Nathaniel, Cierra, Castiel, Freya, Grrl; RIP GABRIEL

We never expected to get another dragon, but our neighbours next door wanted to give away Cleo, as he was called. We'd babysat him before, he's such a sweetheart. We nicknamed him Velcro because when he snuggles he never wants to go back to his viv, he hangs on as if he's made out of velcro.

So here he is. Today was his first day with us. He ate 13 supers and ate some squash, not bad for the first day he was here. He's only in a 30 gallon tank, which will be ok for now. He's 18" long but weighs only 200g. We figure he's probably 2 yrs old. Our neighbours rescued him last fall, they found him and a female (which they named Puff) on Craig's list. They were in a 30 gallon dirty tank, with sand and a huge log that took up 1/2 the space in the tank. Leo was at the bottom, he was sooooo skinny. He's gained weight, but never got the attention he deserved. I took some pics today, but will take more tomorrow. I think he remembers our place as didn't get stressed as I expected. No stress marks at all. When we let him run around the living room, he noticed our girls and immediate black beard, so his hormones are working!

He had a bath this morning, had a big poop, no smell, so not worried about parasites.

So here are a few pics, he's a yellow & dark gray, light gray colour.

Under the communal power sun in the living room:

Discovering there are girls in those tanks up above, he has a great black beard for such a skinny boy:

On the couch, he's got a pretty diamond pattern on his back:

Hope you enjoy
Deb and my six dragons :shock: :shock: :shock: :love5:

 

[sweetiepie9]

Well photobucket worked, so let's see if I can transfer some photos:

I put Gabriel out & the first thing he did was try to get outside:

and here were Leo, Didi and Lonzo's reaction to seeing him out, guess I was too close, they didn't turn out very well, but you get the idea:

Three black beards in a row!

So yesterday was my niece Emily's 11th birthday. She got a horseriding lesson from my folks:

And a birthday party at my parents house for supper:
My mom & dad:

Emily:

her 8 yr old sister Carly:

Emily blowing out candles:

She had a good time & got a watch she'd picked out. Next Sunday my sister is giving both of us a party!
I keep asking both girls if they'll trade hair, they both have very blond wavy & thick hair, beautiful!

Gabriel was on my shoulder & decided that climbing my head was a better idea:

I'm getting good at taking pics myself!

 

[beardie parents]

Good pics Deb. Our girls usually like the back of the neck, Goldie especially liked the middle of the back of my neck (and the same area on Bill's also). Lil Squirt was sitting in that area late this afternoon just before I soaked her.

 

[sweetiepie9]

Hi Lori, it's the first time Gabriel climbed up my neck, it's kind of tricky to keep them up there, but he didn't lose his balance. Glad you liked the pics.

 

[beardie parents]

It's better if you can put a leash on them, then you can use the string of the leash to keep them on the top of your neck. We always use a leash on them when we take them outside.

 

[sweetiepie9]

I don't have any leashes anymore, they won't go beyond the balcony. I once took Rubio and Lonzo outside and they freaked, they didn't like being on grass, just wanted to be on the balcony, so that was the end of the leashes. If I take them somewhere I have a sports bag with a bit shoebox inside and I wrap them in their blankies, put them inside & close the bag. They just sleep until we get where we're going. They get alot of sunshine on the balcony, plus it's completely blocked off so they can't climb off. They feel very safe out there, even glass dance on the patio door in the winter to get out. They have alot of things on the balcony to lean on (big cement blocks) and a few boxes to jump into. Then there's always the beardie flowers to eat! I envy you your big outdoors that they can play in, so I can see how you'd need leashes for your girls!

 

[beardie parents]

I think I understand why your boys don't like the outside that I have, there is just too many cars and such that they feel unsafe unless they are on their person, besides they are used to your balcony more than you outside. Our girls get used to our yard and they actually like looking outside. With Lil Squirt, She seemed to freak out the first time we took her outside and I tried to put her down on my leg while I was sitting so I put her back on my shoulder, the second time, I put her on my leg and she didn't freak out then. She will get used to liking to wander around the ground and it will probably do for her what it did for our other girls' nails, it will wear them down. Her nails grip really good right now but once the hard ground wears them down, that will probably change.

