u/Accurate-Owl5047

Original post; https://www.reddit.com/r/BeardedDragons/s/FT5HFP7YJx

I got a lot of advice on Skippy in my last post, I just wanted to share a small update on what ended up happening with him.

A few new tank adjustments:
- correct type UVB tube fixture comes in mail tomorrow
- roaming time whenever he asks to come out
- Dubai feeders were purchased and will be offered frequently through the week to help pack on more weight

As far as his current behavior, over the past week I’ve seen more of his personality than I ever got to before. He really likes to assert dominance over his food😂 He absolutely hates his reflection when he can see it, and he LOVES little head pats. When he explores he’s a little investigator that tastes the entire room and sideyes everything.

I’m sad that I won’t get to be his parent forever because of how cool I know he is, when his new owners are ready I’m going to give them a crash course in food prep and make sure they have the correct sources reference materials like reptifiles.
The new owners are a busy family, and I feel that it’s safer to help them learn and love beardie care with Skippy than them getting a baby and having to work through those delicate growing stages. I say this because adults have a more consistent and less intense feeding schedule than the babies, however I did also let them know that I want to wait a little while for transfer until Skippy is back to a normal eating routine/feeding and has proper lighting to be happy and healthy prior to the stress of a transfer as he did just go through a whole move.

While his personality is shining, and feeding taking important steps, this care ideally needs to become a regular reliable thing that his body thrives in before new ownership. Until new owners are ready we will solidify the formerly mentioned, install the new lighting set up and keep making sure he has every opportunity to thrive where he is, and if he isn’t or behavior/health deteriorates, than that will be the time a have a serious chat with new owners and the concern to send him to a rescue❤️

Hi guys, I got a bearded dragon last year in college. I really shouldn’t have gotten a reptile because I didn’t know how to care for them properly, I got him at 12ish weeks old from a pet store, it’s now been 1 year.

I realized lately how awful I’ve been as a pet parent (poor lighting, food lacking salads, lizard mixes).

I’ve made some changes such as having fresh salad available always and offering supers daily to add fat. I will get dubais though as someone told me that supers are too addictive.

My biggest concern is if he should go to a rescue, we have no exotic vets in the area and I have a new owner set up but it would be irresponsible to rehome before I was confident in his condition.

He is alert, active and eats daily now. I got repta boost to offer if needed. Now taking him out on balcony daily for better UVB exposure. He has a desert sun heat lamp and a coiled UVB bulb too.

I don’t have much money so buying a bunch of new stuff for him or driving to find an exotic vet isn’t an option for me.

Do you think he needs to go to a rescue? Does he look good enough to continue care at home before he is rehomed?

EDIT: added a couple more pictures from different angles in comments section as people asked abt tank and I know he looks a bit different when he’s not pancakes out