[Zoodulcis]

This is one of the best rescue stories that I have heard in a while.  With any luck Funky will be a companion to you for a long time to come. It’s funny how rescued animals just seem to get it, although it may take awhile.  I have a funky silky story of my own.  Once upon a time, on a cold and snowy January morning in the Colorado Rockies, I  heard my favorite silky rooster screaming for help.  I leaped out of bed and ran outside (naked) into the deep snow to rescue him.  He had unwisely left the barn early and a passing goshawk had already torn one side of his face off.  I had to grab the hawk by the throat to get him to let go, so intent and hungry was he. The hawk flew off, minus some feathers, and the rooster was taken into the house, minus some face.  He was cleaned and warmed up and pampered for the rest of his life (another 2 years). We named him Super Chicken.  He had a name before that but don’t remember what it was now.  Super Chicken had an astonishing will to live, and also became an amazingly sociable bird, more so than before his brush with the grim reaper.  It was almost as if he knew and appreciated the efforts made on his behalf. So long live funky chickens!!  I hope you win this month’s crickets.

How does Funky do with the urge to scratch for forage with only one leg?  Has she found interesting ways to compensate or has she just modified her behavior to avoid going there?

[Zoodulcis]

Also sorry to hear about your loss.  Is Sully healthy enough now to crawl up onto your hands and enjoy the experience or does his earlier neglect make him a nervous enough about handling to flick hairs?

[Zoodulcis]

OK, I’m officially impressed with the little one’s dining preferences.  Go big or go home!  What sort of ingredients do you use in your cricket gut load base, or do you use a commercial product like Flukers?

[Zoodulcis]

 

Sounds like you made a thoughtful decision about acquiring this pet.  IMHO that is a much more sensible and ethical way to go about acquiring an animal companion than seeing one in the petstore and ‘falling in love’.  And nervousness is good!  It keeps people from becoming complacent about their pet’s well being.  What was it about beardies in particular that appealed to you instead of, say, a gecko or chameleon?

[Zoodulcis]

He does seem to be growing well!  Why the name Eliot?  I am always interested in why people choose the names they do for their pets.  Sometimes the story is that their child named the pet that way for reasons only a child knows, but sometimes the stories are really interesting!

[Zoodulcis]

I agree, he is quite lovely.  What made you decide to get into reptile owning?  And why a beardie in particular?

[Zoodulcis]

It will be interesting to see if any personality changes occur with age.  I have two house cats who are sisters.  Their personalities and even bodies are 18o from each other, and at 11 years old, I think it unlikely that the hyperactive one will change much and the laid-back ‘little fat chunk’ will suddenly be svelte and athletic.  On the other hand, I have seen a change in handling and training techniques work wonders with horses and goats.  Some failures, yes, where the animal’s personality seemed carved in granite, but also some incredible reversals the equivalent of turning Rocky into Kingston.  So keep on posting to keep us up with ongoing attitude developments.  If you discover any tips, please do share them.  As you may have noticed, another beardie owner of Oscar the Grouch (a rescue, which can have a lot to do with pet’s outlook on the world for awhile), has an unsociable fellow and they may benefit from the occasional action, change in food or enclosure, etc. that worked for you.  Oh and Kingston is uber, uber adorable.

[Zoodulcis]

How big are the crickets you give here?  Are they pinhead or some other kind?

[Zoodulcis]

If he is a great deal larger, he may not be able to cling to those glasses unless he hooks that prehensile tail into your nose.  Other than wearing him as a living fashion statement, what else do you like about him as a companion animal?

[Zoodulcis]

They are adorable!  How many do you have?  What made you start breeding and raising beardies?

[Zoodulcis]

Pastel seems to be making quite a ‘spectacle’ of himself!  How old is he and how long have you had him?

[Zoodulcis]

Rocky looks like a calculating fellow!  Interesting that these two beardies are so different from each other.  Why do you suppose that is?

[Zoodulcis]

Oscar is indeed a grouch!  You might try this trick that I have used with birds of prey that were overly anxious or aggressive during falconry training sessions.  It’s sort of total immersion based stuff.  When you have the time, and not at a time when he is at his most territorial,  sit right beside his enclosure with a good book or Ipad or something to read.  Not a phone or anything requiring vocals on your part.  Pay attention only to your reading, do not make eye contact with him at all.  The idea is to stimulate him into paying attention to you, while not overstimulating him into a threat display.  Eventually, you will become boring to him, which at this stage is exactly what you want.  It will take more than one session, but it works more often than not.  I have seen this sort of habituation technique work for animals from raptors to terrified piglets to baby Ibex goats.  Eventually even the most schizophrenic of raptors would sit calmly on my hand, even on my head, and piglets could not wait to scramble into my lap for a nap.  Oscar may be a tough case, but the odds are good that this technique will soothe him at least a little bit.  I would love to know if you do this and if it makes any difference with him.  Keeps us posted here at the Critter Depot because enquiring minds want to know!

[Zoodulcis]

Wow that is some really helpful identifying markers!  I think that will help quite a few folks and now I feel better informed.  What is the little one eating at this point in her life?

[Zoodulcis]

Two months is close enough.  At this age are you certain that she is indeed a she?  If so, what means do you use to tell this and how reliable do you feel this method is?  Lot’s of readers that are new keepers of youngsters or who are beginning to shop for young herps ask about this frequently.

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