Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My beardie is really good at being handeled goes to sleep if you stroke his back but i bought him yeaterday (saturday) and he ate 3 crickets but hasn't eaten anything since or drunk anything at all. the temperature is ok. i have got the same type water bowl as the shop had and i burried it in the samd so that it is at the same level. he has had a little bit off my finger. He has been to the toilet and seems ok. i was also wondered what misting was and how to bathe him and if he needs it. he is only a small.
Kay

Misting is when you get a spray bottle full of water and just spritz the water on your dragon - using the "mist" option on the front instead of the stream line of water (if you use a regular one from walgreens or somethin). if you CLICK HERE go down to about the 6th item down, they sell a spray bottle - and u use that to mist water droplets over your reptile for it to lap up water on itself - and can also help during the shedding process. I've read that beardies don't usually drink from a water bowl, but it'd be good to have it just in case you're not there to spray it and it'll learn that there's water there when it needs it

When you bathe him, use a plastic tub. Put warm water inside that would go up to your reptile's chest level and not any higher - and make sure, while he's soaking in there, that you watch him. If you walk away for a little while, you can never tell if he put his head down and may accidentally drown. So just watch him soak for about 10 - 15 minutes. I've also read that beardies like to defecate while taking their tub, so after you dry him off, be sure to empty the water and clean the tub with disinfectant.

Since he only ate 3 crickets yesterday... and nothing this morning, you really want to monitor his intake because baby beardies usually eat more than that at a sitting. Make sure the crix are the right size and that the veggies are cut enough to be 1/2 the size of their head so they can easily digest it. The temps also help in digestion, but you said your temps were okay... so you've already got that part down!

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if anyone else has anything to add, please do so as I am also a beginner. i just put down what i've learned thru research, reading, etc.
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0.0.2 Fire Bellied Toads (Norman & Forman)
1.0.0 Crested Gecko (Vas-D)
0.0.2 Goldfish (Lenny & Carl)
1.0.0 Black Lab / Pit Bull (Mikey)

Get a misting bottle and spray him down at least twice a day. If you soak him at least every other day that would be good to. Just stopper the sink and fill it a little with warm water and leave him in their for about 10 minutes that will keep him hydrated well.

As far as the feeding... he will need a few days to adjust to his new home so I wouldn't worry about him not eating much yet........

Later,
Robert
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A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds,
adored by little statesmen, philosophers and divines.
Ralph Emerson

I would not handle the dragon at all for his first couple days. Even though he may seem content to sit in your hand and have his back stroked, it could just as easily be due to him being too scared to move. Just leave him in his cage for a few days, let him adjust to his new home. Once he is eating several times a day, active and relaxed in the cage, then start getting him used to you and being handled.
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PHLdyPayne