Odahviing and Faranth

[Menolly07]

I finally have him all settled in, having redone some facets of his vivarium under some excellent forum advice (subbed out a fl. tube for the merv. vap.) and I do think we may be on the way to bonding. Not bad considering how much of a super, OH EM GEE SURPRISE LIZARD he was He's not once been anything but receptive to my gentle scoopings, so I decided it was time to take some decent portraits! So here's our boy. (Yes, she gave him to my husband, but I have to really make myself write "our boy" because hubby won't even touch the BSFL. Wimp.) I'm not sure "what" he is (I see leatherback, morph etc etc). He came from PetSmart. It's in the intro link, but the short version is he was injured and either he was given to us or destroyed. Yeah, no contest, that! We don't even know EXACTLY how old he is. My Sister-In-Law is meant to ask them tomorrow. He was maybe five inches nose to tail on Christmas Eve. Weighs in at about 10 grams on a kitchen scale now. Won't hold still for a ruler.


Odahviing by Menolly07, on Flickr: The hand (paw?) in the forefront is the one that got mushed. It, and his arm, have almost ALL shed. The scales underneath look almost the same as the rest of him now. The tip of his "ring finger" is slightly nipped off, but all the other tips have their claws. He still doesn't curl those "fingers" but makes use of the hand when he climbs. His fingers have undergone a "growth spurt" and are catching up with the rest of him. He lets me gently touch his hand after his bath. I just like to check it over and make sure it looks healthy, no sign of loss of blood flow, necrosis etc. I was near to happy tears this afternoon when I scratched his itchy "ankle" for him and some shed flaked away. A big patch to the middle of the back of his hand. I may not know much about reptiles, but, biologically speaking, dead skin falling away from a crush injury to reveal perfectly healthy new tissue underneath.... Well, that's a wonderful sight no matter WHAT Class an animal falls into.


Portrait - Odahviing by Menolly07, on Flickr:


Untitled by Menolly07, on Flickr: SHORTSTACK?? Who you calling shortstack? Gimme my snuggles woman!


Untitled by Menolly07, on Flickr: Oh hai dere. We watch My Little Pony naoh? I like Spike.


Untitled by Menolly07, on Flickr: Hubby wonders if we can sneak him into Ren Faires as "Jewelry" this way. Not for long, I should think.


Untitled by Menolly07, on Flickr: His arm looks amazingly better in this photo, and you can clearly see the shed "glove" he's been wearing. Lots of bathing took care of that quickly.


Untitled by Menolly07, on Flickr: I think he likes this spot for sleepies because it taunts the cats. He actually challenges them. Even when he's OUT. He's brave. Sometimes not wise. But damn brave.


Untitled by Menolly07, on Flickr: I was playing with graphics for this one but loved that you could still see the shed flake on his nose tip. <3<3<3

There are lots more, and of the pics links to the same photo set on Flickr. Thank you for looking, and I'm sure I'll update. Oh, and he

 

[ShannyBeard]

Ah ha I am glad you said 'Ren Faires' - my guess was correct. :lol: I got my first anole from a Ren Faire in town last February as a 'Baby Dragon.' Other than the desperately poor husbandry advice I was given by the Boy Scouts that were there in monk's robes selling them, all is well with my green lizard. 8)

Your Odahviing is a beautiful little guy. He has a nice little shy face, but looks happy. Congrats! :mrgreen:

 

[Menolly07]

He does kind of have a shy face, doesn't he? I keep describing it as sweet, but I think shy is more the right word. He's so sweet natured. I always feel a little bad for the Ren Faire lizards. They seem to be such a staple at Faires. Some seem to be way more knowledgeable then others. I always feel badly for them. I never considered an anole as a pet so didn't ever do much but stop to cuddle. I'm from Florida. We had loads of house lizards. Just wild ones that would take up residence and we wouldn't kick them out. They kept the wolf spiders and whip scorpions under control. I sure wasn't going to discourage them! I think a family of four lived in my bedroom. I found one in my undies drawer once. That was interesting.

 

[ShannyBeard]

I'm in Gainesville, FL and the Ren Faire here is a huge deal. Yes we have had lizards in our house and I have even had a snake in my underwear drawer once! No, I don't think anyone was trying to do me in, and I don't know how he got there. And I had a snake in my office at work a few months ago - a Florida Crowned Snake.

