amime
Hatchling Member
Well on Friday night I brought home my very first rescue beardie.
She was up for adoption at our local Herpetological society meeting this past friday. She was skinny and dingy and really lethargic looking.
I try really hard not to try to take home every beardie that comes up for adoption so I waited and waited for someone else to step up (there are many experienced and conscientious members in the group who are well suited to take care of any herp.) Well no one did so I talked my guy into letting me take her home. (well we kind of traded... he got to take home the full grown Boa in exchange).
I don't know anything about her background. She was surrendered to the Humane Society (they always pass the herps along to us for placement and evaluation). We're guessing she's like 5 years old but don't know anything else.
She's very skinny looking and was so lethargic and droopy when I first got her home. Also she smells kinda bad. I'm thinking it's from dirty substrate. She seems to have some discoloring from colored sand or something too. I snapped some pics when I had her on a blanket with a human heat pad underneath. She had to spend her first night with us in a rubbermaid tote with the human heat pad. I felt bad about it but I hadn't planned to bring home a beardie so I didn't have things ready. I gave her some water in a dish and watched to make sure she could drink ok... she drank for about 10 minutes straight.
The next day I tracked down a 40 gallon breeder and got her all set up with heat lamp and UVB and a nice tile basking spot. She seemed to perk up really quickly when I got her under the heat lamp. She looked much more alert and was looking around and quite responsive. I offered her some greens to see if she was interested and she sure was! She eat up about 4 mouthfuls and then settled in to bask.
This morning I heard her scratching around and went over to see her trying to escape the fearsome dookie that she'd left on the tile. (well it wasn't that big but she seemed to think it was pretty yucky). I put it in a baggy in the fridge so I can take it in for a fecal tomorrow. Since she pooped and seemed so alert I offered her some small roaches and she ate about 5. I'm so PROUD! I was really worried that she was going to be a far gone case considering how sad she looked when I brought her home. I gave her a bath today too... she seemed really confused at first but then relaxed and just soaked it in.
I've named her Megumi (another character from the anime I named Kenshin from). She driving Kenshin WILD. He caught a glimpse of her from his viv and we saw his FIRST EVER head bobbing display! He went CRAZY for her. She even waved back. It's very cute.
I'm so so so happy that she's become a part of our family I just feel good every time I look over and see her looking so content and warm in her basking spot. I have a feeling she won't be the last sad looking beardie I bring home.
She was up for adoption at our local Herpetological society meeting this past friday. She was skinny and dingy and really lethargic looking.
I try really hard not to try to take home every beardie that comes up for adoption so I waited and waited for someone else to step up (there are many experienced and conscientious members in the group who are well suited to take care of any herp.) Well no one did so I talked my guy into letting me take her home. (well we kind of traded... he got to take home the full grown Boa in exchange).
I don't know anything about her background. She was surrendered to the Humane Society (they always pass the herps along to us for placement and evaluation). We're guessing she's like 5 years old but don't know anything else.
She's very skinny looking and was so lethargic and droopy when I first got her home. Also she smells kinda bad. I'm thinking it's from dirty substrate. She seems to have some discoloring from colored sand or something too. I snapped some pics when I had her on a blanket with a human heat pad underneath. She had to spend her first night with us in a rubbermaid tote with the human heat pad. I felt bad about it but I hadn't planned to bring home a beardie so I didn't have things ready. I gave her some water in a dish and watched to make sure she could drink ok... she drank for about 10 minutes straight.
The next day I tracked down a 40 gallon breeder and got her all set up with heat lamp and UVB and a nice tile basking spot. She seemed to perk up really quickly when I got her under the heat lamp. She looked much more alert and was looking around and quite responsive. I offered her some greens to see if she was interested and she sure was! She eat up about 4 mouthfuls and then settled in to bask.
This morning I heard her scratching around and went over to see her trying to escape the fearsome dookie that she'd left on the tile. (well it wasn't that big but she seemed to think it was pretty yucky). I put it in a baggy in the fridge so I can take it in for a fecal tomorrow. Since she pooped and seemed so alert I offered her some small roaches and she ate about 5. I'm so PROUD! I was really worried that she was going to be a far gone case considering how sad she looked when I brought her home. I gave her a bath today too... she seemed really confused at first but then relaxed and just soaked it in.
I've named her Megumi (another character from the anime I named Kenshin from). She driving Kenshin WILD. He caught a glimpse of her from his viv and we saw his FIRST EVER head bobbing display! He went CRAZY for her. She even waved back. It's very cute.
I'm so so so happy that she's become a part of our family I just feel good every time I look over and see her looking so content and warm in her basking spot. I have a feeling she won't be the last sad looking beardie I bring home.