 

[haleygirl272]

Look at those colors! I call that happy bearding haha (good colors but black beard)

So happy to hear that your niece had a good 11th! It must've been fun having real life dragons at her party :wink:

-Haley

 

[Tonja]

love that picture of him on your head lol. Emily and Geico have taken to leaving my chest for my shoulder now instead of being placed there..Emily tried to climb my ear but she cant...her little nails need clipped and so do Geicos but Im scared to clip them, shake to much. All your kids are gorgeous. Love the pictures of the girls..they are very pretty.

 

[sweetiepie9]

Thanks Haley and Tonya. Didi is a bright orange/yellow & even brighter than any pics I can take. Thanks Tonya, I love my nieces, just don't see them often enough. I just envy them their blond thick hair. Every time I see them I ask them if they'll trade :lol: but of course they say no!

That's the first time Gabriel climbed my head, he normally wants to be on my shoulder all the time. So Emily tried to climb your ear? Yes, those little nails get very sharp. It took me years to get to the point of cutting them, but they'll do it at most pet shops, if you ask. I had to be really careful, you can only cut the very tip, so I can understand you not wanting to. I waited until they were all asleep!

 

[Tonja]

yes my ear lol...I wear little diamond studs in my ears and guess the light caught it right and she went right for it lol..geico likes to play with my wedding set..something about the shine and sparkle attracts thier attention. He will grab my finger and tilt his head from one side to the other playing with it..he just paws at it but never tries to eat it,

 

[sweetiepie9]

They're just so funny!

 

[diamc]

Love the pictures Deb. Your niece is adorable, she sure loves her horse. Your parents look great, how long have they been married? I can see that you look like each of them.

So Gabriel climbed up the back of your neck into your hair, bet you were surprised. Sure makes it hard to pick them up when they're in that position, doesn't it? He sure looked content though.

When is your birthday Deb?

The beardie pictures came out great. Can't believe the size of Gabriel. How's Lonzo doing?

You already had your Thanksgiving in your area, right?

 

[sweetiepie9]

Hi Diane,

Yes, Canadian Thanksgiving was Oct 8, 2nd Monday in Oct is when it's usually celebrated.

My birthday is Monday, Nov 26, always around Grey Cup day.

Glad you liked the pics, my folks will be married 58 years in Jan. They're going to Hawaii for a month to celebrate.

Gabriel sure took me by surprise, climbing my head, he really wanted to stay there, but I finally pulled him off. He didn't like that at all. He would live on my shoulder if he could :lol:

Lonzo's doing well, but losing too much weight. I finally figured out how to feed him supers, which he'd given up. I just have to get his mouth open & pop the bug in his mouth & chomp! So he's eating 4-6 a day plus his greens & squash, so I'm going to weigh hiim today to see how he's doing. He needs to keep his weight up over the winter. His right lung isn't functioning and I don't think it ever will. But he still likes his run around the living room, I let him stay out longer than Leo and Gabriel (who just wants to get out the patio window, then hides beside the cricket keeper :mrgreen: ) as he needs the exercise more than the others. Didi is still out all day when I"m at work, but he stays near the ramp all the time, so is easier to find than the others when Jake comes in.

Rocco has a new tank, glass instead of mesh, so his environment is more humid. He's getting used to using his pads on his feet instead of his claws on the mesh, and he's getting better at it. He was so frustrated the first few days, not able to stick to the glass! But now he's better. When I have more $ I'll get a front opening tank for him, 20gal long, which is wider & I need the front opening to spray the tank down better. So he's getting better & he's letting me touch him for the first time in 4 1/2 hrs. So I've been enjoying that for now!

So have a wonderful day today, I'll be thinking of you all having a great dinner and day. Are Loki and Angie invited to the table? Bet they'd love some pumpking without the spices. I know my crew just love pumpkin.

 

[lillylizard]

sweetie i think your boys are beautiful. and i really love didi's coloring.

 

[sweetiepie9]

Hi Bryanna, thanks for checking out my boys. Didi is something else, his colouring is so bright pictures just don't do him justice. He's my little diva, he's my smallest dragon & so full of life. He just loves to jump around, I have alot of fun with him!