New Beardie, w/ broken arm!

[Gooseman]

Yea Yea Yea... ANOTHER animal y'all say? Well, I know I'm going to have to trim the heard at some point, HOWEVER, I could not let this little cutie pass. Especially when I found out about his broken arm, I knew I had to adopt him, atleast until he's well.

Sorry for the crummy pics, they were taken with my camera phone.



but yea, His name is Bubba cuz he's a redneck and got drunk off mealworms and fell off his house and broke his arm. The vet just said to majorly up his calcium and put him somewhere where he can't move around too much. So far I LOVE him. He's the most interactive of any of the herps I have owned, and I find him highly amusing running around after crickets.

I guess I got a few questions concerning him. I Have been told to give him 20 small crickets a day, does that sound like a reasonable amount for his size? I don't have a clue, this is my first beardie. Also, are there any type of useful hints when it comes to beardie care that I just wouldn't think about to ask?

[mischevious21]

Aww, what a cutie I would just suggest that you make sure that you dust ALL of his crickets for now,as the vet preobably said, and make sure that his basking temp is at or close to 110 for now. When their babies, they need it hotter, but when he gets a bit bigger (which wont be long lol) youll be able to drop it to 100.

As for the crickets- it may seem alot to you now, but it wont in six months when he eats over 1000 a week PLUS greens!!! They eat ALOT, and the only time they slow down is when their shedding. But take this warning seriously- they eat ALOT. In one year, I spend over $600 a year in food for my ONE beardie- who's not even overwight. Thats more then I spend on my dog and my snakes and rats all combined- including vet bills!! I just thought I would let you know- it sucks when you get the snimal without being warned- then you fall inlove.

Mines eight months old, and I'm pretty sure hes full grown. Alot of time he has full reign oover the main floor, and he HATES the dog!! lol. But yea, their just loaded with personality- so have fun with him!!

Oh, and also, do your best to handle him/her every day ad/or as much as you can. If you dont I've seen alot of beardies become agressive, especialy males. I have a male, and with us spanding atleast an hour to three hours a day with him he's still moody at times!

[8b8ll]

I think a nice Mercury Vapor Bulb would do wonders for this little guy.

The reason behind me saying this are because MVB's provide heat AND UVB.

So the little guy has really no choice but to sit under the UVB because that will be his basking spot.

http://www.reptileuv.com/ - My favorite bulb.

T-rex and Zoomed also make great MVB's.

All the above information is great and I could not have said it better myself.

Good luck Ben!! Congrats...beardies rock and I miss mine still!!

Mike

[Gooseman]

Thnx for the info man. I am really not too concerned with the bills as much as I am time commitment. I don't want to have any animals that I cannot offer the proper amount of attention to, and I am nearing the limit. Well, I guess the best way to put my situation is that I'm a mini-rescue of sorts. The ferrets I currently have I obtained with respiratory infections and am currently treating, and as soon as thats done, I have already found a new home for them. I am still undecided about a few more of the animals I have in my care and will be making decisions shortly.

I am just curious as to whether you think 20 small is enough for his size, as I have read that juvies can eat between 20-60 a day. Also, given his leg, I have him in a medium sized critter keeper so he can't move around too much in his condition, via advice from the vet. When would you say I should bump up the size, and to what? Also, have you found any veggies to be the best all-around diet for them?

[8b8ll]

Your generally not going to get a baby eager to eat veggies.

Once my beardie started putting on some decent size I started leaving veggies in his cage and he eventually got the point.

I would say feed as many crickets as he will eat.

http://beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com/Nutrition.html

Great food chart.

Collards, Mustard, Turnips are great as they are high in calcium.

Check that around that website as well she really has some great stuff and it helped me when I first got my beardie.

Mike

[Patrick Long]

My beardie, LOVES dandelion greens that i get from lassens. he devours them, but it was hard to get him to like the greens. i had to make the greens giggle to get him interested. im actually going to start a roach colony for him.

cute little guy there! what leg is broken of his?

[Gooseman]

His front left leg, sorry you can't see it in the photos, but theres a dark band all the way around it where it's broken, and he has very limited movement of his toes. He still manages to get around real well, I just hope he doesn't injure himself worse by doing so.

[Patrick Long]

Like you said, put him somewhere that he cant really hurt himself, maybe no climbing perch that he can fall off of. Youll enjoy them dude, they are soo personable, so aware of everything. by far the coolest lizard i think! (dont tell my BTS's that)

[reptile3]

Youll enjoy them dude, they are soo personable, so aware of everything. by far the coolest lizard i think!

I sooo agree!!!

[Bright202]

Well I work for a dragon breeder, and I see how everything works. your best bet would be to keep him in a small tank, or rubbermaid tub. You would then need a heat light, a 50 watt halogen bulb works great. Than you need a UVB light. Then your set for heating and lighting. Next all you really need is some children's play sand, and a piece of slate. Thats it! Most people like to decorate and get a HUGE breeder tank for such a tiny animal, when really that will stress them out. Just like BP's.

20 crickets sounds alright, what you should do is feed 5 at a time for 10 minutes, or until he stops eating. Usually, what we do is have a cup of mealworms we top up everyday, and give them their greens at night when the lights go off.

Feel free to send me a PM if you have anymore questions.
Good luck!