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]

Hi Jenn, glad Starling is doing so well. She'll enjoy those hornworms, I'm sure!

I just found out from Sabrina that Castiel is 373g & will be 10 mo old on July 1, so his birthday is Sept 1. She said he was born between end Aug and beg Sept, so that's the date I've picked for his birthday. He is a big boy, will see how big he is on his 2nd birthday. Nathaniel is starting to catch up, he's over 17" long now and 427g :shock: Cierra is growing well, too, she's 17" long and 340g. When I see them side by side, I can see how much more delicately built Cierra is than Nathaniel is, he's just all male!

Sabrina also got all the shipping supplies and he's picked up next Tuesday, I just can wait until Thursday afternoon when I pick him up! Luckily I already have that day off for a doc appt in the am, so will have lots of time to get to him to pick him up. If I get stuck in traffic, I'll just go to Joanne's to wait it out, but I'm hoping I'll get there and be on my way, long before rush hour starts, it starts early out here, 3p.

 

[zandi202]

I am so very sorry for your loss, Deb.

 

[sweetiepie9]

thanks Liz, I sure do miss my Puff. A friend of mine offered me a 9 mo old male, he'll be named Castiel, he's being shipped to me next Tuesday & I pick him up on Thursday, so that tank won't be empty anymore, for which I'm grateful. It's funny that whenever I lose a dragon, another comes available, it's as if Puff showed me Castiel to love.

 

[BlueDragon09]

Yay one of Sabrina's babies. I really wanted one of her boys
but mom didnt wanna another sick dragon. I know she wouldnt sell us a sick dragon but mom wasn't buying it. We can never do shipping again.

Congrats on the new baby boy..sounds huge at 10 months.
Mine is 73 grams now he grew 10 grams since last Saturday.


Also starting a saltwater tank since my freshwater has a fungus growing on my fish and just ended up killing them.
Two I saved...anyway..I'll be posting pics of the tank when it's done and definitely more of Broly my thread is pictureless again.

 

[sweetiepie9]

Thanks Kami, he just turned 9 mo old on June 1, it's nice to know his approximate hatch date, so that's right in the middle so I'm using the 1st as a birthday. He starts his journey next Tuesday and I finally get him home on Thursday, I'll be going right after my doc appt in the am. I sure can't wait! It's the first dragon, except Lonzo (adopted) and Didi (fostered) that I've ever had shipped and that's not a rescue. So out of the 12 dragons I've had over the last 9 years, he's the only one I've gotten from the person who bred him. It'll be a new experience. I even turned on his light & it's got great UVB still, so will be good for awhile. I have to order one for Cierra, it's not got alot of UVB left, might switch it with the one on the ramp until I get the new one ordered, which will be soon, but takes a few weeks to get here.

 

[NeosMom]

Hi Deb! I did it!!!! I finally stole your ramp idea like I've been talking about for three years!! It's not completely finished yet. I'm going to hang a light for a basking spot and I'm sure extras will accumulate to make it more fun and homey. But it actually exists. Yay!

Mindi

 

[sweetiepie9]

Mindi, they're going to love it! Looks like one of them already got the idea and this way can get some sunshine. Is that Crystal?

 

[brandymulvaine]

Hi Deb and the beardie family! I just wanted to pop up here to the present and say I've passed the 300 marker...300 pages that is! When I get caught up on your thread I'm going to start one of my own so I can put up pictures of my gang. Charlotte is full of eggs again... . No vets close by that I trust either..

 

[sweetiepie9]

Hi Brandy, I am so impressed that your slogging through this long thread but thank you for doing that.

I think Cierra is starting eggs again, too, seems never ending, but hopefully Charlotte will be fine, I know it's hard when they lay eggs. I've been giving Cierra Acidophilus every day or so & it seems to be helping her, she seemed a big bloated last week. Is there no exotic vet in your area? You really need a vet, just in case. I guess I'm lucky, I found the only vet in our whole area, she's great, has been caring for my dragons for 9 years now. We learn from each other, that's for sure.

