I am decorating the Dragons tanks with Christmas decorations

I am putting the Christmas decorations on the Dragons tanks. I had to make a stocking for Eiko. I tried to find a store bought one for him but could not find one small enough. I had one extra, left over from last Christmas for Ryuu.I am going to get another 40 gallon tank so I can have all 3 tanks set up side by side in the living room,where I can see all of my Dragons.Eiko has grown so much since I got him and has out grown his present tank.He will be 1year old in January.I had my friend Ashley take some pictures of the decorated tanks. They are not as fancy this year as my funds were limited, but I think they look nice any way.Lilo,Ryuu and Eiko,the Golden Dragons,to be continued.............

I have Puff's ashes In a box with a Dragon on top of it.

I picked up Puff's ashes and they were in a tiny plastic bag.Darla,who owns the pet cemetery and crematory,made a card with Puff's foot prints on it. I put his ashes in a box that has a dragon on top of it.There is a very small alcove next to the tank that Puff was in and that is where I have placed the box with his ashes.I am planning to paint the alcove gold and hang a picture of Puff above the box.I have put Puff's special birthday card and the card that Dr. J. sent,and Puff's CD, behind the box. I put the card with his foot prints and his first place ribbon that he won at the Petco Reptile Rally in the box with his ashes. I miss Puff so much............I will get some Pictures of the box as it is very beautiful and unique. Rest in Peace Puff, I love you. The Golden Dragons,to be continued...............

Puff Passed Away

Puff passed away during the night.When I turned off the lights last night, Puff was soaking in his water dish,so I did not want to wake him up moving him out. He has spent many a night soaking so I did not think anything of it when I turned out the lights.When I turned on the lights this morning,I found him still in the water dish but in a different position and I noticed that his head was in the water.I pulled him out and realized he was dead.  I am broken hearted,but I knew it was coming. 16 years is a long life for a Bearded Dragon to live. It is never easy to loose a member of your family,be it a pet or a human.I am so glad I adopted Puff. I loved him and I do think he loved me. When I passed by his tank or called his name, he would try to clime the glass of his tank and refused to stop until I picked him up and cuddled with him for a while.After I would feed the Dragons,I would play Puff's CD for him and I would hold him and stroke him from head to tail and you could almost see the smile on his face.I enjoy and love all my Bearded Dragons,But Puff has always been my favorite. I guess,because he was my first Dragon.I never thought I could love a lizard, but I found out that I did love Puff and I do love my other Dragons,but Puff will always be special to me as long as I live.     Rest in peace Puff, I love you.............To be continued...........

Happy Birthday Dragons !

We almost didn't have a birthday party this year. My last cat had to be put to sleep on the 8th of October. That is the Dragon's Birth day date.Pacman was 19 years old and had lived a long and happy life here. I had him cremated so I could keep his ashes. I like to do that for my animals when they pass on. It was a very sad day for me.I wiped out my finances. My friend Johnny lent me some money so I could have the party for the Dragons. He said, that it would probably be Puff's last birthday so we had to have it. We had the party on October !8th. It was indeed special. It was Puff's 16th birthday.Lilo is now 11years and Ryuu will be 2 years in November.Eiko will be 1year old in January, but I celebrate all their birthdays on the same day.It makes things easier for me that way.I did not order a cake this year as I thought it would be less if I just took a cake that was already made. I found out that it cost the same as if I had ordered one.Oh well. The cake I picked out was a white cake with white icing and yellow trim.I had them add some pumpkins in the top corner and had all their names put on it in orange. It was cute, I will order my next one.I got Puff something special, just for him. Since I know he likes opera,I got him a CD of Charlotte Church. I played it for him and he loves it!I got a clear small animal travel ball for all the other Dragons. I am teaching them how to make it go forward. Eiko is the only one I did not have to teach. I put Ryuu in it first and she only went forward a few inches. I then put Eiko in the ball and he took off with it.During the party, I kept Eiko in a tank on the end of the bed. The others were allowed to roam on the bed.Eiko was very interested in the girls.Ryuu has been ignoring him lately.She doesn't even give him a wave any more.Eiko was bobbing and he got near Lilo and was bobbing at her. Ryuu got jealous and bit Lilo on the nose. She told Ryuu,he is mine,you can't have him!Lilo went over to Puff who was sleeping and stayed with him.Puff did wake up towards the end of the party. He decided to take a walk.......right off the bed!The humans had cake and ice cream. The party was fun. My friends Johnny and Pam and Dave were there.Pam took the pictures.

