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This is Nico - my new "rescue-dragon”. Last Thursday I saw an ad at our local herpclubs' message-board about a "give away dragon" I went there only to sex him, and - of course - I couldn't resist him. He came back with me. He is such a cute dragon - BUT very afraid of EVERYTHING.

He hisses at me when I get near. It will take some time before he gets used to me and realizes that I won't hurt him. I don’t think he had a good former home. His cage was very dirty and he is SO scared of everything.

He is thin – but not skinny. Hopefully he will put on some weight soon. He eats well. The first morning at his new home he tried to eat the artificial plant in the cage…!

He has such a cute face!

He broke his tail when he was younger...

Hissing at his new mom – me!

Hissing at his new mom – me!

Cute face!

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Teo - A Bearded Dragon

n/p
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TheClassyLizard

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-Lauren

~ Lauren's Lizards ~

groups.yahoo.com/group/LaurensLizards

he is so very cute, really nice eyes, love his orange highlights. Great pics!

very nice dragon! I am sure he will fatten up quickly under your care.

When I rescued Lizzy - he was a grade school pet project - he was very untrusting and unloving. He would hiss at me and try to run away when I came around his cage. After two months of being around him daily he started to come around. Now, almost 10 months later, he is a big, georgous, eat-out-of-your-hand, gentle natured dragon. You would've never guessed that this gentle giant was once so mean and untrusting. He eats out of my hand now and sleeps in my lap.

Recently, he has developed an eye problem that several reptile specialists have been unable to diagnose. His eyes tear up when he tries to "concentrate" on something. You know, it's that look when they are just about to pounce on a cricket. Well, his pouncing days are over. He just can't see well enough. At first we thought it was an eye infections, but drugs and drops have not cured it. I am just glad Lizzy trusts me now because he has to rely on me to feed him. I have to tap on his mouth gently when I have a food item for him. Then he gently opens his mouth slightly and I put part of it in. Then he chews it up. I really love Lizzy, he's truly a God-send.

Sorry this story got so long Gunilla. I've seen your beautiful dragons and know that you have a very loving place in your heart for each one. I have no doubt that your rescue will come around. It is so rewarding when they learn to trust and love you! Your rescued beardie is beautiful!

Veronica
P.S. Below it is a photo of Lizzy about 3 months after I got him but before his eye problem started. He used to charge into the cup that held the crickets and gobble them up! What a character!

Beautiful Dragons

Thanks for your long reply! It is nice to hear that even a very scared dragon can change and be trustful. Nico is *very* scared right now. But I THINK he has calmed down just a little since he got here. He doesn’t jump out of his skin if he sees me any more…! If I move my hand REALLY slowly inside his cage he kinds of tolerates it – but keep close watch. The one thing that frightens him most is when I remove his poop for some strange reason. That totally freaks him out – and of course I have to do that once in a while…! Hm…

I am sorry to hear about Lizzys eye-problem. I also have a dragon that I have to hand-feed all the time – Teo. She probably has something wrong with her neurological system. She can’t measure distances correctly so she misses her insects constantly. Poor girl! So I help her. She is not like other dragons, she doesn’t move around much at all, but she seems happy to live with her boyfriend Cicero and she and I have a very special bond. She tells me when she is hungry and also when she is thirsty. She licks the air in different ways and I generally understand what she wants. Sometimes she let me know when she wants to poop too – she rather does it outside the cage...! Teo and Cicero are the only ones that live together of my dragons – it works fine even though they are male and female. For some reason Cicero doesn’t see Teo as a female – MOST of the time.

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Teo - A Bearded Dragon

Hmm, he doesn't like it when you remove the poop? Could it be the tool that you are using to remove the poop with? I use a wad of toilet paper and I can see how that could be a little scarry to a beardie. Just a thought.

Please keep me posted on his improvement - I'm very anxious to know how he does. Have a great day!

Veronica

I use an old spoon to remove poop - that could be it. I have been thinking of that too. He is also VERY scared of tweezers. It seems that everything "metallic" scares him. Maybe he was hurt with something metallic in his former home...? Who knows. He is not that scared of my hands. BUT - I will NOT remove poop with my bare hands!

Of course I will keep you updated.

>>Hmm, he doesn't like it when you remove the poop? Could it be the tool that you are using to remove the poop with? I use a wad of toilet paper and I can see how that could be a little scarry to a beardie. Just a thought.
>>
>>Please keep me posted on his improvement - I'm very anxious to know how he does. Have a great day!
>>
>>Veronica
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Teo - A Bearded Dragon

I bet he's afraid of the metal spoon. He'll probably get used to it - I hope. It's good to hear that he's used to your hands already. That's a very good sign. Keep up the good work Gunilla! Have a great day!

Veronica
Beautiful Dragons

lol i saw the picture and said"hey that look familiar" thats how i've been feeding my baby and she hops rite in

It's great when they will eat right out of the cup! It sure is easier and it seems that fewer crickets get out this way. When Lizzy is in the cup - nothing gets past him!

Have a great day!

Veronica
Beautiful Dragons

>>This is Nico - my new "rescue-dragon”. Last Thursday I saw an ad at our local herpclubs' message-board about a "give away dragon" I went there only to sex him, and - of course - I couldn't resist him. He came back with me. He is such a cute dragon - BUT very afraid of EVERYTHING.
>>
>>He hisses at me when I get near. It will take some time before he gets used to me and realizes that I won't hurt him. I don’t think he had a good former home. His cage was very dirty and he is SO scared of everything.
>>
>>He is thin – but not skinny. Hopefully he will put on some weight soon. He eats well. The first morning at his new home he tried to eat the artificial plant in the cage…!
>>
>>
>>He has such a cute face!
>>
>>
>>He broke his tail when he was younger...
>>
>>
>>Hissing at his new mom – me!
>>
>>
>>Hissing at his new mom – me!
>>
>>
>>Cute face!
>>
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>>Teo - A Bearded Dragon
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Teo - A Bearded Dragon