Papa Smurf was initially rescued by a reptile store in December 2011.  I saw Smurf there on 12/28 in a tank with a black beard tripping over his deformed leg, caked in blue sand  when I went to buy feeders.  He had been surrendered and needed a home that would try to nurse him back to health, so I took him.  He was 12-1/2" long with a large tail nip, and weighed 212 grams.   I felt really bad for him, like he needed more than the store could give him, and he really needed a break.  He was turned into the store by two young girls who knew he wasn't cared for properly.  It was really nice of Pangaea Pets to try to save this dragon.  He was stained blue for many months from the designer sand that he was kept on, and he was gray, so we called him Papa Smurf.  He has a lot of personality and loves people, but hates other bearded dragons.  He has some disabillity related to the metabolic bone disease with his left arm being curved and wrist not having much strength.  This does impair him climbing which is a shame in such a spirited dragon!  Smurf eats 3 - 4 days a week and gets liquid calcium 2 days a week.  He gets Acidolphiliz mixed in once a week and B vitamins twice a month.  Smurf is a drowning risk when he bathes and must be supported the entire time.  He started chasing feeders on his own in August 2012 and has leveled off at 298 grams.  Rocky's story started with Papa...he was the second dragon to come into the rescue.

Day #1 - Picked up a really sad dragon that was surrendered to a local reptile store. Very thin, unable to walk properly, stained with blue sand, grey and hopeless looking...Papa Smurf started the whole rescue adventure.

1/1/12 - Smurf walks with his chest touching the floor.

Day #15 - Picture of Papa Smurf from above. His deformities from metabolic bone disease are severe and he couldn't hold himself up to walk. Arms and legs were thin and he had no muscle tone in his legs or chest.

On 3/4/2012 Papa Smurf was undergoing his first full body shed. He was itchy and irritable, but shedding is progress, so we celebrated the milestone.

By 2/15/2012 Papa Smurf was able to stand up on his hind legs. He also started trying to climb, but his deformed left arm wouldn't cooperate.

3/30/12 - After his bath. His deformed left arm is starting to strengthen and straighten.

4/5/12 - Papa Smurf is able to explore his room like any healthy beardie now and can squeeze into small places and climb over low things now.

5/8/12 - The black beard that Papa has had every day is still there, 5 months after we got him. The sight of another dragon makes him extremely agitated.

6/6/12 - Making 'yum-yum' face.

6/9/12 - Letting everyone know that he owns the house and he is the King. Smurf can run now and get from one side of the room to the other as fast as a normal dragon.

8/26/12 - Sunny day on the deck outside. Papa Smurf loves being out in the sun and behaves really well on the leash.

10/18/12 - Papa Smurf got a gift from Auntie Amanda...Smurf fleece!