Zak-n-Wheezie the 2-Headed Bearded Dragon(s) RIP APR 4/16

[sunkist]

I can imagine you have spent alot of time studying them. I study my own little dragon wayyyyyyy too much!!!!

I enjoy their pictures greatly.

 

[clamentfamily]

He's right, they are spoiled rotten and go everywhere with me, they are my awesome little buddies.

This brings up a question I've been meaning to ask you...How did you keep them from running off when they were little? (all of your beardies for that matter) Sometimes Dex runs up my arm, over my shoulder down my back and on to the couch before I can catch him. I'm too afraid to take him outside or anywhere for fear he'll jump off of me. I've never even left the living room with him. Do they get better as they get older, or is it just that you handled them so much as babies that they are use to it?

Dex ran up Dominic's arm a few weeks ago, and now the poor little guy (Dominic) is afraid to hold him for fear he'll run away and get lost.

 

[jscott]

hi , so things are going alright with brumation then?

i liked the pic titled "the comprimise" :lol: , very funny.

they look like their still growing/developing in the pics you post. is that the case or are my eyes playing tricks on me?

 

[beardie parents]

Barbara, yes that was a complement. We don't even want to breed due to the expense and time. With my husbands health issues, he needs daily rest. To have a 2 headed beardie would add to the work. Not everyone can do what you do. We know our limitations and try to stick to them.

 

[fresnowitte]

Thank-you Sunkist!

This brings up a question I've been meaning to ask you...How did you keep them from running off when they were little? (all of your beardies for that matter)

Do they get better as they get older, or is it just that you handled them so much as babies that they are use to it?

I got very lucky with Z&W because I use to think they couldn't get far with their handicap an all. :roll:
:roll: (Thinking) Not like a normal zoom zoom baby. :? It wasn't until many months later that I realized that if
they were both thinking of moving at the same time they were actually faster than my normal beardies. :shock: We discovered this when we tried taking a video of them in motion and they were a blurr. :shock:

For juvies an adults I always blocked off an area of the house or room that is beardie proof and let each have a turn to roam. Plus we have the outdoor enclosure that they take turns using. Each take turns occasionally napping with mom, watching TV, or keeping me company while enjoying some nice sunny weather in our country yard. We also start taking them for rides when they are 2 to 3 months old. We take a carrier in case we need it but I don't remember ever using it for the reason of them misbehaving.
(thinking hard~scratching head :?: ) I usually just give them a time out when they get rambunctious by placing their blankies over them. This I learned from Z&W.

They do get better as they get older and more relaxed. (LAZY!)
But I handle mine several times a day from hatch-lings up to the adults. Always offering food or attention when passing by their viv's. :whip:

Babies run a lot from you....zoom....zoom... but you must be persistant. Also when trying to pick them up try doing it with your palm down as it is less threatening than a big hand coming down to snatch 'em up. They will usually climb up on your hand after just a few tries this way. Also it sometimes helps if you give them a peace offering to persuade them a little. ( :wink: Trickery works wonders :mrgreen: ) The more you talk to them the quicker they will respond too.

Now all of my beardies except Bender go for rides the females don't seem to enjoy it nearly as much as the males. Checker's, Z&W actually know when it is Saturday which is their day to go for rides. They get all perky on Saturday mornings at the edge of the viv looking into the direction of the door.
(Yay! Dad's home it must be our day! :lol: )
Mind you every other day of the week they are all lazy and prefer not to be bothered. I couple of times we had to skip their Saturday ride and they get real attitude with us. Kid of pouty an you know that cold shoulder treatment with the occasional beardie death glare. YIKES! :lol: They are creatures of habit so you have to form them into the direction of habits you wish for them to have. Like going commando on outings, pooping in the bath rather than viv,..........etc........They are my puppies with scales.

I think animals are somewhat like humans when it comes to wanting what we can't have.
I look at it like this if I give them freedom then possibly they won't feel the need to seek it.

Well Jason so far so good somehow we will make it thru brumation. My biggest biggest concern is the hormonal boys that may wake from brumation or even if just one wakes that way I may be in for trouble.
I don't think they have gained any length but they may have a bit more girth. :wink:
It's really hard to tell sense our scale broke. I hope their heads don't grow much more as it seems that their body may have stopped growing an it's already short. It's a good thing they have developed strong necks to hold up those big heads. I remember when they were under a month.....and so tiny.....poor things were very top heavy.

