Away From Beardie

Deabrua · Sep 26, 2019

Anyone have experience being away from their dragon for extended periods of time, say at least 5 months? How'd they react to you not being around? How'd they react upon your return?

Note: Mine is well taken care of in my absence.

Drache613 · Sep 26, 2019

Hello,

As long as your dragon is being handled on a regular basis, even if not by you, then he should
have good memory of you & will still want to be handled.
They have a great memory of their owners especially if it's a positive experience for them.

Tracie

MrSpectrum · Sep 27, 2019

Drache613":36vur6zh said:
They have a great memory of their owners especially if it's a positive experience for them.

It's been shown that reptiles possess a degree of spatial memory, and the ability to learn from observation (of other BDs). They also seem to exhibit preferences for some people over/more than others (though there is reluctance to call it "love"). Tortoises have demonstrated long term memories (up to 18 months has been tested), but tortoises aren't lizards.

I haven't been able to find (so far) any credible articles/studies regarding such long term memories in lizards, let alone bearded dragons. Can you (or anyone) cite any?

THX

CooperDragon · Sep 27, 2019

I've been away for several weeks at a time (nowhere near 5 months though). Based on reports from the caretaker and watching the webcam, he tends to act more sleepy and appears to mope around a bit. He perks up when I return. I'm not sure if that's due to me as much as a return to his normal routine. Being away doesn't seem to cause any long term issues though, and they get back to their usual routine pretty quickly (Based on my limited observations).

Claudiusx · Sep 27, 2019

I'd tend to agree with Coopers observations. However the longest I've ever been away from my dragons would be capped at 2 week stints, so it's not a very long time, but it was always business as usual when i'd come back.

CooperDragon":189pm59d said:
he tends to act more sleepy and appears to mope around a bit

That is an interesting observation though. I do feel that adults (especially as they get older) get really stuck to a schedule, and they like that schedule and they dislike change. At least that's been my interpretation of older dragons.

Hmm.. That must mean I'm starting to become an older dragon too I suppose lol!

-Brandon

MrSpectrum · Sep 27, 2019

CooperDragon":2ztredks said:
Based on reports from the caretaker and watching the webcam, he tends to act more sleepy and appears to mope around a bit.

Seasonal?

CooperDragon · Sep 27, 2019

Not really seasonal. Even during active months he will glass surf for a while but eventually just give up and either sit on his log and stare or go into a hide and mope. In the days after he surfs less and then stops. When I'm home he doesn't stop and will do this every morning until he is let out. During brumation season he just sleeps through either way.

Deabrua · Oct 7, 2019

According to the one who's taken over full care for her, she hasn't really changed in my absence of 6 weeks now. Her routine w/o me is roughly the same, simply has her second feeding pushed back by 2-3 hours.

Five months was an extremely pessimistic estimate, and it looks like I'll only have to go another 4-6 weeks before she'll be with me again.

Only thing I've noted in the last 6 weeks is that she does react to my voice over the phone, and I was able to visit for one day in which she became very energetic.

Claudiusx · Oct 8, 2019

That's sweet to hear ahead gets energetic when she sees you

Glad you wont have to be away as long as you first thought.

-Brandon

Deabrua · Oct 9, 2019

Downside to when I get her back... she'll be moving houses and tanks. I'm not sure if I should transition her to new tank at old house, new house in old tank, or new tank at new house at once :?: :?

Away From Beardie

Deabrua

Juvie Member

Drache613

BD.org Sicko

MrSpectrum

Gray-bearded Member

CooperDragon

BD.org Sicko

Claudiusx

BD.org Sicko

MrSpectrum

Gray-bearded Member

CooperDragon

BD.org Sicko

Deabrua

Juvie Member

Claudiusx

BD.org Sicko

Deabrua

Juvie Member

Similar threads

Members online

Still Needs Help

Tiny prolapse?

Latest resources

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

Forum statistics

Share this page