Hi,
This is to introduce Tater Tot. He hatched out one week later than his clutchmates and seemed a little out of proportion (like he was preemie). He also was sporting an odd pattern. He seemed to have trouble with his legs as well like they were too long for him to be able to control and it took 3 days to absorb all his yolk (it was bigger, but not super huge)? The only way he seems to eat is hand feeding and he can swallow just fine it just takes him a couple minutes to get it all the way down. He gapes his mouth and waits for me to give him crickets, roaches or even drips of water. He is showing an increased interest in prey items, but still won't try to go after them. I am wondering if anyone has seen anything similar. I was initially thinking it was prematurity (even though he was late), then wondered if it was a neurological thing or just some weird birth defect. Either way, I love him to death, he is an absolute doll. He is getting around great now, but does run a little "wobbly", he climbs up to bask no problem and has a fairly good appetite. All his clutchmates are fat and sassy and doing great! This was mom's 3rd clutch.
This first one is from Friday. He enjoys a little soak!
This is one when he was about 5 days old. You can see how he gapes for food (it's not the normal "I'm scared" gape) as well as the funky way he was holding his leg.
This is when he was 3 days old. His pattern is unlike any of the others I have hatched or seen anywhere. His color now is almost an apricot with the grey pattern.
I don't know much about breeding
and I am pretty new to beardies,
but my first bearded dragon Mimi
I was told was a late hatcher and
a bit "slow" as well.
After having her for awhile sometimes it shows and
sometimes she gets into a routine where anything she does seems normal.
She really doesn't go after prey too often either
and I mostly hand feed her.
I have to say that it really builds a strong bond.
Tater Tot is super cute and I wish you two all the luck in the world : )
Thanks so much for the reply! Mimi is beautiful! That makes me feel a lot better knowing that even though she started out late that she is doing so well! I always worry that I will come home one day and Tater will not be with us any longer, but instead he surprises me every day by seeming to get stronger and more alert. I figure if nothing else he will just have to be hand fed for his entire life, but it is certainly something I am willing to do. And you are very right about the bonding, I don't think I could ever let this one go! I have gotten so attached to him because of all the extra attention and time I spend with him!
Thank you so much for the uplifting reply!
He might have some never problems in the leg. I know sometime it happens to human babys when they are in the wome to long. Time is the only way to tell. If he seams like he drags the leg more then us it. He might need it removed so it does not get sores and that can lead to infections. but if he uses it he might need to grown somemore. I hope he gets better. I dont know really about brearded breeding. Now he is one of your babies that you have hatched right.
Yes, he is one that we hatched. He seems to use all his legs just fine now, but just runs with a little "wobble" almost like how we would be if we had one leg longer than the other. He is seeming a lot less interested in gaping for food now and is doing better eating his greens, but still won't try to eat crickets on his own (even after I pull the legs off). I am hoping that he keeps improving with his feeding and coordination. Does anyone have any thoughts on his pattern? Is it just unusual compared to my other dragons or unusual for all dragons? Tater says thank you for saying he's adorable !
Tater is growing although I wouldn't dare to say by leaps and bounds. He did finally start chasing crickets which is really cute because he runs like a pirate with a peg leg! His color has gotten really beautiful, almost a dark orangish-red! I got some pictures last night which I will try to post this afternoon when I get home. I don't know if he will ever reach full dragon size, he looks pretty dwarfed still and out-of-proportion, but I am sure he will definitely survive which is fabulous! He is quite a character and always makes me chuckle with his little quirks! One strange thing I did notice is that he appears to be leatherback which neither of the parents is and as far as I know isn't in their genetics? I thought at first his smooth back would gradually change as he got older, but now I am not sure and am thinking that whatever is "wrong" with him also has something to do with that? He also has joints in the long toes on his back feet that look similar to rheumatoid arthritis which led me to theorize that maybe mom was depleted in calcium somewhat which may have led him to be born with MBD, but then again none of his clutchmates had any issues and are doing very well! I would think, however, if that had been the case that it should be getting better since he has the proper UVB lighting and is supplemented with calcium and multivitamins? I don't know if my brain in its quest to know as much as possible about everything will ever stop trying to come up with theories (even if they are far fetched) lol! I will get the pictures posted this afternoon or evening and try to get a close up shot of his toes, too. Thank you all!
Sometimes things just turn out different. If he is happy and healthy, eating, basking, the whole shebang, there is no reason to question it too much. You should never breed him, so anything about his coloring or scales will have to be tested out with parents and siblings, but other than that he is irresistibly adorable. I would just leave it at that.
AtlasStrike, thank you so much for that! You are absolutely right...he is happy-go-lucky, content, eating and active and I should not worry so much. Definitely NO breeding for him so maybe on his parents' next clutch there will be some "normal" dragons with his pattern and coloring...that would be awesome! Here are some pictures I took last night of little Tater when a friend was over visiting. Excuse the poor picture taking abilities...I think I need a better camera and photography lessons lol!
Look at the long toe on his right back foot...both feet have the same disfigurement.