New craigslist beardie

[bambichik39]

So its been awhile since I've been active on here... back in November I was questioning if it was time to get another beardie after losing mine last March. Well a week or so ago I was at Petco and they had a "reptile rally" going on. Anyways this got me wanting to get another one. Enough that I dug the huge 4x2x2 custom enclosure out of a back closet and into the living room. Problem is my living room really isnt that big- my house all together isnt that big. So it was either buy a new cage or keep it in a back bedroom, which I really didn't want to do because Id never see the poor guy back there. And the cage- a national geographic 40g tank with front opening doors was over $200- so that with purchasing a new beardie would put this at a big investment. Anyways, I found myself browsing craigslist and found someone trying to rehome their adult beardie. Upon looking at the pictures this guy actually looked healthy unlike most I've seen previously listed "for adoption for $200." I was able to snag this guy and his enclosure- which was the exact tank I had been eying at Petsmart- for $75. Money aside he's exactly what I wanted. An older beardie who was use to being held and needed a good home. This is the poor guys 3rd home that I know of per the previous owner. I will make sure I'm his last. The tank STUNK so bad I was literally gagging in the car on the way home. I tossed all the cage decor out in the garage and scrubbed the tank as well as I could. I also bathed him. Anyways, he's currently on paper towels until I can get some tile cut at lowes. I had all the other cage decor from my previous dragon, so hopefully he adjusts well to it. One thing I did notice is his hemipores have like protrusions on them..? Never seen that before. His tail also has a little ring around the end but doesn't look like the end will fall off. Hoping to get him to the vet for a check up next week. Anyways, without further ado heres Rinehart.

One more question for anyone who has this tank... how the heck do you get the doors open? its been so hard for me to figure out! Do you just glue on knobs...?

 

[CooperDragon]

He does look pretty good compared to a lot of the dragons on craigslist. I'm glad you are able to give him a good home! I don't have that tank but perhaps those hooks with suction cups would work as handles to open the doors.

 

[Terry15]

That tank needs a key, maybe you could get it from the person who bought it from. Maybe google it or buy one on eBay or directly from National Geographic. It's probably universal. Check out the YouTube video on that tank

 

[Jessecharged]

Great story and congrats on your new dragon!! He looks great!!

 

[bambichik39]

Thanks everyone, I got him out once today to clip his nails- they were so long they were snagging on everything, even his cage decor. Little clip took care of that. He wanted to run around some so after a short bit of being out I put him back as I'm sure he needs to adjust more before he's held much. He didn't eat anything today, but with the recent move thats kind of to be expected. I have the key for this tank, the glass doors themselves just don't have any tabs or anything to pull them open after the locks pushed down. I think I've fixed that problem though- I went to Lowers and got slate tile cut and picked up two knobs with pretty large flat backs and cut command hook strips down and put them on the glass that way. Seems to be holding well so far, so time will tell. I had to move his tank as it was too close to these three windows I have in my living room and I felt it was getting too cold (and I'm sure it'll be hot come summer) so he's now in a more central location. Hopefully all these changes aren't too much on him and hell be eating and happy in no time.

 

[Terry15]

The tank & Rinehart look Great. I'm glad you have the key. Did you build that basking step hide ?

 

[bambichik39]

Yeah, I made it probably back in 2010 or 2011. its held up great!