I got offered 2 more dragons ad their complete set up

I got offered 2 more dragons and their complete set up,but I had to turn them down.I know how much I am spending to feed the 4 I already have,not to mention how much it costs to take them to the vet. I have decided that I can only care for the 4 dragons that I already have. I don't want to get into a situation where I can't care for them properly. I know what they need and must have to survive and I just can't do what I am doing for any more at this time.If I should suddenly "win the lottery", which is highly unlikely,I would start a proper Dragon Rescue. I would take in dragons and find good homes for them. But it would cost a lot more than I am spending now.Financially, I just can't do it now. I do hope that the people find a good,responsible home for those 2 dragons.I love the dragons I have but I can't afford to love any more at this time. If things change some day, then it will be, but for now I will settle for the ones that are here now. Puff, Lilo,Ryuu, and Eiko, the Golden Dragons,  to be continued..................

I am still watching Eiko and Ryuu interacting

My house keeper came today.She also has a Bearded Dragon.She thought that Eiko was so cute!We watched as Eiko was chasing a fly. Ryuu was watching him. She began slinking around her tank and doing push ups.Eiko started to bob at her and she waved back.I think they are in love with each other.                     Puff always sleeps in the most uncomfortable looking positions.He has always done this. When I turned on his lights yesterday morning, I found him positioned up on his fake cactus a sleep. Some time after turning out the lights, he must have climbed up there .His head was turned to the right and he was a sleep in that position.I just had to giggle when I saw him.Lilo was in her hide when I turned her lights on. She opened one eye and then went back to sleep. I guess she felt like sleeping in .I really enjoy my Dragons!  Puff,Lilo, Ryuu. and Eiko,  The Golden Dragons, to be continued...................

Eiko was calm and did not squirm when I picked him up today

I gave Eiko several days to settle in before handling him.He would let me pet him with no problem.He seemed to enjoy it. Since he hasn't been handled a lot, he is very squirmy when he is picked up.Neither Ryuu or Eiko are eating their greens. But they are eating crickets.Puff is eating very well and Lilo is eating her diet of greens and only 1 cricket until her eggs are reabsorbed, and her bloated condition is gone.Eiko is still head bobbing at Ryuu and she is still waving back. He took time out to catch his crickets and then went back to bobbing. I find it quite entertaining to watch them.I have got to get some pictures.I love them all.   Puff,Lilo,Ryuu,and Eiko.  The Golden Dragons, to be continued...................

There is a lot of head bobbing and waving going on here

I have Eiko's tank accross from Ryuu's Tank and there seems to be a lot of action going on.I think that Eiko has fallen in love with Ryuu.He is doing a lot of head bobbing and Ryuu is waving back to him.I have been watching them and it is quite entertaining! Puff did some head bobbing once when he looked in a mirror and saw himself. I have never seen him do it since that day.It was so long ago that I can't remember which Dragon I saw waving one day,Puff or Lilo?I guess Puff and Lilo,being long past there breeding prime, just don't do such things as bobbing and waving any more.Eiko and Ryuu are young so they are bobbing and waving  every day now that they have discovered each other.I am really enjoying watching them. I just love my Dragons!Puff,Lilo,Ryuu,and Eiko,The Golden Dragons to be continued........................                         

Dr. Jarchow called this morning with great news!!!!

Dr.Jarchow called this morning and told me that Puff's blood work was normal! He said that there is no evidence of his congestive heart failure and no evidence of a liver problem.Of course, he is still a very old Dragon,and has weight loss and muscle mass loss, but his blood work is normal! I guess the alfalfa is defiantly helping him.Also,I think the Man Upstairs is answering my prayers.I know he is still going to die, but just not as soon as we thought.I think he just might make it to his next Birthday.Dr. J said to continue to care for Puff the same as I have been doing.He said "don't change a thing".Dr. J is anxious to see Eiko when I bring him in for a check up.   The Golden Dragons, to be continued..................

I took all 3 Dragons to get a check up at the Vet.

