new method.

 

[sweetiepie9]

When I get home, I'll detail everything out for you on what I do with each one. That might help you get through the first winter. They're all different, so I'll give more detail on all your questions. But I can't do that until tonight.

I had a feeling it would be difficult to give away Phoenix, but Paul can help you, you'll manage between the two of you, like you always do.

As for getting rich quick, I'd own my own place, not be working & have a houseful of beardies if that was the case. But if I ever do find a way, you'll be the first to know.

 

[zandi202]

Thanks, Deb. I would really appreciate that. I need everything written out in the easiest way possible.

 

[babyheartthrob]

Hi Liz,

I'm praying for Sorin. I just love the photos of your babies, they all look so good .

I fully understand not being able to give up Phoenix. For me these babies are like my children. I'd rather give up everything else to keep them.

As for get rich quick schemes. I wish I could help (I'd be doing it myself :lol.

Sending lots of hugs and prayers your way

Sabrina

 

[zandi202]

Sabrina:
Thank you so much for your kind words and for the donation you made on GoFundMe. Sorin and I really appreciate it.
My babies are all so special to me, too. And with Phoenix being a rescue, I'm even more sensitive about it than I normally would have been, I think.

 

[diamc]

Liz, I'm so sorry to hear you are going through all of this. It's so very hard but you can't give up. Things have a way of working themselves out so don't make any rush decisions, follow your heart.

Thoughts & prayers for you my dear.

I'm gonna make a small donation to try to help a little bit.

Loved the pictures. They are all SO sweet. :love5: As Deb said, you should consider using some for the 2015 calendar.

Fondly,
Diane

 

[zandi202]

Diane:
Thank you for your donation, every little bit counts and brings Sorin one step closer to getting the care that he needs. It's all very much appreciated.
Thank you for your kind words and advice. I thought I had been following my heart when I decided to rehome Pheeny, but I guess it was my head instead. I wish the head and heart could agree.

 

[Esther19]

Hey Liz. Wouldn't it be nice if the head and heart didn't seem to be at odds all the time? It's like a checks and balances system gone awry. I can't help out with cash until later this month, but I am totally with you in spirit.

 

[sweetiepie9]

So here's the scoop on brumation:

The most important thing is that their digestive system be empty when they actually sleep, if you think they have something in their digestive system, let them sleep for a couple of days, then wake them up, get them in a bath, wait for the poop & back to sleep. When they're sleeping for sure, turn lights off & don't feed them at all until they're back up for a couple of days.

Didi and Leo are "popcorn" brumaters. They're up and down all winter, so I don't worry about their digestive system and they never sleep for more than a week. I usually just cover them up with a blanket when they're sleeping and leave their lights on. They haven't done much, Leo slept for an afternoon and a morning but he's been up since. They drive me nuts EVERY winter.

Rubio was the only one who slept for at least 2 mo, sometimes 3. I'd give him water by syringe every Sunday and he'd drink then go back to sleep. When he brumated for the first winter, I'd get him up every Sunday to bathe him, but gave that up because he'd really resist me. So I found feeding him by syringe helped. But the first 3 weeks, I'd still get him up to make sure he pooped out his last meal, just to be on the safe side. When they sleep for long periods of time, if they have food in their gut, it can rot and cause an infection. Also, when they're asleep for long periods of time, they don't need food, there's an enzyme that kicks in & reduces their breathing & metabolism. It's something you have to get used to and Jace and Zy might be like Leo and Didi.

Gabriel has slept for exactly 1 day since I've had him & that's been over 2 years. He'll be 4 yrs old in April and to this date he still hasn't slept except for that one day. So I don't worry about him at all in the winter, he stays up and active every day.

Lonzo used to sleep long periods, too, so would do the same thing as with Rubio. Then he lost the use of one of his lungs in April/12 and I've not let him brumate since. Now he's used to being up every morning and just sleeps earlier in the day. I'm glad I did this, as he's getting old and frail and he's starting to fail more and more...It happens when they get old, he's now 11 1/2 yrs old.

Puff is new since last December and since she spent Jan/Feb/Mar and April laying eggs, she never did brumate. So I'm not sure what she'll do this year. Her prev owner said she slept for a couple of months ea winter, but I'll have to wait and see how that goes.

So as for knowing when they're going to brumate, they eat less, they sleep earlier and then one morning they don't wake up. Then you wait until they do wake up. If you're not sure, cover them with a blanket and see if they wake up the next day. It's a day by day thing the first winter, because you just don't know how they're going to brumate, if they even do. Some beardies just go through a slow down & never really sleep.

So let me know if you have any other questions, k?

It's nice to see that more & more people are contributing for Sorin.

 

[zandi202]

Esther:
Thanks, Esther! I really appreciate all the good thoughts being sent to Sorin. He's my little baby. He was the youngest until Pheeny was rescued, though we'll never know for sure how old Pheeny actually was. Only guesses.

Deb:
Thanks for all that information! It's really helpful!
So if Jace and Zy are hiding under their hammocks, should I let them? Zy especially likes to hide all the time so I always thought she was just being a poop head. Zy's eating hasn't slow down, but Jace's sure has. Zy's more alert under her hammock than sleeping. Jace hasn't touched his greens or worms for the last few days, almost a week.
Do I still have to worry about UVB and their calcium and vitamins with their lights off?

 

[sweetiepie9]

Well, they're just slowing down, not sleeping, so leave their lights on. If Zy is still eating, she should be basking at least 2 hours after eating, so you'll have to make that happen. As for Jace, if he's not sleeping, but just slowing down, leaving him for another week. If he's still doing the same thing, you'll have to intervene with Carnivore Care, just to make sure he doesn't lose weight. I know he's always been like my Didi, no eating unless it's given, see how that goes. If he's not losing weight, just make sure he's getting at least 3 baths a week, same with Zy. This time of the winter is the pits!

 

[zandi202]

Deb:
Well, Jace and Zy have been on top of their hammocks since 7am and it's now 1pm. Jace hasn't been interested in greens or worms, though Zy has been at least interested in worms. Not sure about the greens. Just going to have to keep a close eye on them.

Phoenix:
Well, it's a good thing that we're keeping him. Paul tried to feed him today and he down right refused. He happily ate for me, though. Is this a sign? Such a pain in my butt. I love him, but such a pain in the butt.

 

[zandi202]

So, bad news comes in three's right? Nothing more?

1. Sorin's leg needs testing: $450
2. My car was making funny sounds: $1,200
3. I woke up at 1:45am sick and took 2 hours to fall back asleep

My grandfather is willing to transfer my trust money over to my car as I need one - can't do much without it. I still haven't mentioned to them that there's anything wrong with Sorin. I'm going to try not mentioning it all if I can. The last time we had a vet appointment, I had called my grandfather to ask for a money transfer from my trust for Sorin, I want to say about $250, and he agreed to. But he said only this once and that I might have to consider putting him down if his leg continues to irritate him. It's because of this I haven't even brought Sorin downstairs to run around as it's hard not to notice the trouble he has with that leg. On the plus side, donations have reached $110/$450. We're getting there.

Sorin took a MASSIVE poo in his viv and I've been waiting for Paul to come home and dispose of it. My stomach is still upset and just looking at it makes me sick again. Being sick and cleaning up poop doesn't seem to mix well.

That's it for now. Will keep you updated.

 

[zandi202]

So I think my plan as of right now is that once I have the $170 set aside for the first test, I'll have that done.

 

[zandi202]

So more potentially bad news. Jace has recently started doing this hiccup/gasp thing. Any ideas why? It's totally random. Some days he does it and some days he doesn't. Some days he has it more often than others.