So my Castiel starts his journey tomorrow! I can't believe it! I'll be bringing him home on Thursday and I'm praying all goes well. I'll be anxious until I have him in my arms, that's for sure. I'll post as soon as we get him and he's comfortable in his tank. I still have to clean it, will do that tomorrow night.

 

[diamc]

Yay, Castiel will be arriving soon. If you get the tracking number, maybe we could track him at least part of the way with you. It's SO exciting!!!!!!!!!!

 

[sweetiepie9]

Hi Diane, here's the tracking #780790760190 through FedEx, he's in Memphis, TN. So he'll be on his way to New York soon, he'll be in Toronto tomorrow later, then he's re-shipped to Vancouver with another tracking#, I'll keep you all posted. I'm supposed to get a call early on Thursday am to confirm he's arrived. I have an appt with my lung specialist at 11:15a, as soon as I'm done there, I'll be on my way to pick him up. I'll keep you posted & sure you can track him same way I have, here's the link to the tracking page:
https://www.fedex.com/apps/fedextrack/?tracknumbers=780790760190&cntry_code=us

I'M SO EXCITED!

 

[NeosMom]

I'm glad Castiel is on his way to you. Yay!!! I can't wait for pictures. I'm so excited for you.

You were saying something in the last couple of posts about giving Cierra acidopholiz when she is starting eggs? I'm really curious. I've used it when dealing with worm treatments. And Figment was on it regularly because that awful vet screwed his stomach up so badly. I will also admit to slipping it to them when they aren't eating well and I want to boost their appetites. Does it help with gravid females? I'm intrigued. Would love a magical serum to stop the eggs altogether. Wouldn't we all?

The ramp is doing ok. Fluffy is crazy about looking out windows, so she is the one who really loves it. Crystal more so likes to run around the house a lot and this gives her a little space to be out without me worrying so much. She does like to look out the window, but it doesn't entertain her for hours the way it does Fluffy. Skellington has been on it a few times - usually not for long. Yesterday he got interested in something outside and seemed to enjoy whatever it was he was doing at the window for a while. I still want to get a light there. I know the glass blocks the UVB which is what we really want for them.

Everything else here is good. Just tired. Always a million things to do. And then a dragon will poop too. :lol: Be good Deb. I will talk with you soon.

Mindi

 

[sweetiepie9]

Hi Mindy, glad the ramp is working out. You don't have to have the light on the ramp, you can have it beside it so when they're done with the ramp, they can get down & snuggle on a cushion under the lights. I guess the windows along there don't open or don't have screens if they do?

As for the acidophilus, I give it to any of my dragons who don't feel well for any reason. I'm not sure if Cierra has eggs yet, I can't feel any & she did lose weight last week (13 g) but she seems to have her appetite back. She wanted lots of super worms after she lay in May but they don't agree with her, so she wasn't feeling well, loose stools, for a few days, that's why I started the acidophilus.

As for a way to prevent eggs, there hasn't been any breakthrough there. My vet had Lupron, a hormone that works wonders on birds to prevent eggs, but didn't work on Puff. A friend used something else on her Puff, but that didn't work either, so she got her Puff spayed and she's doing well.

So I checked and Castiel is already in New York! So he should be in Toronto later today, to be reshipped to Vancouver this afternoon. I'll be at work, so won't be able to check but will find out when I get home tonight & I have tomorrow off. Have a doc appt at 11:15 but hope that goes well & doesn't take long and I'll get to pick him up early & get home without too much traffic.

I'll keep you all posted!

 

[Esther19]

Exciting times, Deb. Castiel will be home soon!

 

[sweetiepie9]

Hi Esther! It is, he'll be here sometime tomorrow am. I'll be calling before I leave for the doc to make sure he's arrived, but I'm tracking every 1/2 hr right now. He's in New York, not sure when he'll be going to Toronto. I don't know that I'll sleep much tonight!