Stunted Growth?

[Sweetheart1016]

So I rescued Chaplin on August 6, 2014. At that time, he was 12" long and about 60 grams. He looked dirty and muted, but eyes were bright and soon he was alert and running after bugs.

As of October 6, 2014, he weighs 130 grams, just finished a shed to reveal a GORGEOUS yellow/orange morph, and is an active little bugger who tries to eat my hair every chance he gets and beats me every time at the "Ant Smasher" game on my phone. But he's still 12".

His hip bones do still show a touch, but I think the belly is translating into real fat pads and muscle slowly. He has defined marks on his thighs, but the tail lift still doesn't reveal 2 bumps like I expect it to.

I don't mind if he's just a mini dragon, and I assumed he would be smaller considering the care he was given before, but I thought by now he might have resumed some growth lengthwise. If he is stunted, and this is as full grown as he's getting, should I start knocking down his bugs intake and treat him as full grown? Has anyone rescued a juvenile like this before? Is he ever going to grow?

August 6th, 2014 - so weak he couldn't hold his head up.


September 6th, 2014 - still dirty looking, but gaining weight.


October 6, 2014 - shed is complete and he has a big belly on him! (tail still in shed)

 

[AHBD]

Wow, you've done a great job with him and certainly saved him from death ! The growth he's experienced is just filling in what needed desperately to be filled in. He may still grow more for you, so keep up a good hefty feeding schedule. Offer him greens too, even if he doesn't show interest at first, try a couple times a week. He is stunted but should be able to grow several more inches in the next year I would say. But great job on transforming that poor bag of bones to a decent looking little dragon. If you aren't sure about the gender, can you arch the tail in the air + take a few pics to post here ?

 

[Sweetheart1016]

He absolutely devours greens. No problem there. Voracious appetite for bugs too, though I only feed about 10 mini supers/3 small dubia (both calci-coated) 4-5x per week because I was warned about shocking his system with too much protein.

Will get those tail pics up later tonight. Really, it looks like what I'd expect in a female, but the femoral pores have me doubtful. My first dragon had 2 bumps, but no pores, so maybe I'm destined for slightly hemaphroditic dragons.

 

[Sweetheart1016]

Update: Still no growth, but I love my mini-monster. It is a female, so I was wrong. Tried the flashlight method of sexing and saw only one dark patch. Thanks for the help!

 

[CooperDragon]

It looks like you've made some really great progress with her!

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

She looks terrific now, great job!
Keep up with the greens & you could even add some butternut squash or other squash variety too for more starch & calories.
How many insects do you feed her weekly?
What type & brand of UVB lights do you use?

Tracie

 

[Sweetheart1016]

She gets either 10 mini supers or 3 small dubia 4-5x per week, depending what I have.

I have 2 picky dragons (one eats only greens, the other only sweets like squash) so the veggies do vary pretty regularly.

I have a reptisun 10.0 uvb at the moment. Only an 18", so I'll be upgrading that when I upgrade her container this winter/spring.

 

[Ofthelime]

Wow he's coming along well! I feel like if he was that poorly cared for he will indeed end up stunted. Question on my part, what happens to the previous owners in rescue situations? Are they arrested for miss treatment or what?

 

[Sweetheart1016]

I'm sure in some cases they could be arrested/fined, but I didn't report the previous owners here. I found them on Craigslist, and, realistically, all their other animals (about half a dozen reptiles, 2 pugs and a new litter of pugs) were all in great shape. It was only the beardies I adopted that were underweight and extremely nervous of humans.

 

[Ofthelime]

ok