Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, Socket and Lumpy are still around. We they arrived on our door step 6 weeks ago, they were each 2 grams and 4 inches long. The photo below was taken 5 weeks ago...

Socket is really developing nicely. Lumpy on the other had is getting more and more deformed as he grows. It's like his poor little bones don't know which way to grow. He can still walk, climb and run. He hunts down his own crickets and sleeps a lot. He hasn't gained any weight in the last 3 weeks. He got up to 4 grams and stopped putting on weight. It's like his body refuses to keep up with him. He loves to be held and loves his baths. I know just looking at him is sad and heartbreaking, but we are keeping him as comfortable as possible. It doesn't appear that he is in any pain. We can pick him up and rub his back without any problems.

Socket on the other hand is full of energy and acts just like any normal baby would. Now Socket is 10 grams and 6 inches long.

When Lumpy passes on one of these days, I hope and pray that it's in his sleep and he's having good dreams of chasing crickets. We don't know how much longer he will be with us, but we cherish every moment. The photo below was taken last night.

Take care everyone and I'll keep everyone up to date on their progress.

Veronica
Beautiful Dragons

Oh…. Poor little thing… So sweet and small! It is so nice of you to take care of these dragons, they need love and care just like all the “normal” dragons. It feels great to know that they are people like you out there, that take care of those little dragons.

I missed the beginning of this – where did you get those babies? They are so *cute*!

Ps. Olga with the "bad joints" says hi to Lumpy and Socket!

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Yeah, they are pretty small. A lady on this forum posted about two deformed beardies in mid-September. I emailed her and urged her not to put them to sleep. She's a breeder and just had a baby of her own and was worried about caring for them and was worried that they were suffering. I assured her that if they were eating and getting around ok, the chances were that they probably weren't in any pain. So she sent them to me!

I've got quite a handful with 3 adult beardies on meds, a red tail boa with a respiratory infection, two uros that aren't eating, two rats with colds, and two deformed babies. The family just keeps getting bigger and bigger. But I'm not complaining. I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't want to.

Olga is looking good. I'm so glad you kept her and didn't give her away. She looks like she has a very pleasant personality. I have your photo of her sleeping in bran that I have on my screen saver. I just love that photo!

Thanks Gunilla for your support!

Veronica

>>Oh…. Poor little thing… So sweet and small! It is so nice of you to take care of these dragons, they need love and care just like all the “normal” dragons. It feels great to know that they are people like you out there, that take care of those little dragons.
>>
>>I missed the beginning of this – where did you get those babies? They are so *cute*!
>>
>>Ps. Olga with the "bad joints" says hi to Lumpy and Socket!
>>
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Beautiful Dragons

Thanks for telling me the story. It is so wonderful that you do this for your animals – you are a great person. Please keep us all updated about the little ones.

Yes, Olga is a sweetie. How nice to hear that you have her as a screensaver! Olga is a very calm dragon – so I hope the reason for that isn’t that she is in pain or anything. Her skeleton isn’t “normal” either. Her back is slightly crooked, and her tail is full of “bumps”. You can bend her tail upward in almost 90 degrees (not that I ever DO that!) When she grows heavier this could get worse, who knows…? She grows slowly, she is 14 months now and still not fully grown. I am not even sure she IS a she! I have sexed many dragons – but I just can’t sex Olga! It is weird… one day I am SURE it is a female – the next I think it is a male. And she/he is 14 months old… strange… Not that it matters though!

Good luck with the babies!
/Gunilla

Ps. I just love the pic of Olga below. She got a little freaked out when I walked by her and she didn't see me at first..!

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Olga has such a sweet face, even with her beard all puffed out! And I'm willing to bet that since she's made it this far in your care, I bet she will grow to be a full sized adult. Like you said, it may just take a while.

I just wish Lumpy wasn't so deformed. I look at the photos of him 5 weeks ago and then look at him today and I'm amazed at how bad it's gotten with his spine. Here is a photo of him from the side so you can see how deformed he really is...

I try to look at the good side and give him the best of everything. But I wake up every morning expecting to find him gone...

Veronica

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Beautiful Dragons

poor lil guys. at least he gets to live his life as normally as possible as long as he can. sometimes we have to remember that nature isnt designed for every creature to survive. even beardies - boy did mother nature screw up!
is there any way you could brace his spine as he grows?
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proud mama to:
1.0.0 ball python (mr snake),0.0.1 albino florida kingsnake (CK),1.1.0 leopard gecko (sebastian and vilma),0.1.0 colombian rainbow boa (luce),1.1.1 bearded dragon (kaipo, dulce, and kellen), 1.1.0 colombian redtailed boas (adam and eve)

You know, I thought of that when he started to change in appearance so rapidly. I thought that maybe if I could somhow wrap him in the lower belly area... then I just shrugged the idea off. I don't want to cause him any pain. I just don't know. What are your thought on this? Has anything like this been done before?

Veronica
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Beautiful Dragons

Poor little guy... I wonder why this happens and why... At least you give him a great life as long as he lives.
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It's so good to see you doing all that, just for them (the dragons) and no one else. Your a truly good person.
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Joel R

Coming Soon!
www.SpikesAndScales.com

Like they say, it takes one to know one! Thanks for the phone call this morning. I always appreciate your help!

Veronica
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Beautiful Dragons

Thanks Veronica for everything you do. Not a day goes by that I don't refer to your site. Anyone who asks me about bearded dragon care gets sent there. You have helped so many owners and beardies that it would be impossible to count them all!

I'm sure Lumpy and Socket realize how lucky they are to have been sent to you!

Laura

n/p
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TheClassyLizard

I hope it does ok.....
sue
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Life is what happens when you are making other plans.......