If our Faire were in the warmer months it wouldn't be so sad about the lizards, but it is in February and sometimes it's just so cold here at that time - at least too cold for a lizard outdoors! :shock: I think people see Florida and they think THE SUNSHINE STATE. Ummm no it got into the 20's a few nights ago. Sent my big beardie straight into brumation.

 

[Menolly07]

Oh yeah... I do not miss drawer snakes and toilet frogs either. Nothing like a jump to the butt. Or pool gators..... Or bush armadillos at midnight. I'm from Sanibel, which is in SW Florida and a barrier island. More south and a little warmer with the gulf winds etc keeping temperatures up. Still, down to 30s in big winter. Way, way to cold for lizards, especially unaccustomed pet lizards. Poor things. :-(

 

[Menolly07]

He skittered to my hand holding my laptop board and cuddled in, burrowing, sort of like he was digging into sand. He wiggled into place and let out a tiny huff and then stilled. I just stared at him, half under my hand. I pet him and he fell asleep. <3 He has not moved since. Sometimes he opens his eyes, and he looks up at me. I look back. I pet. He goes to sleep again. He's just in that spot, happily dozing. Who can blame him? It's a warm spot! Every once in awhile he wiggles a little and adjusts his position. It's so sweet.


cuddling by Menolly07, on Flickr


cuddling by Menolly07, on Flickr


Odahviing by Menolly07, on Flickr


King Odahviing by Menolly07, on Flickr

 

[Haylien]

Aww so cute, his colours are lovely!

 

[ShannyBeard]

He looks like he already loves you. :love5:

 

[Menolly07]

Haylien, thanks. I was amazed at how orangey-red he started getting. It's shocking what some good circumstances can do to potential. He's turning into a poser too. Camera hog.

Shannybeard, I sure hope so because I know I'm in love. Cross species sleepytime snuggling is awesome. Me, a book, him on my arm crook (super warm spot where you do blood draws) cats and the hubby. That was a day ender.

 

[pyffersnpaws]

He looks fantastic I love cuddle time

 

[Menolly07]

Bearded dragons were always on my "if I ever got a reptile this would be what I would consider" list, along with ball pythons and one of the smaller boas. A very short list. The big reason was that they can be spunky, have loads of personality but tend toward cuddley. I love cats and dogs because I am a physical lover. I love snuggles and cuddles and holding and petting, but I cannot feel like I'm forcing it. An aloof animal would be well cared for, but I don't think I could bond as well with an animal that was indifferent. Obviously not an issue here. Oh. My Squee. This little guy. I cannot believe he's a lizard sometimes. I can't believe any of them are, really! Have to redefine my prior conceptions born from lack of exposure. Self educate! :study:

 

[ShannyBeard]

I never got the point of having reptiles until I got my bearded dragon. I actually love my anoles, too - they don't want any cuddles. Actually, they would rather me pretend that they are not there. But we can't because they are labor intensive creatures....they require a lot care despite not wanting or needing to be handled.

 

[Menolly07]

Kissing Daddy by Menolly07, on Flickr: Lovings for my Dad
He crawled up onto my husband's shoulder and fell asleep like that. Wayne had to hold VERY still because he didn't want to knock him about. I almost died from the adorable. He said it tickled so much, but he loved it. Wayne is very warm, like a space heater. Odahviing loves daddy cuddles when he's sleepy. He cuddles into Daddy's chest hair and pancakes. It's awesome. <3


Untitled by Menolly07, on Flickr


Love his chin by Menolly07, on Flickr


Untitled by Menolly07, on Flickr

Loaded more up in Flickr.

 

[SilverMoon]

I love that you named him Odahviing. I'm a huge elder scrolls fan and was going to name my new baby after Odahviing, but she's a girl, so maybe next time.

 

[Menolly07]

It's funny you say that... Ahem..... Odahviing may be the DovahQueen of Pittsburgh instead of DovahKing...... We're not sure yet. The base of tail bit is starting to look a little girlie. >.< There's another beardie, named Dovah, on here. He's a handsome boy too.