New addition and some help please.

[Uncle_Rev]

So last week I was perusing through CL and stumbled across an add for 2 free bearded lizards.

I have really wanted a beardie so I took a chance and emailed. I was then told if I wanted the bearded dragons I had to take the other reptiles. The person who took out the add had their roomie move out and left his reptiles as the last month's rent. He did not specify what was there, only that he would leave them on the front porch as he was moving out that evening.

I agree and proceeded to go pick up these reptiles up. Upon arriving I come to what appears to be an empty crack house and a stack of 6 boxes on the porch with a cardboard placard: "For Chris."

I take the boxes and pack them into the car and drive off. I open them when I get home and I am greeted by:

1 Uromastyx.
2 Bearded dragons.
4 Leopard Geckos.
1 Florida corn snake.

These reptiles were in very very sad shape. One of the beardies is missing all of it's digits on the right side. The Uro is covered in retained shed and the corn was infested with mites. I found a home for 2 of the geckos and the corn, but here I am with the rest of these guys and I am a bit overwhelmed.

Firstly, here is the Uro; if anyone knows the type please let me know:

The beardies I surmise are around 5-9 weeks old, they have their tanks set up and UVB, I am moving a tank in for some roaches.

[Uncle_Rev]

Here we are a big fat happy family, the female beardie is not doing too hot, but she is trying. She is eating gut loaded crickets just about 5 a day and drinking some water, but she is not taking them down with much energy.

Here is a pic of the geks for farts and giggles:

[alessia55]

That's terrible that they were left there in such bad shape. I don't understand people like that :mad: Anyway, I hope they recover well with you and that they all find a forever home either with you or with someone else who will take proper care of them. You did well by picking them up :yes:

[marvelfreak]

The Uro looks like a Moroccan Uromastyx.

[lady_bug87]

for the Uro, try a warm bath and gently rub with a soft wash cloth they may help with the shed, for the beardies you can try misting her with a spray bottle and make sure you offer lots of hardy greens like dandelion and collard greens, kale is another great choice

[millertime89]

hope they're get better, thanks for taking care of them when the previous owner bailed.

[Uncle_Rev]

Thank folks! This site is frickin awesome. The female beardie took down an *** ton of crickets today and the boy made a little poop drawing all across his viv substrate. His crap is hella rank, more so than my BP.

The uro did awesome in the bath, he swam around like a fiend and let me use the wash rag on his shed. He still has plenty to remove, but his orange is starting to really come out.

[alessia55]

Aww I'm so glad they're doing well. How's the corn snake doing?

[youngster]

Yeah beardie poop is the worst! Next to sav monitor :P

[lady_bug87]

Yeah beardie poop is the worst! Next to sav monitor :P

I agree lol it smells the worst

[Jenn_06]

happy they are doing better for you.

[Valvaren]

Overly smelly poop in dragons can be a good sign of internal parasites as well as runny poo. Any signs of mbd starting, are you dusting their food? What kind of Uvb do you have, mbd is a serious issue with younger hatchings that have been neglected and wont just be fixed by giving them the required care but instead if mbd has started extra measure will have to be taken to stop and correct it.

[Uncle_Rev]

Overly smelly poop in dragons can be a good sign of internal parasites as well as runny poo. Any signs of mbd starting, are you dusting their food? What kind of Uvb do you have, mbd is a serious issue with younger hatchings that have been neglected and wont just be fixed by giving them the required care but instead if mbd has started extra measure will have to be taken to stop and correct it.

1. Nothing runny, but it does stink.
2. I dust their food with calcium dust and gut load their crickets. The male however seems to only want to eat meal worms and greens whereas the female will not touch them at all and only nibbles a bit at her greens. Should I be using Calcium with D3 or without. I have been using plain calc dust at the moment but I have both.
3. I am using a 10% UVB but I have been considering switching them over to a mercury vapor bulb, what are your thoughts on those?
4. Hopefully I have not spammed you to death with my questions.

[Uncle_Rev]

Aww I'm so glad they're doing well. How's the corn snake doing?

I rehomed the Corn to a good friend and he is looking fricking amazing. He just shed this morning and has been pretty active, he took down a hopper. I had to bag and bash the hopper because currently the corn is not keen on FT, but we are working him towards it.

