Hello from England! (quite a few pics aswell)

[EvilDes]

Well, this is my first post, but I've been lurking around here for a while and reading with great interest!

My name is Des, and I live in Birmingham, England/UK. My gf is on here aswell I think, but also hasn't posted, her name is Sam.

So anyways, just thought I'd introduce myself and our mini reptile collection!

Being a BP forum, I'll introduce Clyde first! He's our first ball/royal python, and we took him off a mate of ours who couldn't get him to eat. He was under 100g's when we got him at 4 months old, and after a couple of weeks in our setup, he started taking F/T mice, and has been eating and growing ever since! He's now just under 200g's, and looking very healthy! His first shed with us was quite messy, and broken, but thanks to what I read on here, we got all the bad shed off no probs. The next one was complete, and he's just last night gone in blue.

Unfortunaly, I don't have many good pictures of him yet, but rest assured I will get some, but here's what we have.

When we first got him:


Early feeding (think this was his second):


Now he loves it:


We are quite proud that we managed to get him eating and in a healthy state. Whatever the reason, we must be doing it right! Like I say, I'll get some better pics of him so you can see his markings (he's got a heart shape on him which people always notice! )

Next up we have Archie, our Bearded Dragon.


Bit of a nutjob he is, loved his new viv and loves to jump and climb:


Always poses when he see's the camera (old viv):


And finally, we recently adopted a very sick water dragon. She's got a bad case of MBD, a broken arm, and severe snout damage. God only knows what the previous owner was doing with her She wouldn't open her eyes, wouldn't move, and wouldn't eat. However, £120 out of our bank accounts on vets bills has seen her recover dramatically, and although still nowhere near 100%, she's moving, eyes open, just started eating live food and is doing alot better:





So there we go! Bit of a reptile hospital it feels like for us at the minute, but it's so good to get them up and healthy!

I haven't really noticed many people from the UK on here, is there any? This is the best forum I've found so far, full of info, and seems friendly enough!

Sorry for the long post, but thought I'd hit you all with the lot in one go!

Des

[frankykeno]

Welcome to BPNet Des (and Sam too of course!). We do have a fair few UKers here as members and one as a Moderator.

You're doing wonderful work rescuing that poor snake and the water dragon. Whatever caused that awful damage to her face?

I do love pictures of beardies! They always look very Winston Churchill to me - sort of slightly miffed at their picture being taken but resolute about the whole matter. LOL Our family is planning to get a beardie at some point. We've always heard they are outstanding lizards to keep.

I'm glad you are enjoying your membership here and it's been of help to you and Sam. Please feel free to let any staffer know if you need help getting around the site. Admins names are in red, Moderators are in green.

[EvilDes]

Thanks very much for the welcome Very helpful!

As for the water dragon (forgot to add her name, which is Miggy), we think she was kept in a glass tank from what we heard, and not looked after very well at all (possibly no UV), and kept running into the glass. With no UV, the MBD has made her snout very weak, and having to feed her multiple medications and baby food hasn't helped. She's now off all her meds, so hopefully that will start healing up.

Archie was our first reptile (although I do own a garter snake which my dad now looks after, from when I was 14, so he's 12 years old now and still going strong!), and have to say beardie's are absolutely awesome lizards to keep! So many characteristics and mannerisms it's unreal. People who come to see him can't believe he is the way he is, even noticing his facial expressions! Sounds weird, but you can tell when he's in a mood.

And as for Clyde, well he's just awesome! He has such a good temprement, very docile, if a little skittish sometimes, but I heard most BP's are like this? He's ok with slow movements, and he's very inquisitive. He has a thing with having a look around people's faces. But he hates hair! He won't go down my arms because of the hairs on them, but when he's out he's always active and inquisitive.

Many thanks for the advice on the forum, I'll be continuing my roaming, but have a more active role now I've made that dreaded first post!

[~sam~]

Hiya, Im Sam (as the name suggests )

Thought I would say Hi too

Also, I thought i would show you all a picture of the water dragon when we first recieved her, just to show how well she is doing now




As you can see, she looked so fragile I cant see why people have pets if they dont look after them.

Some people dont realise how much work goes into owning a reptile.

[frankykeno]

All three sound as if they've got a wonderful home with you. It always come through in the post when a person knows their animals as well as you do, that they also love them dearly and want the best for them. They are all very lucky to have come into your care I think.

It's very normal for BP's to be a bit skittish especially as youngsters. Instincts tell them that they are just as much a prey item as a predator at that age so they tend to be very careful and can be defensive and a bit nippy or striking at you. It's just nature's way to try and help them survive their early years I think. Most of them will eventually calm down as they mature and get used to simple habits and routines. Most of ours are a bit head shy when it comes to things coming down from above them but will allow a nice under the "chin" rub. Again that's just about instinct. A predator would stike down at their heads so they like to protect themselves by avoiding that movement and by their classic balling up behaviour.

[EvilDes]

Thanks very much We do try our best!

Since we've had him, although a bit jumpy sometimes, he's never actually balled up as I've seen some do. Once he's been picked up he's fine, he just coils back a bit before you do. Not once has he striked at me though, which I'm thankful of

[Laooda]

Hello and welcome both of you! Glad you two joined in Looks like your reptiles are very lucky to have you as owners Best of luck with the Water D. I'm sure she'll make a full recovery!

[AzureN1ght]

Welcome to BP.net! There are a few other Brits around here somewhere We also have some folk from Ireland and I believe Scotland? Hopefully they'll come say hello!

It sounds like you both are awesome people, and your pets are precious--your Water Dragon girl looks like she's making a nice recovery. She is certainly fattened up quite nicely, and hopefully her jaw heals up soon. I look forward to seeing the both of you around BP.net

[frankykeno]

Yep our moderator Dr. Del aka Derek is from Scotland.

[dr del]

Ah

So that's why my ears were burning.

to the forum guys.

It's always nice to see people willing to devote themselves to rehabing animals that have a had a hard start in life.

You did the right thing by showing us pictures too - we're kind of addicted to those here.

Just sing out if you need any help with anything and any of the staff will help as much as they can.


dr del