So happy with my (new) Petco baby

[bethanboys]

When we got Pele as a tiny 2-3" baby from Petco last October - she took awhile to settle in and eat, she didn't eat until day four and that's when my son had to pick her up and put a mealworm to her lips and get her to grab it. After that she ate like no tomorrow.

So I expected a couple days at least for my new baby to start eating as well, it's a big move/change for such a little guy. (but he's a tad bigger then Pele was when we got her, he's about 3.5" long rough est)

Nope! He's doing so well. Within hours of being in his new home he ate one mini mealworm and so I filled his dish up with five more and I woke up this morning to no mealworms. He ate them all during the night and made a poopy in the corner. Yay! LOL (I excite easily I guess!)

SO when can I start getting him used to me? I'm itching to start holding him here and there but he's still pretty skittish and hisses at me.

(Oh and I posted pix yesterday in the Show Off Your Leos section)

 

[bethanboys]

Oh and one more question- he's a vicious little thing! I don't remember Pele EVER being so territorial. I just picked up the cardboard hide he was in and put my hand just in front of him, not touching him yet, and he freaked. Started screaming at me, lunging at me with his mouth open, his body at the "attack position". LOL

So how long does it take for them to get used to people? Should I leave him alone for a couple weeks or just keep putting my hand in the cage every day so that he gets used to my presence?

 

[bethanboys]

Yeah so it seems I'm using this as my own blog...haha

But anyway I had to brag again - it's so cool how they just KNOW what to do, even at such a young age. He/she is shedding right now and is hanging out in his moist hide (a deli cup with a damp paper towels that I've been spraying about twice a day) - even though he's never gone into once before now. He just knows he needs it now.

I never got to watch our first Leo since she was in my oldest son's room, so this is the first time I get to watch the daily and nightly habits of these little guys.

They're so fun to watch!

On a plus side...I got to touch his tail tonight for a few seconds without him trying to bite me. He tolerated about 2 seconds of it and then arched his back and reared back around to bite me.
They sound like little dinosaurs when they're mad - so cute! LOL

Pele never did that, even though we got her a tad bit smaller, she never tried to bite or screamed at us when my son would reach in and hold her several times a day. She's very tame now of course. And very lazy. Perhaps she's just more laid back by nature.

 

[bethanboys]

That was fast - his/her shed seems to be over now. And then he/she ate five more mealworms.

Anyway - still the nice bright orange....but now there are spots. So no super hypo tang I'm assuming. I'll take pix soon, but he has a few tiny black dots inside some of his brown bands now and some super tiny black dots on his white neck band. He's still pretty dang cute though!

 

[ByRandom]

Bethany,

I'm glad you're new little one is doing so well! I assume that this one is smaller than your first one? Babies tend to freak no matter what, it's basically instinct when they're scared or threatened. They think they're so big and bad (which is especially cute!). The older it gets, the calmer it will become...

I would wait atleast a week before trying to hold it. So far, sounds like he's doing great but I'd be careful not to add any stress to the situation. When you do decide to try to hold him, he will usually calm down in your hands. Just be careful not to make any quick movements that would frighten him, he could make a jump for it!

You never know what he could turn out to look like. Can't wait to see pictures! He could be a SHTCT after-all .

Good luck and keep us updated!

--Katie

 

[bethanboys]

Thanks!

Here are some before and after shed pix:

BEFORE shed:

And head shot BEFORE shed:

This morning, AFTER shed:

And

 

[lil_katiedan]

Very cute! You never really know what a hatchling will end up looking like. Those spots could disappear or they could multiply . His color is very nice though, should be a killer gecko either way.