New Beardie Owner!! some Qs

[busak87]

Hey guys, I got my beardie about 3 weeks ago...I rescued it from the PetSmart I work at...someone had returned him a week after they bought him because his hind legs became paralyzed (I think the dropped him or something). Anyway, he has come a long way...now he is very active loves his greens and worms, and is a very good climber even though his hind legs dont work lol

one question I have is about feeding him...since he cant move quickly, he doesnt eat crickets...cant chase them...so I have been feeding him mealworms. but after reading stuff on this site, it seems that mealworms are not the best for my beardie...what other worms could he eat that are readily available at most pet stores (I dont really want to special order anything)

heres some pics of him...thanks for any help and thanks for looking!!

 

[Freeie]

He sure is a handsome little one! :love5: Im so glad you rescued him! Not sure of anything else thats not special order. Only thing i can get here where i am is wax/mealworms wax are really fatty and are used as a treat or to help to fatten up a skinny one. mealworms are to hard on the tummy. This might help have you tried putting him in something small and putting the crickets in it so when they run by he can grab them? Or this might sound bad pull the legs off? I know ive had to do that a few times for Lexi.

Welcome to bd.org

 

[Ethelia]

What a sweety pie.

Leg paralysis can be a symptom of impaction. Has he been passing poop for you?

Even if your dear doesnt regain the use of his legs I might recommend you try making some "rice rocks" (rice inside socks).
I have a disabled monster who only has one arm and one leg so he has difficulty climbing up to bask, with only two limbs he needs all the grip he can get to climb.
All you do is get a sock, and pack in lots of uncooked rice and tie the end off (i use hair bobbles or I stitch them). You can then pile these up to give him something to climb on if he struggles with wood or rock.
I also love these ricerocks because you can pop them in the microwave for 30 seconds and give them a nice warm rock to bask on.

Here are a few shots of Ruben and his ricerocks.

Holly

 

[Darlene2009]

Welcome and I'm glad the beardie has a loving home now

 

[busak87]

thanks for the replys everyone!!

After reading through this site, I thought it might have been caused by impaction too...but he seems to poop regularly and there are no mealworm "shells" left in his poop...I have been feeding him mealworms since I got him, but then realized...from this site...that they are not the best for him. So I am going to try and get him onto crickets somehow...and Im going to try and see if I can find some Pheonix worms in my area.

thanks again!!

 

[3cherries]

I know this is your competition, but the petco here had phoenix worms when i stopped in for something the other day.. so if you have one close by you might want to check it out, I think they had calic worms label on them..