Randal has officially woken up

So if you've read my previous posts about Randal, you'll know that he's finally becoming active again after almost a year. Long story short, at about 6 months of age last year, he stopped eating. He was sleeping a lot, hiding all the time, and being forced to eat baby food. For almost a year. 3 trips to the vet, blood tests, xrays, etc. all showed that he was going through an early brumation. But since he was still so young, we couldn't let him go into a full brumation. Well just a few weeks ago, he finally started eating live food on his own again. Now at about 1 1/2 years old, and winter here in NY, he's acting like a little baby again in the summertime! Won't stop eating and constantly wants out of his tank to explore. And now the real reason for this post:

Yesterday I come home for my lunch break to see Randal sitting on top of the mesh screen on the top of his tank. I ask Mike why he's sitting there. Mike has no idea what I'm talking about and comes out to look. Apparently, Randal got out himself!!!! :shock: The mesh screen was always a little open because we keep the basking light clamped to the top of the tank side. Well he must've climbed up from his hammock and out of the tank! Looks like he pulled himself up from the hammock using the dome fixture because he broke the light! :shock: Luckily he didn't burn himself. He was sitting very happily on top of his tank.

So now of course we had to go buy a new light, a new fixture, and set it up so he can't escape again. We're not used to having to watch after him since he's been inactive for a year. It's like we've traded him in and got a whole new beardie!!!!

 

[akingsley9000]

he just wanted to see your ring!

haha :mrgreen:

 

[Ethelia]

haha oh my!
he probably had it planned all day and had been waiting for you to come in and find him so he could look smug.

thank god he didnt burn himself though.

 

[slavetoIzzie]

What did you expect? He's a beardie! He's got to steal all the thunder from your engagement, and make sure you both are paying him top attention! I mean, how can you think about wedding plans when you have a Harry Houdini on your hands?

Keep us updated on his antics. Oh, POST PICS! (there's no such thing as too many beardie pictures)