Jun
05
2011

Genevelyn

PhotosSunday, June 5, 2011 - 06:36:50 pm
(Posted Under: This Desert Life This Desert Life)
Photobox ImageWell, what an exhausting weekend! One that has been devoted almost entirely to setting up a home for the newest and second most Australian addition to our family - Genevelyn. She's a baby Australian Bearded Dragon, for anyone keeping score. While we share the same heritage, unlike me she's most likely born and raised in Arizona (don't cha know!) though.

Looking into this new addition to our family has consumed much of our weekends over the past few months. No shortage of research and deliberation has gone into it, that's for sure. Effectively it all started because of Rango (and my wife's ability to get me excited about an idea) and wanting to get a Chinese Water Dragon. Though, in some ways it was hard to pick between one of those and an Aussie Bearded Dragon. But a very helpful chat with Chris Serafini solidified which direction we should go for now. Though, since then there hasn't been much action on the endeavor. Until last weekend when we stopped into the Arizona Reptile Center in Mesa in between all the Guitar Center ridiculousness of last weekend.

Petco's Reptile Rally this weekend certainly made our extremely long deliberation period (let it never be said that we rush into anything of this nature) worthwhile financially, bagging some incredible deals, and financially having us come in way under our initially spec'ed outlay cost. Y'know, weekend after weekend of looking but not coming home with a new pet started to become kinda frustrating. But obviously we were supposed to wait and take advantage of these deals.

Yesterday was an unprecedented early start, picking up the terrarium and a new book case to house it on. And then assembling the sed book case, and setting up the terrarium. The former went quite smoothly (sometimes I feel like my life is fleeting moments between assembling Ikea furniture [wink] ), the latter not so much after we found cracks in the tank very late in the setup process. While cleaning the tank to be exact. So after dealing with the getting to tank replaced too much of the day had been eaten up to actually get our dragon.

So we headed out today, picking up some more supplies (in particular a basking lamp stand) before heading over to pick out our dragon. It should be noted that I think I now know every Phoenix metro pet store (at least south of University) intimately by this point. Much shopping around was done, and saved us quite a great deal of money. The lamp stand alone was $10 cheaper at Pet Smart than it was at Petco. By mid afternoon we'd picked out Genevelyn and were finally set.

Photobox ImageOn getting home, Katie thought we'd had a fatality on the way home when she opened the box to find a seemingly lifeless body. I was in disbelief that that could have possibly happened in the short and non threatening ride home. And alas, I was right - she'd just gone to her happy place, which for a moment did look more morbid. She seemed surprising stressed out when we put her and her temporary home in the terrarium and she didn't seem to want to move at all. But five minutes after being left to her own devices she ventured out into her new home.

From the outset, she seemed most interested in her reflection in the glass. And then found a spot she liked and just stayed there. We went out and did some shopping, and after we got home, she really turned into the lizard we'd seen at the store, very alert and now venturing around her new home.

Photobox ImageBefore long she was up on her basking rock and sticking her tongue out at me. After a couple of hours we dropped in some crickets for dinner. Unlike her vegetables, which she has shown no interest in, it was on like Donkey Kong, hunting down all 6 crickets within 2 minutes, with impressive speed. All of this activity was really good to see, especially since initially she was didn't seem as she did in the store. She's a good girl.

Photobox ImageOver the next week or so we'll deck out her home a bit more, now that all the essentials are in place. I think we'll switch our her basking rock with a branch so she can decide how just how close to the lamp she wants to bask, and move the rock over to the cooler side of the terrarium. And we'll for sure add some cactii when Pet Smart have some on clearance again.

I'm really happy with the terrarium that we got, and particularly with the discounted price we scored ($50 off this weekend + another $30 Petco member discount), however the extra $20 we spent on the basking lamp stand could have been the best investment we made. Initially I was concerned to say the least without it, for the electric/fire risk, our own personal safety when near the terrarium, stress and wear on the cage lid, and being able to regulate the basking area temperature. In my mind it is an absolute requirement for the kit and should be included in it. Without a doubt that was an additional $20 purchase that put my mind to ease greatly.

It's also worthwhile noting that Genevelyn is a very intelligent and tech savy bearded dragon. Yes, she even has her own Facebook page.

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