Hi everyone! It's been a minute. I'm here to start your July off by introducing to our new family member: 

we've been calling him roach magee and this whole week we've been thinking of names and nothing feels right, today we finally have his official name: MOMO-CHAN (roach magee is his nickname). 

My little sister, Emily, has been begging for him for months. She pestered me even more these last few weeks and I caved. It's not that I didn't want him, I am just a planner and I NEED to do heavy research before I can take on such a responsibility. She's more- "let's go to the pet store and see." And although he technically wouldn't be mine (she bought him and his terrarium) I knew I would be doing half the work.

So we did last Friday and saw this little guy. He was bouncing off the tank and on top of the other bearded dragons. You know something like love at first sight? Honestly his energy levels worried me but I just knew it had to be him and couldn't leave him behind. Before we made our final decision, the employee also showed us another we were interested in, he was so small and cute but as we reached to pet him he shied away. So we settled on our first choice and it could not have been a better match.

First a little on his species, he is a Bearded Dragon and is originally from the Australian desert. He will reach full size in about one and a half to two years. It isn't until I see photos of full grown beardies that it hits me that ours is truly a baby (judging by his size he is about two months old).

I've gone through so many emotions and I am so in love with him. I don't know if it's just me, but I had this unconscious idea that reptiles are less sentient than they really are. Our beardie definitely has his own personality. 

He personally doesn't mind being held and spending time with us. He has a sleep schedule and once he goes to sleep he really knocks out and won't wake unless the lights are too bright. We make him a little cave to make sure it's dark and he'll sleep next us while we use our phones or use the laptop. He was extra cute last night, I fed him close to his bedtime and he needs light to digest properly. I saw his sleepy eyes but said sorry because I wanted to make sure he digested his food. Several minutes later his scratching the front of the tank and I go pick him up and after turning off the lights he falls asleep on my hand. This was before my sister was getting out of work and when she was ready I decided to take him with me (2nd time), he was dead asleep so he just laid in my lap the whole round trip. And after he eats he likes to lay lazily on his branch.  

Especially when he is a baby or juvenile, live feed (roaches/crickets/worms) is a big part of their diet. This has made me paranoid as I am staring to see, hear, and feel things. I thoroughly examine my noodles for worms. I have long thick hair so it falls easily and if I feel it on my body I think twice. We have the fan on at night so a bag or paper will crinkle and all I think is- a cricket got away. (I JUST SIPPED SOME COKE AND FELT LIKE A LITTLE THICKNESS?? IN MY THROAT AND ALL I CAN THINK IS CRICKET). 

It's stressful trying to make sure he's thriving and has everything he needs. I don't know how I would cope full time with a baby 😂. 

Routine: 

Melissa 🐝

PS. as a new beardie mom don't name your section or store "pet" if you only do cats and dogs. merci 🐉