I took Puff in to get his blood work done and I took Lilo in because she is not eating well. I took Ryuu in to get her parasite treated. Dr.J said they all looked good and he did not have to treat Ryuu as her own immune system took care of the parasite.It was gone .Lilo is bloated up again as she is reabsorbing her infertile eggs.I need to cut back on the bug protein and feed her more greens.Dr. J said to keep on doing what I am doing with Puff as he is doing well for such an old Dragon that has his problems. That little adventure cost me over $300. I am really Broke!My friend Carla lent me the money to get my new Dragon.I will pay her back when I get my SSI check next month. I will also give her gas money as she drove me all the way up there to pick up Fonzie aka Eiko.I know it cost me a lot of money to take all my Dragons to see the vet but I want to make sure they are healthy.I have to Take Puff Back to see Dr. J in 6 months. I also have to take Eiko in for a check up soon as I always take my new Dragons in to get checked out.That way I don't worry.I am so glad that Puff is doing so well. I think the alfalfa is really helping him.Thank you Fire and Ice, for putting that info on your web site.It has saved Puff's life for now! I love my 4 beautiful Dragons.  The Golden Dragons, to be continued.....................

Another New Dragon !

I have been looking on Craig's list at all the Bearded Dragons that people are re homing. I found a Citrus Dragon advertised. The price was very reasonable. I thought, this Dragon must already be taken as the pictures of him were  good and he looked quite beautiful.I left several messages, but no one called back so I thought he must be taken.Then I got a call back and he was still available! I made arrangements to go get him. On Saturday, my friend Carla drove me up to Apache Jct. and we met Stephanie Fisher and her husband in a shopping center there.When they handed Fonzie to me I fell in love!They had his daddy with them so I could see what he looked like. He was gorgeous!Fonzie looked very much like his daddy.Fonzie's tail has been munched on and part is missing.He only has one toe left on his left hind foot, but he is still beautiful.My other Dragons are not perfect either but I still love them.Puff is blind and missing several toes and part of his tail from a cat attack at his former owner's home. Lilo has a broken tail at the very tip of her tail. It looks like some one closed her tail in the tank lid. Ryuu has a tail nip also. It just makes me love them even more.Any way I decided to give Fonzie a new name.Something a little more flashy.I don't mind his current name but he is so beautiful so he needs a name that reflects that. I have a list of names from when I was looking for a new name for Oscar after I found out he was a girl.I chose the name Ryuu for her as it means "Dragon Spirit" in Japanese. I went through the list and found the perfect name. EIKO, pronounced I  KO. It means "Splendid" in Japanese.Eiko is settling in to his new home and seems to be very curious and is checking out everything in his tank.It's funny,I started out with 1 Dragon and even though I do not breed them,they seem to be multiplying. 4 Dragons is my limit as I don't think I can afford to keep any more.I love my Dragons!Puff,Lilo, Ryuu, and Eiko,The Golden Dragons, to be continued...........

I could not get any wild life people to turn the toad loose

I spent the entire day, Sunday on the Internet and on the phone trying to get some one to come and get this Toad and turn it loose away from the dogs.I don't know why people put their names on the Internet saying they provide wild life rescue or relocation if they don't want to do the job.I would have gladly done it my self,but being legally blind, I can not drive.I finally asked my friend Johnny if he would release the Toad for me and he said he would. He took it in the car,still in the cat carrier and turned it loose at dusk in some shrubbery well away from any dogs.I thank you Johnny, and I am sure the Toad thanks you also. Puff and Lilo and Ryuu shared some of their crickets with the toad so it would not have to go hungry for the night it spent in side my house.The Toad is now safe and so are the dogs.I hope that no more Toads come out into my yard, but the minute I hear the dogs barking at night,I will have to go check it out just in case.To be continued...............

Monster Toad !

I had just finished feeding the dragons when I heard all this commotion out side. The dogs were running around barking at something.I went out to see what they were barking at but could not see any thing. Of course I have several flash lights but no batteries. I went back in the house and got my white cane and decided to poke around  out side the gate. Then I saw it!A huge toad! I was not sure what kind it was but looked it up on the Internet later.I suspected it was a Colorado River Toad. I have never seen one here,but I didn't want the dogs to get it and I didn't want to see it get hurt so I grabbed a cat carrier off the porch and herded it with my cane into the carrier.The poor thing looked so scared. I brought the carrier in the house and put it in the other room where Ryuu is set up for her quarantine.They are supposed to eat any thing that moves so I gave it a couple of crickets. It did not eat them so I left it alone and covered the carrier with some news paper so it could calm down . At least it is safe and so are the dogs for now.I will call wild life removal tomorrow.I hope they will let it out some where so no other dogs can get at it.I seem to be doing a lot of rescuing these days.  To be continued...............

