I have to admit, in the few short weeks I was caring for Copper, the Beardie, I grew quite fond of the little creature. (We still aren't sure if it's a he or a she so I will be interchanging the pronouns.) I really like lizards and these guys have a definite personality. He was a Christmas present for my ten year old granddaughter, who is an animal lover, just like her Gigi (me - the grandmother.) My own grandmother and father were animal lovers and I guess this was passed down in our genes. Anyway, due to a variety of circumstances, Copper is coming back here - temporarily or forever - we have to wait and see.
It's not that she isn't wanted, and it certainly isn't because they haven't made a valiant effort to take care of her. On the contrary. My granddaughter loves it but divides her time between two homes and worries about it when she isn't at her father's place. Gigi is going to take care of Copper for awhile and see how things go. I am not unhappy.
The challenge I must overcome is keeping the curious cats away from the extremely hot lights a Beardie must have on 24/7. I suppose one ouchie on a paw will do it. Maybe; maybe not. With Boo! it might take a few. Also, I have already decided the crickets will reside in the garage. I simply can't have a whole container full of them in the house with the risk of one of the cats (Boo!)knocking it over creating a mass exodus of crickets into the house. That and they generate a peculiar odor. Crickets out of the house - check.
Now, I must decide where to put Copper's habitat. It is a rather large aquarium. When we were trying to keep Copper hidden, he resided in one of the spare bedrooms. I want Copper to be a permanent fixture in the living area so now I have to decide where would be the safest place for him and the cats. I have a few places in mind.
I am excited to welcome him/her back. I was surprised at how much I missed the little creature. They aren't exactly cuddly/cozy like a fur covered baby, but they surprise you by seeming to enjoy human contact. I don't know, I can bond with a bug, but there is something endearing about these fierce looking creatures. They really aren't fierce at all. Maybe that's it! I have always been drawn to people and creatures that look like they could kill you when in reality they are the ones with the biggest hearts.
On a completely different note - I would like to meet the person who created those tunnels for cats, so I can smack him/he upside the head. This person must hate cat lovers because those things are designed to make a terrifying sound when in use; causing near heart failure.
The house will be very quiet when all of a sudden KWOOSH SQUING ACHCHACHE reverberates off the walls. It's like King Kong got hold of a million rolls of parchment paper and had at it. Logical solutions: Don't buy them; throw them away; toss out onto porch. Oh, there are several on the porch. But you know how it is. It's like when you step on a Legos in the middle of the night. You hate them but your kid loves them soooo much. Parental sacrifices...
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