Meet Draego..

Re: Meet Draego..

Gillian Mostyn — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 21:54:46 GMT

[quote user="*Steph *"]

It's called 'Calypso cricket dust' .. is that one ok? it says it 99% pure calcium..

Also, the breeder I got him from said that cuttlefish is good too. and to scrape some onto his food.. I got cuttlefish too

[/quote]

Both the cricket dust and the cuttlefish is simply calcium carbonate, with nothing else. Nutrobal contains calcium but also vitamin D3 as well as almost all the other vitamins they need. It is true that beardies with adequate UVb, and therefore endogenous D3, will do fine with just calcium added to the diet, but most vets and breeders do recommend adding some D3 to the diet as it is difficult to be sure that they are getting enough otherwise. As I said, I'd be happy using nutrobal daily in a growing animal, reducing to eod when adult. However, some cautious breeders will use calcium dusting alternating with nutrobal if they want to reduce the D3 content of the diet. (You can potentially overdose on D3, but not with calcium.)

In otherwords, neither Calypso cricket dust or cuttlefish is the same as nutrobal!

(The other problem is palatability. I would hazard a guess that cuttlefish scrapings reduces it? Nutrobal is a very fine powder that sticks to the bugs really well, and doesn't seem to affect palatability at all.)

Re: Meet Draego..

Steph Phillips — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 20:10:30 GMT

It's called 'Calypso cricket dust' .. is that one ok? it says it 99% pure calcium..

Also, the breeder I got him from said that cuttlefish is good too. and to scrape some onto his food.. I got cuttlefish too

Re: Meet Draego..

Gillian Mostyn — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:02:42 GMT

[quote user="Steph Worsley RVN MBVNA"]Actually some beardies in the wild live in the deserts in Australia so do live on sand[/quote]

Kind of. Their natural habitats in the wild (depending on species) are arid, rocky, semi-desert regions, or arid open woodlands. They wouldn't really live on just loose sand - very little does!

[quote user="Steph Worsley RVN MBVNA"]Most of the probs caused by "living on sand" can be overcome by good husbandry, poo picking everyday, and l;ike i said watching when they are catching their crix to ensure not getting mouthfuls of sand with each crick[/quote]

As reptile urine isn't sterile (unlike a mammal's) it is contaminating the environment as much as faeces does. We also find that sand impactions happen very slowly in most cases - it seems as though they need only pick up a few grains here and there but they settle in the gut over time so that the problem can develop after quite some time.

Don't get me wrong - I am sure that some people keep their reptiles on sand and do very well with it. I have to give advice which covers everyone - from the dedicated reptile owner who poo picks daily as well as empying the viv, disinfecting and replacing the sand on a very frequent basis - to the 'child's pet' who is lucky to be looked at weekly, let alone cleaned out. I would rather tell them to keep it on newspaper and know that their environment will be kept fairly clean and their droppings noticed, and it will smell and look horrible otherwise, than hope they are good owners!

(I also advize what I would do - and I would use newspaper or carpet tiles.)

Re: Meet Draego..

Gillian Mostyn — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:52:20 GMT

[quote user="*Steph *"] I got calcium etc.. I sprinkle it onto his food every other day :)[/quote]

Just make sure it's actually a useful supplement! Nutrobal is approx 44:1 Ca:iP but some of other brands can be 2:1 or contain a different calcium compound which is harder to metabolise, and therefore they just aren't as beneficial as they could be. (Also, if you are using the correct dose you can use it every day.)

Re: Meet Draego..

Steph Phillips — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 07:56:31 GMT

Thanks Maisy xx

Re: Meet Draego..

PHA86 — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 11:55:46 GMT

We have a man at work building our new prep and theatre called Draego!

Re: Meet Draego..

Maisy — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 10:47:58 GMT

Congrats Steph! Love the viv too

Re: Meet Draego..

Steph Phillips — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 07:54:10 GMT

[quote user="Nick Shackleton DipAVN(Surgical)VN MBVNA"]

[quote user="*Steph *"]

[quote user="Nick Shackleton DipAVN(Surgical)VN MBVNA"]

[quote user="Kerry Brennand DipAVN (Surgical) RVN A1 MBVNA"]

Loving the tank!!!!! Think I would spend more time watching Draego than the TV!!!!

[/quote]

At the moment yeah with the sports on!

[/quote]

hahaha. I have been!!! watching him is sooooo much more entertaining than stupid football!..

[/quote]

bet he could do better than our shower of s**te

[/quote]

A shower of sh*t is expected from south africa soon.. counceling for the english should call 0800 4-1 4-1 4-1 - (sorry, couldn't resist!!)

Re: Meet Draego..

Steph Phillips — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 07:50:35 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

[quote user="*Steph *"]What should ideal weight be? he's approx 6mths old.. I'm going to put him in the bath tomorrow .. quite excited to see how he'll take to it! [/quote]

There is no 'ideal' weight - reptiles will grow according to their diet and environment. (Yours looks perfect at the moment.) You should look for a slow and steady weight gain for at least the next 12 months or so - problems will be indicated by lack of growth or, worse, a decrease in body weight.

I've thought of another tip - nutrobal!

[/quote]

will do! I'll record to every month or something? I got calcium etc.. I sprinkle it onto his food every other day :)

Re: Meet Draego..

Steph Worsley — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 07:03:05 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

I'd stick with newspaper or your carpet - which is perfect. I am not a fan of sand - and they wouldn't live on sand in the wild either.

I know some animals live on it with no problems, but the problems I have seen caused/exaccerbated by it include impactions, conjunctivitis and poor cage hygiene with subsequent high microbial loads. It can also be really difficult to monitor the poo/urine/urates!

