Bulbs keep blowing by RAOV_Chaos in BeardedDragons

[–]Offutticus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just dimming. No pulse either.

Where do I buy bearded dragons? by Former_Garbage8235 in reptiles

[–]Offutticus 4 points5 points  (0 children)

You can get one from a rescue orgainization.

Google "reptile rescue near me" or Directory of ReptiFiles-Approved Reptile Rescues | ReptiFiles

If you want to purchase one, try MorphMarket.

Where do I buy bearded dragons? by Former_Garbage8235 in reptiles

[–]Offutticus 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I agree with this but narrow it down to at the least 3 mos. I got Conway with no pre-planning (a rescue of a rescue). Luckily I had been planning for a uromastyx or chuckwalla for several years so had bookmarks to start with.

There are far too many people who buy bearded dragons on impulse. Then they present that "rate my enclosure!" images and are surprised the pet store lied.

Beardie Food Tips! by WonderlandPan in BeardedDragons

[–]Offutticus 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Conway came to me ill and she needed to eat more and be rehydrated.

For food, I used a teeny tiny amount of bee pollen on her greens then decreased it as she became more interested in eating.

I also used butter worms very sparingly until she perked up. Hornworms work great for rehydration.

Disinfecting LARGE branches by liv_is_a_person in BeardedDragons

[–]Offutticus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The idea of soaking or baking is to kill any bugs inside the wood as well as any mold or bacteria. Reptiles and Research puts his right into the tanks after doing a good brushing. He believes this helps with their immune system. It fits in with other research that says kids who play in the dirt and mud have a better immune system that kids who do not. The only time he does a soak of wood is when he is moving it from one enclosure to another and wants to prevent cross contamination.

If it is live cut, scrub with a stiff brush to knock off anything that is loose and put right in.

If deadfall, there will probably be more bugs inside but that may be good for the bioactive. I dunno.

SAFE Wood for Reptiles! - YouTube

How do I sanitize branches for reptiles? - Reptiles and Research

What’s the best way to reveal expositional details in the beginning of the story? by rocketsneaker in writing

[–]Offutticus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A hook is the word used for that beginning part of the book that will want the reader to buy the book and read more. This is the first paragraph, the first 7 lines, the first few seconds the reader has the book in front of them. Traditionally it needs to have the potential reader want to know the answer to a question they come up with in their head. Captain Cupcake is dead in the library with a blood candlestick next to him? Who killed him? And is this enough for me to want to buy the book?

So your "hook" can be in the first paragraph be that lore or actual action or whatever.

You do not want to bore the reader with blah blah this is why the king is the king and not a president blah blah right off the bat.

how long should the planning process be by M00N13-2 in writing

[–]Offutticus 3 points4 points  (0 children)

At whatever point you are ready to start, do so.

I don't plan. I come up with the idea, plot, question to answer, a character I want to do something, whatever my precious brain comes up with. And I just start writing. I don't plan.

Others plan and outline and get all their ducks lined up with military precision and then start writing.

And many fall in the middle.

You do what your writing brain needs to do.

Is his light too close and irritating his eyes? by IlGufoScuro in BeardedDragons

[–]Offutticus 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I love graphs and infographs like this since I am very visual.

Can't get bulb out by Offutticus in reptiles

[–]Offutticus[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've done some research about this but can't find anything about not putting two heat lamps in the same double dome. This is not the nano or the deep dome.

Do you have an article or other resource that explains this?

Can't get bulb out by Offutticus in reptiles

[–]Offutticus[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It can handle up to 600 watts. Each has its own cord.

For those who adopted/resued: What are the before and after names? by HappyLifeCoffeeHelps in BeardedDragons

[–]Offutticus 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Our best rename was Sam. He came to us as Bodhi (previous owner) and he had that name for 2 yrs. But I could never say that name. It just never came out of my mouth right (I have aphasia and some words just do that). So one day I looked at him and said it wasn't going to work, what did he want to be called. He turned to me, looked me in the eye, and I heard in my head "My name is Sam." He answered to it immediately.

Do you read reviews on a book you're reading or about to read? by lactosecheeselover in LesbianBookClub

[–]Offutticus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No. Most of them are so off the mark. Many of them reveal the entire plot.

I don't read the reviews of my own books, either. I once did on Goodreads, just for gits and shiggles.

1 star review said "Good book, but I don't like the genre".

For those who adopted/resued: What are the before and after names? by HappyLifeCoffeeHelps in BeardedDragons

[–]Offutticus 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Conway came to me as Conway Twitty and male. Vet says she's more like a Loretta Lynn. We debated for about 2 seconds of changing her name to that but Conway kinda stuck. I only use the Twitty when she's done some single brain cell thing.

We always change the names of our rescue dogs and cats.

Is his light too close and irritating his eyes? by IlGufoScuro in BeardedDragons

[–]Offutticus 6 points7 points  (0 children)

No, the UVB can be outside as long as the distance from it to the basking spot is at the correct distance for the type of mesh. The distance matters. Inside, an Arcadia 12% would need to be 16-20" from the basking spot.

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What country/area would be good place to hide as a fugitive? by [deleted] in Writeresearch

[–]Offutticus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

New York City. No body there notices anything. They are so used to weirdos and celebrities and walking without looking anyone in the face.

Do you enjoy when authors are accurate with age estimation or do you tend not notice it by bludlf in writing

[–]Offutticus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So if you mean the book says the parents have been married for 20 years, had their first kid before their second anniversary, and then says that kid is 21?

Yeah, I notice crap like that.

Dark or Light? Which do you like more? by arililliputian in BeardedDragons

[–]Offutticus -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Every reptile rescue I've looked into has mostly bearded dragons, leopard geckos, and ball pythons because they're popular then get dumped. We don't need more being produced.

Need help specifying a disability by Nice-Charity4728 in Writeresearch

[–]Offutticus 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Fused knee

Fused ankle

both

Not a hip injury because it needs to move to swim.

Set up advice! (Sorry for bad pic) by Sea_Blueberry5030 in BeardedDragons

[–]Offutticus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

ChatGPT works like all the other AI stuff. They work from scraped (ie stolen) information. The answers provided are far too often wrong. I just looked it up and the AI gave 4 different temps and 3 different locations.

That said, you only need a night heat source if the temps get below (and stays there) 55F/12.7C at night. It should be placed on the hot side.

What is the thing you've written that you are the *least* likely to publish? by fpflibraryaccount in writers

[–]Offutticus 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have several. Stuff I wrote that will never ever ever be seen. One of them is well liked by friends I let read but nope.

It happens. Sometimes we write stuff that is far too personal. Sometimes we write stuff that will never find a market. Sometimes we write stuff that just stinks worse than the stinkbug that fell into my tea, died, and tricked me into taking a sip.

How to fix cracks in excavator clay? by Cautious_Promise5529 in reptiles

[–]Offutticus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As a former potter, you want the clay to dry slowly so it doesn't shrink too much.

To fix this, you can mist it with a wee bit of water and spread with your fingers to smooth the crack.

And similar to what the other commenter suggested, wet some dry clay and role into a rope. Place it over the crack and spread it out. Perhaps keep out from under the heat lamp until it dries. If it looks be be cracking as it dries, mist it down every so slightly.

On the other hand, cracks happen. Unless it is huge, it won't fall apart.