[alessia55]

Glad to hear it :)

[lady_bug87]

1. Nothing runny, but it does stink.
2. I dust their food with calcium dust and gut load their crickets. The male however seems to only want to eat meal worms and greens whereas the female will not touch them at all and only nibbles a bit at her greens. Should I be using Calcium with D3 or without. I have been using plain calc dust at the moment but I have both.
3. I am using a 10% UVB but I have been considering switching them over to a mercury vapor bulb, what are your thoughts on those?
4. Hopefully I have not spammed you to death with my questions.

I don't know if its been mentioned but mealworms can cause impaction in beardies which really sucks for both animal and handler so keep an eye on it

[Uncle_Rev]

I don't know if its been mentioned but mealworms can cause impaction in beardies which really sucks for both animal and handler so keep an eye on it

Ok, noted and changed. I have tank full of crickets so he will have to adjust. How are the zoo meds etc brand of dried crickets for beardies?

[Lankyrob]

My opinion is that live insects are much better for lizards - tho i have nothing to back this up scientifically

[Uncle_Rev]

My opinion is that live insects are much better for lizards - tho i have nothing to back this up scientifically

I was under that impression, but here is where I talk brass cannon balls, is there a place any of you would recommend for ordering crickets as I really hate dealing with the pet shop so often.

They are the only pet shop in my town and it is like entering a used car lot trying to deal with them.

[Gungirl]

I was under that impression, but here is where I talk brass cannon balls, is there a place any of you would recommend for ordering crickets as I really hate dealing with the pet shop so often.

They are the only pet shop in my town and it is like entering a used car lot trying to deal with them.


Why dont you start a roach colony? They are simple to keep. Dont make noise and are great for your little guys...

[Uncle_Rev]

Why dont you start a roach colony? They are simple to keep. Dont make noise and are great for your little guys...

That is something I am bouncing around in my head, after seeing the ease of which the dubias can be kept. Every sheet I read touts the virtues of crickets but every board I read says Dubs are way better and easier to maintain. Soooo I am really really tempted. I just have to convince my wife of the idea.

Keeping lizards for me is way more intensive than my snakes. There is so much to learn whereas snakes are pretty much temps, enclosure, hides, humidity. Lizards are light, temp, basking, bugs, enclosures, calcium, gut loading, etc.

If it were not for the awesome people on this forum I would have thrown my hands up in total confusion on the first day.

[Gungirl]

I actually think i want a roach colony more than a lizard ... well almost ..... lol

[Lankyrob]

Cant go wrong with dubs, they will feed most lizards well and are SOOOOOOOO easy to maintain.

[lady_bug87]

definitely feed live, I'm sure dub would be fine as well as crickets but still try and keep crickets a staple in their diet as well as veggies and some fruit, when beardies are little they will eat mostly crickets (nothing larger than the space between their eyes) you can offer as much as they will eat in 10 minutes again this is while they are quite young

as they get older they will go from eating 80-90% meat to closer to a 60/40 veggie to meat split

Im not 100% familiar with dubias but if they have a hard shell again just watch for impaction

[ZARADOZIA]

My opinion is that live insects are much better for lizards - tho i have nothing to back this up scientifically

You are 100% correct and I can back this up for you.

Vitamins and minerals in canned/jarred/frozen foods degrade over time.

Processed foods are the worst offenders because heating it breaks down many of the vitamins as does boiling foods, e.g., veggies, because B-complex vitamins are water soluble. The process of boiling food breaks down the water soluble vitamins and they are absorbed into the water. (Steamed is MUCH healthier)


This is the main reason many foods are reinforced with vitamins now days.

For in depth info do a search of "vitamins and minerals degradation rate in processed foods" and it will provide a wealth of info.

[ZARADOZIA]

That is something I am bouncing around in my head, after seeing the ease of which the dubias can be kept. Every sheet I read touts the virtues of crickets but every board I read says Dubs are way better and easier to maintain. Soooo I am really really tempted. I just have to convince my wife of the idea.


We have a thread about Dubias and their care: http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/food-thought-forum/88581-roaches.html (Click Roaches and the link wil pop up)

I was going to do this as well but my husband didn't just say no, he said H* NO! lol