Beardie Parents it's true there is much more involved with them making them just a bit more time and mind consuming than normal beardies. :whip: I can honestly say that while UVB is on I have no spare time other than the time I spend on BD.org.
(Which usually there's a beardie sitting on my lap/shoulder or sitting at the desk with me when online)

 

[clamentfamily]

Thanks for the tips Barbara... Dominic's soccer is ending for the season on Saturday, so I'll have more free time to spend working with Dexter. After I posted yesterday, I took him out of his viv and walked him around the house. I'll have to find or make a beardie safe area this weekend and start letting him roam. One more question... when you started taking them for rides, did you do it alone, or did someone drive and someone hold the beardie? I' ve taken Dex on two car rides so far, but he was in a critter keeper each time. I was thinking about making a baby beardie harness so he couldn't get too far from me if I carry him around on my shirt. (I think I read somewhere that you use to wear Zak & Wheezie like a label pin)... too cute! :wave:

 

[fresnowitte]

One more question... when you started taking them for rides, did you do it alone, or did someone drive and someone hold the beardie? I' ve taken Dex on two car rides so far, but he was in a critter keeper each time. I was thinking about making a baby beardie harness so he couldn't get too far from me if I carry him around on my shirt. (I think I read somewhere that you use to wear Zak & Wheezie like a label pin)... too cute! :wave:

I sometimes will take them for their first rides alone but I always make sure that the carrier is in the passenger seat open and ready just incase.

Unfortunately we have a new law in our area that we are no longer allowed to carry our small pets while driving. Z&W do not like this new law. Because they have yes been riding on my lapel sense they were about 2 weeks old. I still do.....whoops :lol: ......don't let the police officers hear that. :lol: They are use to it and when I try to get them to ride else where they get stressed...........they like to ride on mommy where they feel safe.
So I guess when I get it......it will be a ticket I'll just have to pay. :mrgreen: :shock: :mrgreen:

 

[LauraandLee]

Just seen Zak n Wheezie and u have looked after them so well

How are they doing?

 

[fresnowitte]

Just seen Zak n Wheezie and u have looked after them so well

How are they doing?

Thank-you very much!
They are doing great although they are wanting to brumate.
They did get up today for a munch, bath, and their Saturday ride to town.

 

[atreyu917]

Just seen Zak n Wheezie and u have looked after them so well

How are they doing?

Thank-you very much!
They are doing great although they are wanting to brumate.
They did get up today for a munch, bath, and their Saturday ride to town.

Dave actually ate today too! He ate 7 superworms (he wont touch his veggies lately) for the first time in almost a week!

 

[diamc]

Hi Barbara, I'm glad to hear that they are still not in a full brumation, sounds like Wheezie got his way today and was able to be active rather than sleeping like Zak. Sorry to hear about your strange law about the transporting of them on your lap. :roll: I'm happy to hear that they did get to go for a car ride today though & that you got away with it. Sure wish we lived in CA so we could take ours outside again. That's really something that your males enjoy the car rides more than the females because Sabrina LOVES the rides whereas the males could care less or just don't relax and enjoy it.

Please continue to keep us updated on Z & W and more pictures are always welcomed. :wink:

 

[Drache613]

Hello Barbara,

I hope you don't get a ticket! :lol: Darn laws like that.
So they are kind of trying to brumate huh? Maybe they wont go into a full brumation though. You just can't really stop them though if that is what they are going to do, but you can slow it down!

Tracie

 

[haleygirl272]

It took about 2 hours, but I just read the 36 pages and loved every miniute. You are truly blessed and so is Z&W. They seem like the sweetest little brats ever!! I love them already! lol. Good luck on brumation!


You have my wishes, my prayers, my hopes, and my love for Zak, Wheezie, and the rest of your big beardie family! Your story has touched my heart and enlightened my soul. I am truly inspired. You are brave, strong, dedicated, and smart. I love your story. Zak and Wheezie, the two bearded dragons sharing a body, you have years ahead of you with a mommy like yours!

You better get used to me 'cuz I'm gonna be a regular poster on this thread! Don't worry though, my posts are always this mushy and deep! :roll: :wink:

 

[fresnowitte]

Imagine...... totally different from yesterday.......today neither one wanted to wake up, they ate nothing, did not want to be bothered with a bath.......so I opted the bath for misting. I'll bath tomorrow morning and see if I can get any reaction out of them. I sure hope so I need my Z&W snuggles.

I find the hardest part of brumation for me is not their sleeping actually...rather the not eating part.
I guess that's just the mother in me.

Haleygirl I want to say, "Thank-you so very much!"
I found your post to be very touching..........okay so you made me cry. :wink: :lol:
Z&W thank-you for taking the time to read the entire thread.

Diane I will try and get some more pic's up in the morning. :wink:

Tracie no ticket yet Saturday is Frank's day off so we let him chauffeur us. :wink:
I just have to worry about during the week. An yeah this law sucks! :evil:

 

[beardie osk]

Oh Barbara, I agree, the non eating is the worst part of brumation, I am going through the same thing with my Ollie, he has not eaten, and just wants to be in his cave. It's very hard!!!!!!!!!!!! Your always afraid and think the worst.......... we can all keep our fingers crossed and think good thoughts together, right?............. love to Z&W!