Oscar has a new name

I have chosen a new name for Oscar.It is a name for either a male or female. Her name is now Ryuu. It is Japanese and means "Dragon Spirit". I am using the same technique that I use on the dogs when I have to change a name. I use the old name and the new name together and eventually drop the old name when the animal is used to hearing the new name.It will probably take some time before she gets used to the new name as she really responds to Oscar. The name is so entrenched in her brain as she has been called Oscar for over a year.When I first got Puff, his name was Ritter. He did not respond to it at all ,but he sure knows his name is Puff now.I can call his name from accross the room and his head will come up and he will start climbing the front glass on his tank until I pick him up.Lilo came with her name and I liked it and she responded to it so I just kept the name. Puff,Lilo and Ryuu, The Golden Dragons,to be continued............

Identity Crisis !!!!!

I Took Oscar aka Oz for his vet check last Friday. Dr. J looked him over and did a fecal exam and I was informed that He was a She?????? I guess I took it for granted that he was a male with the name Oscar.I did think it was odd that he had almost no femoral pores and he was very fat for a male.The 2 bulges under her tail were actually fat pockets and not male organs.... Well SHE is even too fat for a female. She has to loose some weight to remain healthy.She does have a protozoan parasite but was other wise healthy. Dr. J will treat her for the parasite when I bring Puff in for his blood work in July. He did not want to tax her liver because she is ovulating now. I will just keep her in isolation where she has been in the other room,away from Puff and Lilo for now. After she is treated for the parasite,she will be moved into the same room with Puff and Lilo.I now must come up with a female name for her.Not an easy task as she really knows her name as Oscar.........Puff is still hangin' in there. He seems to be doing well. He is eating well and I do think the Alfalfa is helping to make him more comfortable. His eyes are not swelling and he has far less excess fluid in the glands under his arms.I have been taking them all for Sun Walks when the wind is not too bad.Lilo has slowed down eating. I think she is ovulating and she won't eat any greens unless they are dipped in baby food.Last night she ate her greens but would eat only 2 crickets.She only basked for a short time and then dug herself in under her hide and went to sleep. I am a little disappointed that Oscar turned out to be a girl but I do love her and could never part with her.I will still get a new male some time in the future.I really want a super citrus or a snow (white) lucistic. The Golden Dragons,to be continued ............       

Pictures of Oz,now known as Ryuu

I think he is a red/orange tigar.He is very pretty when he colors up.

I took Puff for a sun walk today

  Now that the weather is warm, I have started to take the Dragons out for sun walks. Today I took Puff out.  His color was magnificent in the sun light! The yellow/orange was so bright. I haven't seen Puff's color that bright in a very long time. I have started giving the Dragons the alfalfa greens. Puff will eat it if I put it in his mouth,but Lilo does not seem to like it. In fact she is not eating her greens  at all right now.She is eating crickets though. None of the Dragons are drinking at all,which worries me. I have been making sure to mist them twice a day and to let them soak every other day. Puff and Oz do some times soak in their water dishes during the day but Lilo does not,so I am soaking her every day at this point.I made a tea out of the alfalfa greens last night and when it had cooled, gave each dragon a chance to drink from the pipette but Puff was the only one to even taste it,although he did not really drink much of it.I guess it is too soon to tell if the alfalfa is making a difference with Puff. I hope it will help him. He really enjoyed his sun walk today.Tomorrow I will take Lilo out and the next day I will take Oz. I love my Beautiful Dragons. The Golden Dragons, to be continued...................
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Wizard of OZ

I just can't seem to remember to call Oscar by the name of Phoenix. He knows his name is Oscar and he responds to it so I have decided to call him OZ as it is close to Oscar.I can certainly see why they named him Oscar though.He reminds me of Oscar Madison in the "Odd Couple". He is so messy!I thought that Lilo was messy, making mud pies in her water dish.He not only makes mud pies in the water dish,but his whole tank is a mess!I do not like this walnut substrate at all and it's supposed to be very toxic when wet.I think I will use the same  clay stuff as I used in Puff's tank.I will have to wait until next month though as I don't have the money now.Tomorrow I will put the coconut fiber in his tank as at least it's not toxic.It also makes good mud pies.Oz is doing well. He has eaten greens last night and tonight.He also ate quite a few crickets. I have been calling him OZ and he does respond to it. So....I guess I have my very own Wizard of OZ.Puff is starting to slow down. I am not sure weather it is the congestive heart failure or the hot weather.He is still eating well though. Lilo is also doing very well.  I love all my Dragons.  Puff and Lilo and OZ,  The Golden Dragons to be continued................

