Siren
Juvie Member
I got a beardie from a friend of mine who just started breeding beardies. I am not new to beardies and have had 5 total for the past 10 years. I have rescued some of them. Getting three with MBD and under my care they got better. Even getting use of limbs again, not perfect, but so much better. So I got two juvies a few months ago They were one-two months apart in age. One from Petsmart where I work and one from her. They got the same food, same temps, lighting, etc. Reptisun 10. Calcium dusting. Phoenix worms, as well as crickets, fresh green, squash, etc. No mealworms. At first the baby from my friend was doing ok. But very quickly I noticed a change in behavior, weight, eating, and activity level. I took it to the vet and she was given liquid calcium. The vet was thinking MBD. Later that night, she died. My friend was as sad as me and brought me a new one. I visited her home a week later to get some superworms (for my adult beardie and daughter's blue tongue skink). I saw her adult beardies and they looked fine, but when I went into the "nursery", I was taken aback. The baby beardies were being housed all together, not uncommon. But many had tail/toe nips, some were missing entire limbs. One of the ones who had limbs bitten off died later, she told me. I think they were being fed lettuce. And I know they fed a lot of mealworms, not much crickets. The tanks could use a cleaning. It was disheartening honestly. She breeds ball pythons and has for a while now and they looked in great shape and care. These were her first beardie clutches and I think she was very overwhelmed the amount of care and difference of care between them and ball pythons. I bred balls too, I found them to be pretty easy to breed. Never bred beardies, because it seemed like a lot more work which I felt I didn't have the time for. She told me she won't be breeding anymore and sold all the adults. I felt for her because I knew she was in over her head and knew it too. And last night, my second beardie from her, passed. Same thing, MBD. The vet and I agree, we think it may have started early on. From hatching.
RIP Nox
RIP Ivy
My Petsmart beardie, total fat arse. VERY active, but calm when holding. Eats like a champ. Sticking with one juvie. Won't be "replacing" Ivy.
This is Harley
RIP Nox
RIP Ivy
My Petsmart beardie, total fat arse. VERY active, but calm when holding. Eats like a champ. Sticking with one juvie. Won't be "replacing" Ivy.
This is Harley
Breeding beardies is a lot of money, time, and commitment. Most of the time you loss money of them.
