I just received 1.2 Gerrhosaurus major bottegoi (Western plated lizard) from Tails N More last Thursday. They're W/C adults but in excellent condition. Set them up with deep potting soil bedding, stone hides/basking spots and a big water bowl. Basking area is 110* F on top 80* F in the lowest hide area and 70* F on the cool end. The stone hides are very secure and they have several levels to hide in for thermal gradient.
When I first put them in the big male dove into the hides immediately. The first female I pulled out may give me a surprise as her sides were so distended that she had little or no folds. Hopefully she's gravid. (crossing fingers) She just stood still and watched me for a while. The second female did the same as the male and dove straight for cover. Finally the other female ambled over into the hides.
I didn't expect to see much of them for a while but mostly am concerned with getting them eating and settled in. Next morning I put on their lights and put fresh salad and left for the day. Came home and nothing had been eaten. So I made up a little tray of turkey "meatballs" and left them alone. Went back later to turn off their lights and almost all of the turkey was gone. Yea baby.
They didn't eat Saturday but to my surprise after their lights had been on for a couple hours today I went down for something else and here are the 2 females out and about. They stayed out for a minute after noticing me then scooted for cover. While there I put in fresh salad and more "meatballs". Left them alone and they ate again. So I'm stoked that they are at least eating and starting to venture out in such a short time.
They were amazingly calm while I was handling them as I unpacked them. No struggling, fussing or attempting to bite. So I have hope these will acclimate well and be good pets and hopefully breeders.
Tails N More did a great job from start to finish on the transaction. They arrived very well packed in fresh packaging and brand new bags. Obviously very healthy and plump.
I will let them acclimate a while longer then treat them with Panacur. A trick I learned after Panacur treatments is to feed some live culture yogurt with the next feeding and this helps replenish beneficial digestive bacteria.
I'll keep this updated as things progress.
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BigT
There is a difference between ignorance and stupidity. The ignorant can be taught, stupidity is beyond our control.
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