New Dragon

I have been looking for another Dragon and put an add on Craig's List a while ago.On Sunday,a young girl called me and said she had a dragon that she had to re home as where her family was moving ,the home owners association  prohibits any kind of reptiles.I had spent a lot of money on Puff"s last vet visit as he had blood work done,so I did not really have money to buy a new Dragon and all the equipment that would be needed.I also had not really planed to get a new Dragon until Puff had passed on.All I could afford was $68.00.She agreed to sell the dragon and his tank for that amount. I felt bad for her as she was loosing her pet, but was glad to get a beautiful young Dragon,1 and 1/2 years and the tank for that amount.It was a very good deal.I made sure it was OK with her parents.His name is Oscar,and he has a lot of red and dark color on him. When he is faded out,he looks a lot like Puff. When his color comes in, his red is like Lilo's color. He even has the same white tips on his spikes that Lilo has. So....I now have 3 Dragons. I am thinking of changing his name as when I was a kid,we had a cat named Oscar, that was run over by a car. When I say the name Oscar,I think of that poor cat.Since my friend drove me to Phoenix to pick him up,I think I will call him Phoenix.He is being quarantined for now in a different room from Puff and Lilo.I will take him to Dr.J for a check up before he is moved into the same room as my other Dragons.I will get some pictures of him soon. Puff and Lilo and Oscar, aka Phoenix, The Golden Dragons, to be continued..................          

I forgot to mention..........

I forgot to mention that Lilo won 2nd place in the Petco Halloween Costume Contest.She was the Alien Queen of Halloween.She was so cute! the first place ribbon went to a \Dashundt who was dressed as a Dragon!Carla did take pictures of Lilo in her costume at the Dragon's birthday party.I wish Carla would send them to me so I could post them here.There tanks were also decorated for Christmas and I will post those pictures as well.There tanks are now decorated for Valentine's Day. I will also get pictures for that and post them.  Puff and Lilo,the Golden Dragons, to be continued..............

A lot has happened since my last post!

I was in the hospital for Christmas and New Years. I am very lucky to have such good friends that took great care of all my animals while I was gone. I am now fully recovered and able to resume care for my animals.I worried about Puff as he is so old and I expected to hear that he had died,but he survived and actually ate for Johnny. I did not worry about Lilo as she will always eat no matter who feeds her.On February 7th, I finally got Puff to the vet for his long over due check up.He had been having trouble with his eyes sticking shut and also swelling up.Dr. J did some blood work on him,and cleaned out his eyes as he had some dirt stuck in them.He also noticed that Puff has lost a lot of the muscles in his legs. I have lowered all his basking places as he tends to fall off of these frequently.It was decided after Dr.J looked at the blood test results, that Puff has congestive heart failure and that was the cause of his eyes swelling up and sticking shut. I have to get him a different kind of bedding so he wont get dirt in his eyes.I asked Dr.J, how long Puff could live with congestive heart failure. He said that he could possibly hang on for another year but he felt that most likely it would be more like a few months.Lilo got her nails cut and checked out just fine.I am so thankful that I have her so I still have a Beardie to love and that needs me when Puff is gone.All I can do for Puff is to make him comfortable,and spend as much time with him as I can,talking to him,singing to him and holding him.He loves it when I talk to him or sing to him and he loves being held and petted.I love him so much.I am heart broken that I am going to loose him!He does not act  like he is going to die.He is still eating well and both have started eating greens again as long as I dip them in baby food peas,green beams or squash. I tried some new stuff called Salad Dressing for Dragons, but they did not like it as it is strawberry flavored and neither Puff or Lilo like strawberries. I wish they would make it in different flavors. Then they might like it.Puff is still pretty active, climbing all over his basking log and hides. He is always falling as he can't see where he is going but that does not stop him from getting around.I lowered his basking places as I am afraid he will fall on his head. It is so hard to get up every morning and check on Puff to see if he is still alive. If he starts to suffer, I will take him to Dr. J and have him put to sleep. I don't want him to suffer.I have gotten so attached to these lizards,it is so hard to loose one.To day I went to a new reptile store and I bought crickets for Puff and Lilo and a light bulb for one of Lilo's lamps.I also bought Puff a long piece of cork bark and replaced his basking log with it. He can still clime on it but it is not so uneven and he is less likley to fall. He can climb up on top of his hide to bask as the cork bark leads right up to the hide.He has already discovered it and is now climbing on it.He seems to like it.I also ordered his new bedding, which is a type of clay. I will have to see how it works out.I wish Puff had been younger when I first adopted him, but even if I had known how old he really was,I would still have adopted him as it was LOVE at first sight!I am so glad I found such a wonderful Dragon that day.   To be continued....................