You have likely heard about Pickle as she’s been the talk of the Lower School, and has become a celebrity of sorts at DCD! Pickle was adopted on Monday, September 23, 2024, after being gifted to DCD from the Levy Family, and she now lives in the Lower School Science Room, under the care of Ms. Crugnale and Ms. Lisciandra.
Each lower school grade has had the great pleasure of meeting Pickle, and this past week, some of our Grade 4 students were the first to be able to very gently touch Pickle, while she snacked on a piece of watermelon!
We are grateful to the Levy Family for gifting Pickle to us, and for the learning opportunities that Pickle’s arrival has provided our lower school students, from lessons and discussions on student observations, to recording those observations and facts into student journals, and to all of the great discussions and dialogue students have had on Bearded Dragons, reptiles and their care.
Here are some facts about Pickle shared by Ms. Crugnale, Ms. Lisciandra, and our lower school students:
- Pickle is a female, and is likely around 3 years old.
- Pickle had an injury to her tail so it is no longer pointy. It looks like a pickle, and that is how she got her name!
- The Levy family provided Pickle with a sophisticated diet, including kale sprinkled with bee pollen and extra powder supplements.
- She also likes to eat watermelon, cantelope, and grapes— and of course, cockroaches!
- She gets water by bathing weekly.
- Bearded dragons have a third eye.
- In the wild, they live in Australia.
- Bearded Dragons are 10-18 ounces, the same weight as an apple.
- Bearded Dragons live approximately 4-10 years.
- Bearded Dragons range in size from 18-22 inches. Pickle is a smaller dragon.
- Like all reptiles, they are cold blooded (ectothermic). They are warmed by the sun, not from the inside (like us).
- Their natural predators are birds, snakes, and dingoes.