Missing beardie- need help ASAP

[Plutonium]

Around a week ago, around 4:20PM on a Monday, my beloved beardie burn went missing.
I'm so incredibly scared for her. she's my everything and I'd do anything to get her home.
I'd just gotten back from school and set her to free roam in my room as I've always done so she can get some exercise and stretch her legs while we try to find her a bigger enclosure. I left for 3, 5 minutes at the absolute most to get some snacks and she was just... gone.
the door was closed, and my room was almost empty at the time. I've been searching everywhere over the past week, only stopping when my stress drove me to the point of being too sick to continue and now that I pulled a muscle in my back trying to look under the oven for her. I'm absolutely desperate for advice to find her, at least before spring starts if not as soon as I can...

 

[xp29]

Try setting up a basking area, she may come to it. Put out salads and a bowl of insect, that may draw her out. Look in EVERYTHING, shoes, drawers, bags, clothing, EVERYTHING. Its messy but you might could put a thin dusting of flour on the floors to look for tracks. Keep looking she's there somewhere.

 

[Chris.]

Also don't give up. They can hide incredibly well and they can survive for quite a long time with no food or water.

 

[xp29]

Also don't give up. They can hide incredibly well and they can survive for quite a long time with no food or water.

For sure

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Oh that is so frustrating! Are you in Australia where it is winter?
As stated, they hide very well! I assume you have looked behind curtains in case he climbed up one of
them, or behind a computer desk or entertainment center where there are cables or cords that they like
to lay on?
As long as he didn't get outside in any way & there isn't any hole or escape route from inside of the house
he could have gotten out of then he should be in there somewhere!
You could put a basking light out for him, for a few hours to see if that might attract him. If you are gone
any during the day try putting a camera up somewhere in case it might capture anything.
The suggestion about flour on the floor is a very effective method, also.

Tracie

 

[Plutonium]

Hello,

Oh that is so frustrating! Are you in Australia where it is winter?
As stated, they hide very well! I assume you have looked behind curtains in case he climbed up one of
them, or behind a computer desk or entertainment center where there are cables or cords that they like
to lay on?
As long as he didn't get outside in any way & there isn't any hole or escape route from inside of the house
he could have gotten out of then he should be in there somewhere!
You could put a basking light out for him, for a few hours to see if that might attract him. If you are gone
any during the day try putting a camera up somewhere in case it might capture anything.
The suggestion about flour on the floor is a very effective method, also.

Tracie

I am. I've checked everywhere for her, in my room and out- she usually likes to sit at the window or make me untangle her from the wifi modem and ethernet cables- and still no sign. even if she is somehow still in my room i wouldn't be able to listen for her footsteps or lay down flour because it's carpeted (and she sounds so similar to the dog scratching the door i can't tell them apart).
I'd put up basking spots if i could, but i don't have any of the fixtures ect nessasary. plus i think the dog is scaring her into hiding
the one thing i can do right now is try to convince my family to ring up the council rangers to see if they'd be able to help search, and get my stepsiblings to look under anything they can so i don't injure my back again. i don't currently have any cameras to watch for her but if i find her and get her home alive i'll install one with her enclosure upgrade so she won't have to leave her tank for anything but the vet, cleaning or cuddles again. and hopefully by then i'm able to take my meds again...

 

[ChileanTaco]

I'd put up basking spots if i could, but i don't have any of the fixtures ect nessasary. plus i think the dog is scaring her into hiding

Even if you cannot use the basking spot: Could you maybe set up some bright light, even if it's just a LED not producing any warmth? A desk or nightstand lamp? I'd try that, and a bowl of insects (I'd count the insects before to better see whether some were taken.)

A camera to watch could also be: using a laptop, tablet or smartphone/ phone with a camera, if you or somebody in your family has one. A babyphone or security camera would be better, but any of the other options would also do.

 

[jwylie94]

I am. I've checked everywhere for her, in my room and out- she usually likes to sit at the window or make me untangle her from the wifi modem and ethernet cables- and still no sign. even if she is somehow still in my room i wouldn't be able to listen for her footsteps or lay down flour because it's carpeted (and she sounds so similar to the dog scratching the door i can't tell them apart).
I'd put up basking spots if i could, but i don't have any of the fixtures ect nessasary. plus i think the dog is scaring her into hiding
the one thing i can do right now is try to convince my family to ring up the council rangers to see if they'd be able to help search, and get my stepsiblings to look under anything they can so i don't injure my back again. i don't currently have any cameras to watch for her but if i find her and get her home alive i'll install one with her enclosure upgrade so she won't have to leave her tank for anything but the vet, cleaning or cuddles again. and hopefully by then i'm able to take my meds again...

