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Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com www.TheCatoctinBanner.com The Catoctin Banner Newspaper March 2016 Page 45
by Carie Stafford
Pets of Dragons Among Us YMCA
Interest
Courtesy Photo
I am a two-and-a-half-year-
old dragon, but I don’t fly
or breathe fire. What type of
dragon am I? I am one of nine CAMP
species of bearded dragons,
called a fancy dragon. My
species is originally from
Australia; the different types
of bearded dragons range
from subtropical to desert to
woodland, and even beach WEST
dragons. We come in a variety
of colors, including red, yellow,
orange, gold, white, and more,
depending on where we live.
Why am I called a bearded
dragon? Well, I have these spikes
and scales around my head that MAR
resemble a beard. The spikes
are soft and lay flat, but when I
become upset, they become rigid “Mom” Alyssa with her Bearded Dragons, Razor (left)
and sharp as I puff them out and and Zilla (right).
they turn black.
In captivity, we can live about us out of our 35-gallon terrarium for
ten to fifteen years; if we are really a change of scenery, and I like to run Stay Away
spoiled, we can live as long as around and check out the sites. We
twenty years. We grow as big as do actually run; I lift my tail up to
the container we live in, some as give me momentum and I am pretty
long as 42 inches. We need UVA/ fast. Razor is the climber; she likes
UVB light daily, which synthesizes to be in high places. She even climbs Summer
vitamin D3, which we need to utilize up mom’s hair to sit on her head.
calcium. Without it, we will develop We are opportunistic hunters. We
Metabolic Bone disease, which leads are omnivores, eating dandelions,
to our death. We love to bask in our flowers, leaves, bugs, crickets, and Camp
heat lamp; if we get too hot, we will all types of worms. Our favorite
burrow in the sand to cool off. food is dragon fruit. I have been
By the way, my name is known to try and include my mom’s In the
Godzilla—my family calls me Zilla. I finger with the fruit…whoops.
have a little sister called Razor. We are very fortunate. Our mom Catoctin
We are normally solitary and rolls our food in a calcium and Mountains!
territorial, but Razor and I have vitamin powder before she feeds us
been together since we were a couple to keep us healthy. In the summer,
of weeks old, and we kind of like Mom lets us outside in the yard.
each other. When she gets on my Now, that is heaven! We climb in the
last nerve, I head butt her. I am the wood pile and eat all sorts of bugs,
adventurous one, and Razor is more and run through the grass and eat
cautious. Our Mom occasionally lets all the dandelions we can find. I did
bite Razors’ tail one time; I thought
it was a meal worm.
My mom laughs when I “wave” YMCA CAMP
at her, but that is my way of letting
her know that I know she is the WEST MAR
boss. She likes to hang out with us,
and we love to snuggle with her.
We like heat and will lie around her
neck and take a nap while she is
doing homework or watching TV.
We do see in color and tend to go
after bright colors. Yes, I have been
known to go after Mom’s fingers
when she wears that stuff called nail
polish.
I could tell you so much more— westmar.frederickymca.org
mainly how spoiled we are—but
Mom is ready to let us out, and I am 301-663-5131
ready to explore.
by Carie Stafford
Pets of Dragons Among Us YMCA
Interest
Courtesy Photo
I am a two-and-a-half-year-
old dragon, but I don’t fly
or breathe fire. What type of
dragon am I? I am one of nine CAMP
species of bearded dragons,
called a fancy dragon. My
species is originally from
Australia; the different types
of bearded dragons range
from subtropical to desert to
woodland, and even beach WEST
dragons. We come in a variety
of colors, including red, yellow,
orange, gold, white, and more,
depending on where we live.
Why am I called a bearded
dragon? Well, I have these spikes
and scales around my head that MAR
resemble a beard. The spikes
are soft and lay flat, but when I
become upset, they become rigid “Mom” Alyssa with her Bearded Dragons, Razor (left)
and sharp as I puff them out and and Zilla (right).
they turn black.
In captivity, we can live about us out of our 35-gallon terrarium for
ten to fifteen years; if we are really a change of scenery, and I like to run Stay Away
spoiled, we can live as long as around and check out the sites. We
twenty years. We grow as big as do actually run; I lift my tail up to
the container we live in, some as give me momentum and I am pretty
long as 42 inches. We need UVA/ fast. Razor is the climber; she likes
UVB light daily, which synthesizes to be in high places. She even climbs Summer
vitamin D3, which we need to utilize up mom’s hair to sit on her head.
calcium. Without it, we will develop We are opportunistic hunters. We
Metabolic Bone disease, which leads are omnivores, eating dandelions,
to our death. We love to bask in our flowers, leaves, bugs, crickets, and Camp
heat lamp; if we get too hot, we will all types of worms. Our favorite
burrow in the sand to cool off. food is dragon fruit. I have been
By the way, my name is known to try and include my mom’s In the
Godzilla—my family calls me Zilla. I finger with the fruit…whoops.
have a little sister called Razor. We are very fortunate. Our mom Catoctin
We are normally solitary and rolls our food in a calcium and Mountains!
territorial, but Razor and I have vitamin powder before she feeds us
been together since we were a couple to keep us healthy. In the summer,
of weeks old, and we kind of like Mom lets us outside in the yard.
each other. When she gets on my Now, that is heaven! We climb in the
last nerve, I head butt her. I am the wood pile and eat all sorts of bugs,
adventurous one, and Razor is more and run through the grass and eat
cautious. Our Mom occasionally lets all the dandelions we can find. I did
bite Razors’ tail one time; I thought
it was a meal worm.
My mom laughs when I “wave” YMCA CAMP
at her, but that is my way of letting
her know that I know she is the WEST MAR
boss. She likes to hang out with us,
and we love to snuggle with her.
We like heat and will lie around her
neck and take a nap while she is
doing homework or watching TV.
We do see in color and tend to go
after bright colors. Yes, I have been
known to go after Mom’s fingers
when she wears that stuff called nail
polish.
I could tell you so much more— westmar.frederickymca.org
mainly how spoiled we are—but
Mom is ready to let us out, and I am 301-663-5131
ready to explore.
