Dez was 8 months in the photo with his big toy...he is now a year and 7 months, but still loves his stuffed toys. ...
I became an accidental Beardie mom, too! Our nephew was living with us, and he completely fell in love with baby Dez at a store, so we thought he needed a friend of his own...he fed Dez a few times and lost interest! Well, no critter goes uncared for in my home, so I brought him downstairs, (I am handicapped) on my kitchen counter where I could feed him every few hours and watch him full time. I began calling him DeziLu, from the Lucille Ball production company.
I knew nothing of baby lizards,but have raised plenty of baby birds...I figured, "well,they're not all that distant evolutionary-wise, and their protein, fats, vegetation requirements are almost identical to altricial birds, so treat him like a baby bird!!" Ha, ha! Boy, did I over do it! I made him an incubator with exact climate control, put him on a two hour feeding schedule, recorded everything he ate in a feeding journal, read everything I found on Beardies, bought every reccommended supplement, lights, etc...little did I know, young Beardies seem to bond with their care providers, much like baby ducklings imprint. (I now believe it is a permanent imprint) Within a few weeks, he owned me!! ???
I am so in love with this precious one! When our nephew returned to his own home, even he had to admit that Dezi and I could not be parted. We were by then going everywhere together...I have a designer dog carrying bag, which I place a hot water bottle (wrapped in a tea towel) in for heat. Have Lizard, will travel! Dez loves riding in the van. All my usual store clerks know us...My friends all expect me to have that travel bag on my shoulder when I visit them...Dezi has won the hearts of everone he meets.
Having been intensely socialized from such a young age, he is remarkably calm and gentle with strangers. I continue to hand feed every bit of food he eats, my hand to his mouth, which enforces our strong bond. I knew that, as he grew bigger, he had to be especially easy for me to work with, because I am physically very weak from a brittle bone disorder. It was for his good as well as my own that he be completely docile, so I could provide all needed care. When I discovered Beardies recognise things using a specially adapted scent organ on the roof of their mouths, I knew they use scent bonding, so I immediately stopped wearing perfumes of any kind. It was hard to give up the scented lotion! But he is worth it--a perfect pet for someone with my type of disabilities!! (I could no longer hold our little dog, due to fractured bones) My hubby and I truly believe Dezi was a gift to me,from God!
Your Mordecai reminds me alot of younger Dezi--he has that look they get,when they are well cared for, and know they are are loved!!
"I luv my mommy!"