Out and About

So the family and I are on a semi annual pilgrimage to the northern, warmer climate of our fine land. In this case, we are in Coolangatta.  Another how is this relevant moment? Well for the most part yes. However, the great thing about Coolangatta that I discovered last time we were here is the abundance of local reptiles. Dragons more specifically.

This trip, I have been able to combine my two favorite things at the moment, reptiles and geocaching. Below are a few photos I took while out geocaching. I believe that they are all of the same species and are most likely Eastern Water Dragons, but, I will try to confirm this one way or the other in the coming days. For now, enjoy the holiday snaps!

How's the last little guy....he is a hatchling that I have seen the last couple of days when we have gone to the beach.  I reckon he would struggle to be more than a few weeks old.  I saw a really nice big daddy Dragon in the area this morning when I took this photo.  It says to me that there is a healthy population in the area.  I took some video as well that I will look to upload as soon as possible if it turns out any good.  The little guy was all arms and legs as he scampered about.  I was able to get quite close without being right on top of him.  I even had a little go at trying to catch him for a closer look, but, I didn't end up pressing my luck.  Better to have a chance to see him again and indeed for others to rather than have a fleeting hold.

Apologies for the layout of this post.  I am struggling to come to grips with an internet cafe PC and IE where I am used to my PC and Chrome.  It's not making for a happy blogging effort.   Maybe I will be able to tidy it all up when I get home.  Just couldn't get it right on the iPad either...

What's New Pussycat

Apologies once again for being slack.  I thought I would post an update on how things have been going since the momentous last post.  Well, the short answer is they have been pretty much business as usual.

Our clutch of eggs are ticking along nicely from what I can tell.  They look nice enough and none look to have gone bad or have mould on them.  I have opened the containers every week or so to let some fresh air in as advised and they look just as good close up!

I believe Lolly might be gravid again.  It is not uncommon for Dragons to have 2 or 3 clutches in a season from what I understand, so it is not entirely unexpected.  But, here is where it gets interesting.  Next week our family up and flies out for our semi annual holiday to parts far off and exciting.  So let the juggling commence.

I have arranged board and lodgings for Lolly and Booster at Reptiles Inc. for the time we are away.  Additionally I have arrange with my neighbours to watch the incubator for signs of life as it were.  They are under instructions to take the containers to the afore mentioned establishment in the event that the action gets under way before we arrive home.  Had I left the incubator at 29 degrees, we might be seeing little dragons now.  I chose to lower the temperature a little to see if we could draw it out a bit.  I understand that it can take 40-60 days for incubation depending on the temperature.  Higher = faster.  Lower = slower.  26 is as low as I have been recommended to maximise the viability of the eggs.  I stuck with 27 in the hope that we might be able to hold the action off until we return from our holiday.

I have also told the friendly folk at Reptiles Inc. that Lolly could be gravid.  Based on her behaviour in the last few days, I would suggest that she is.  Given the same behaviour last time and the fact that I cannot feel any eggs in her belly as yet, I am hopeful that she will hold on until our return.  Another thing to cross our fingers over.  I am confident that the fine people looking after her will be incredibly capable to care for her and any eggs.  But, it will be so much more satisfying to do it ourselves!

I have added a new link on my recommended sites.  I came across a fantastic looking forum in the last few days.  The Australian Bearded Dragon Forum looks like a very supportive and informative community that is starting to form around a solid core of knowledgeable people.  I would recommend it to anyone who stumbles across my little corner of the intermaweb.

Finally, I have recently taken up Geocaching, which, has seen me out and about in the foot hills around where I live for the first time despite having lived here for over 10 years!  Why does this interest you?  Well the photo in this post is of a beautiful Cunningham's Skink (Egernia cunninghami) that I saw while out on one of my treasure hunts.  It was one of a couple that I saw that I assume formed part of a colony as that is how they live.  I didn't find the treasure I was looking for on that occasion, but, this was certainly an excellent substitute.