If my clients want to provide a digging area then I suggest putting a small litter tay or similar in the enclosure containing a sand/sterilised compost mix that they can change every couple of days.

Main main piece of advice with beardies? Weigh it frequently so you will pick up problems nice and early.

(Also make sure they are weaned onto 80% veggies by 12-18 months as we see lots of renal disease in those that stay on a bug diet too long, and bathe frequently - we also see quite a lot of dehydrated beasties.)

[/quote]

Actually some beardies in the wild live in the deserts in Australia so do live on sand

Most of the probs caused by "living on sand" can be overcome by good husbandry, poo picking everyday, and l;ike i said watching when they are catching their crix to ensure not getting mouthfuls of sand with each crick, if the seem to do this all or a lot of the time i would then remove them from the sand.

I have found most beardies will wean themselves off the live food when they reach 12-18 months anyway as they get lazier as they get older and prefer n ot to chase their food!

I think as long as you have a decent water bowl with the water changed on a daily basis you shouln't need to bathe them that often, again it is good husbandry, if you look at them every day and clean and look at them you will notice changes as with any animal

Re: Meet Draego..

Gillian Mostyn — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 23:35:41 GMT

[quote user="*Steph *"]What should ideal weight be? he's approx 6mths old.. I'm going to put him in the bath tomorrow .. quite excited to see how he'll take to it! [/quote]

I've thought of another tip - nutrobal!

Re: Meet Draego..

Nick Shackleton — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 23:02:41 GMT

[quote user="*Steph *"]

[quote user="Nick Shackleton DipAVN(Surgical)VN MBVNA"]

[quote user="Kerry Brennand DipAVN (Surgical) RVN A1 MBVNA"]

Loving the tank!!!!! Think I would spend more time watching Draego than the TV!!!!

[/quote]

At the moment yeah with the sports on!

[/quote]

hahaha. I have been!!! watching him is sooooo much more entertaining than stupid football!..

[/quote]

bet he could do better than our shower of s**te

Re: Meet Draego..

Steph Phillips — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:58:20 GMT

[quote user="Nick Shackleton DipAVN(Surgical)VN MBVNA"]

[quote user="Kerry Brennand DipAVN (Surgical) RVN A1 MBVNA"]

Loving the tank!!!!! Think I would spend more time watching Draego than the TV!!!!

[/quote]

At the moment yeah with the sports on!

[/quote]

hahaha. I have been!!! watching him is sooooo much more entertaining than stupid football!..

Re: Meet Draego..

Steph Phillips — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:55:33 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

Main main piece of advice with beardies? Weigh it frequently so you will pick up problems nice and early.

It looks really happy and healthy though - good luck with it. I love beardies!

[/quote]

Thanks Gillian thats great advice

What should ideal weight be? he's approx 6mths old.. I'm going to put him in the bath tomorrow .. quite excited to see how he'll take to it!

Re: Meet Draego..

Gillian Mostyn — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:40:56 GMT

I'd stick with newspaper or your carpet - which is perfect. I am not a fan of sand - and they wouldn't live on sand in the wild either.

If my clients want to provide a digging area then I suggest putting a small litter tay or similar in the enclosure containing a sand/sterilised compost mix that they can change every couple of days.

Main main piece of advice with beardies? Weigh it frequently so you will pick up problems nice and early.

It looks really happy and healthy though - good luck with it. I love beardies!

Re: Meet Draego..

Kerry Brennand DipAVN (Surgical) RVN A1 MBVNA — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:17:31 GMT

LOL!!!!!!! Defo very true!!!!!! Whats the point of paying for a tv licence!!!!!

Re: Meet Draego..

Nick Shackleton — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:08:26 GMT

[quote user="Kerry Brennand DipAVN (Surgical) RVN A1 MBVNA"]

Loving the tank!!!!! Think I would spend more time watching Draego than the TV!!!!

[/quote]

At the moment yeah with the sports on!

Re: Meet Draego..

Kerry Brennand DipAVN (Surgical) RVN A1 MBVNA — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:05:50 GMT

Loving the tank!!!!! Think I would spend more time watching Draego than the TV!!!!

Re: Meet Draego..

Steph Worsley — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:04:54 GMT

TBH I would use sand, I would only take them off it if they seemed to be eating too much when catching their live food, mum and da's has been on sand for the last 2 years and the guys at my rep shop always keep theirs on sand with no probs!

I'd best go sort out my live food as the kittens are trying to break into the tubs!!!

Re: Meet Draego..

Steph Phillips — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:04:44 GMT

Lol! yeah we were.. I reserved an egg an everything! lol.. just that he needed a home and I'm a sucker for that!! lol.. she's got someone else lined up for the baby now (not hatched yet!)

Re: Meet Draego..

Steph Worsley — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:02:04 GMT

Ahhhh lol, must admit i got confused as i thought you said you were getting a baby!!

newspaper is fine, i would personally use sand but thats just my preference!!

Re: Meet Draego..

Steph Phillips — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:01:18 GMT

also.. I'm a bit worried about using sand as I've heard it can cause impaction! how common is that? he's 6mths now, do you thinkhe'll be ok with sand, or am i just best to stick with carpet (or lilo tiles?)??

Re: Meet Draego..

Steph Phillips — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 20:58:25 GMT

well.. we were originally going to get a baby dragon next week and got the viv all ready except for substrate.. the breeder rang me to say she needed a home for him, I went to see him and loved him.. so brought him home instead.. last minute on a sunday evening.. and thats all I had! lol.. I read on a few sites that its ok... we've got reptile carpet now for him

Re: Meet Draego..

Steph Worsley — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 20:52:32 GMT

like I said on FB he's gorgeous, just wondered why you have him on newspaper?