Actually you could lay down flour since it is carpeted--vacuum up afterwards. Have you checked underneath the dresser or the bed, in your closet, shoes etc..
You could get an inexpensive camera for under $20 to set up in the room.
Your stepsiblings wouldn't have left your door open while you are gone? Like previously stated, they love to hide, and can hide for some time. I wish you were near me, so I could help you look. She is in that room somewhere.

 

[Plutonium]

small update as i approach 2 weeks without her;

i've continued searching the house, still can't find even a sign of her. i was completely alone when she went missing so i can't even ask anyone if they saw her that horrible afternoon.
recently i thought i heard her scurrying in her enclosure while the dog was outside, but after checking realised i was getting auditory hallucinations. not exactly surprising given i'm already dissociating a lot more to try to cope, but damn does it hurt..
i'll try to get some things to try to lure her out tomorrow after my therapy session, but given the dog and stepchildren make a lot of noise, there's no promising she'll come out.

in the meantime, please take my last known photo of her. it's all i have. maybe i'll see if the printer still works and make some flyers to put up, who knows.

 

[Jes]

I'm in the US and my beardie has been brumating for over 3 weeks now, maybe she found a hiding place to brumate. When my boy is out and about he tends to stay near the walls if he's feeling nervous. Do you have anything near the walls that she could hide behind or under, any permanent fixtures like heating vents, anything like that? I'm praying you find her soon - please keep us updated

 

[Xjrosie]

Look everywhere even if you think there's no possible way she could fit or get in/up there. My guy Thor did this once, I ended up having to practically rearrange my bedroom to get him out.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Any luck at all finding your dragon? I was hoping for some news here!
Don't give up, hopefully she is around where you just can't see her.

Tracie

 

[Plutonium]

Still no sign of her. nearly 3 weeks gone.
i can't say much right now for fear of breaking down, but i haven't been coping well. today my ma suggested i get another beardie to keep me company if she's still gone by her birthday. normally i'd jump at the oppertunity for another conpanion, but i miss burn and how bonded we were so much all i want is her back, safe, home. no dice on having them ask anyone, even just family, to help search for her, though. maybe next time i spend the day completely alone i'll try to hire someone, though i doubt i have enough to pay for it..
i still wonder how she dissapeared. i've had things of mine vanish without a trace or possible explaination before, of course, but she isn't a thing, she's a lizard. it shouldn't have been possible.
i'm sorry. this is all my fault, anyways. i'm the one who let her out to roam. i deserved this.

 

[IAmAMirage]

Still no sign of her. nearly 3 weeks gone.
i can't say much right now for fear of breaking down, but i haven't been coping well. today my ma suggested i get another beardie to keep me company if she's still gone by her birthday. normally i'd jump at the oppertunity for another conpanion, but i miss burn and how bonded we were so much all i want is her back, safe, home. no dice on having them ask anyone, even just family, to help search for her, though. maybe next time i spend the day completely alone i'll try to hire someone, though i doubt i have enough to pay for it..
i still wonder how she dissapeared. i've had things of mine vanish without a trace or possible explaination before, of course, but she isn't a thing, she's a lizard. it shouldn't have been possible.
i'm sorry. this is all my fault, anyways. i'm the one who let her out to roam. i deserved this.

You absolutely do not deserve this. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, things happen. Stay positive and stay hopeful. As for hiring someone, you could always try a fundraiser. Many people don't understand the appeal of having reptiles for pets, however, they do understand the love and companionship that comes from a pet. Remember that there are people to support you! Prayers that Burn will come back to you quickly!

 

[Plutonium]

still gone.
i miss her.
i don't think i'll see her again. i'm sorry.
trying not to say much. don't want to spiral again...
every day it seems i beg my parents to do something, tell people, ask for help, see if anyone nearby who does wildlife remova would be willing to help. i have since the moment she vanished. they say they do but i know they don't.
i can't stop staring at her empty enclosure. it wasn't the best, sure, but i was getting so close to my goal of getting her a 4x2x2 second-hand, i can't help but feel awful i never got to get her that upgrade.
she was just coming out of brumation. i let her out to stretch because i was so, so incredibly happy she was being more active. i'm sorry. i miss her. i failed her. i'm scared. i'm sorry.