Dragon Diary - 15/04/2010

Lolly


Food: 13 crickets and some bok choy (Holy cow!)
Toilet: Yes
Behaviour: WOW, is this a Dragon or a pig?  Lolly ate every cricket that she saw tonight.  I saw her eat 11 crickets in the tote tray at first go.  Then she snapped up another one when she thought we weren't looking.  Finally she found one that I had left in the enclosure for Booster that was trying to hide.  In between crickets, I saw her have some bok choy that I put in for them to try for the first time today.  I don't think that I cut it up finely enough, so I will cut it smaller tomorrow.

Both our girls had a hold of Lolly tonight.  It's great to see them excited to be involved.  JT is good at handling Lolly.  I think Danika got a little bit of a surprise when it was her turn and Lolly decided to go for a walk up her arm!  I then sat her on my lap and helped her a little to make sure Lolly was nice and still.  I have been very pleased with how sensible they are both being and Lolly is getting much more used to being handled and does not appear to be stressed about things at all.  It is all very pleasing.


Booster


Food: Crickets (not sure how many)
Toilet: Yes
Behaviour:  Leaving Booster in the enclosure without handling him still seems to be working as far as feeding is concerned.  I am yet to actually witness him eat because it seems to work best when no one is in sight.  However, from what I can see he is straight down to where the crickets are when we are out of sight.  Maybe I will have to set up a secret camera to catch him in the act!  His belly is definitely looking fuller.

Over the weekend I might see if he will take to being handled again.  I want him to get used to it.  I have read a bit about handling Dragons.  It appears to be quite important when you handle a flighty Dragon to keep them out of their enclosure until they are calm.  If you put them back while they are still unsettled, they can learn to associate 'freaking out' with being put back in their safe home.  Whereas it is much better to have them think that being calm will speed up the return as it were.  I'm pretty happy that Booster is back eating, not as much as I would like perhaps, but, enough to think that it might be time to get him more used to us again.