Beardie Mum

[BeardiesMum]

Greetings!!!

I recently took over the care of my grandson's bearded dragon. For awhile, we thought she was a he, until she started digging and laying eggs when my son and grandson took her with them to their new home in the country. Due to some mishaps and negligence on my grandson's part, my son asked me if I wanted to take over her care. I never in a million years would have thought I would fall in love with a reptile!! But I have.

I have some questions about how I can make her feel better, right now I have changed out her uvb light from a coil my son was using to the tube that covers the whole tank and I have set up her basking area on one side and cooler area on the other. I bought what I thought was some groovy cool background for her to enjoy, but they seem to cause her to see her reflection more and now she is head bobbing and upset a lot... so I am not sure if its due to the new background or due to the reflection. Any advice would be so appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[xp29]

If the uvb stretches the entire length, make sure to give her a hide of some sort. They need to be able to get out of the uvb occasionally. Yes their reflection can stress them out, it's probably that more than the actual picture pn the background. If you start noticing stress marks on her stomach or the head bobbing doesn't seem to at least slow down, you might want to remove the background
Oh and congrazzz on your new (to you) beardie. They are AMAZING pets.

 

[BeardiesMum]

If the uvb stretches the entire length, make sure to give her a hide of some sort. They need to be able to get out of the uvb occasionally. Yes their reflection can stress them out, it's probably that more than the actual picture pn the background. If you start noticing stress marks on her stomach or the head bobbing doesn't seem to at least slow down, you might want to remove the background
Oh and congrazzz on your new (to you) beardie. They are AMAZING pets.

Thank you! I cleaned her tank out today and made sure I provided her with multiple hides and adjusted the greenery so it blocked the reflection a little more.

 

[BeardiesMum]

She doesn’t seem to be any happier - she’s glass surfing and bobbing her head at her reflection she’s almost two yrs old and I’ve got her weight up since I got her and her color is better, I’m considering a bigger tank but my current concern is that she has never acted this stressed before- I’m not sure how long I should go to see if she will adjust of not

 

[KarrieRee]

She doesn’t seem to be any happier - she’s glass surfing and bobbing her head at her reflection she’s almost two yrs old and I’ve got her weight up since I got her and her color is better, I’m considering a bigger tank but my current concern is that she has never acted this stressed before- I’m not sure how long I should go to see if she will adjust of not

Where is the UVB ? and what type of screen do you have? fine mesh like a screen door or a wide hole type? this will determine where the UVB needs to be placed and the distance

 

[BeardiesMum]

Where is the UVB ? and what type of screen do you have? fine mesh like a screen door or a wide hole type? this will determine where the UVB needs to be placed and the distance

The screen came with the tank. It’s not flimsy like a screen door or windows screens, and the holes are not large either. I’m at work or I would get a picture. But the uvb sits on top of the screen and covers about 2/3 of the area

 

[xp29]

How big is her current setup? Adults need 4x2x2. Also is there any other pets that might be stressing her, cats dogs,ect. Sometimes beardies will spazz out about the weirdest things

 

[KarrieRee]

The screen came with the tank. It’s not flimsy like a screen door or windows screens, and the holes are not large either. I’m at work or I would get a picture. But the uvb sits on top of the screen and covers about 2/3 of the area

Ok please get a pic so I can better help you

 

[BeardiesMum]

How big is her current setup? Adults need 4x2x2. Also is there any other pets that might be stressing her, cats dogs,ect. Sometimes beardies will spazz out about the weirdest things

Her tank is 40 gallon - no pets - just her. I tend to believe she’s unhappy with the way the sandstone background reflects on the glass which is more now

 

[xp29]

Your setup is small for an adult, but reflection can stress them, maybe try addind a background inside the habitat to see if she chills out, for a 40 gallon you should be able to find something precut to fit.

 

[BeardiesMum]

Your setup is small for an adult, but reflection can stress them, maybe try adding a background inside the habitat to see if she chills out, for a 40 gallon you should be able to find something precut to fit.

I have the precut background on the back of the tank. which I think it why she is seeing her reflection more clearly and getting upset. Like the fish in finding nemo She's asleep right now and I did not want to wake her but you can see the top more closely and the background as well. The top has the uvb tube and the lg silver dome has her ceramic heater - because I like to keep my apt dark and cold at night. I hope this helps.

 

[KarrieRee]

I have the precut background on the back of the tank. which I think it why she is seeing her reflection more clearly and getting upset. Like the fish in finding nemo She's asleep right now and I did not want to wake her but you can see the top more closely and the background as well. The top has the uvb tube and the lg silver dome has her ceramic heater - because I like to keep my apt dark and cold at night. I hope this helps.

The tank is too small for her --- please upgrade - that is why your getting all the glass surfing -- if you can get her out everyday for a couple of hours it may help w/ that -- she needs floor space and she doesnt really have any-- the UVB is a T 8 or a T 5? They have different placement and distances between the 2 bulbs ---

 

[xp29]

The uvb is a little high up being on top of the screen, the screen blocks a significant amount of the uvb. It would be better if you could mount it inside.
Of topic i love the extra decore setting on top of her habitat...... you can always tell an enclosure is for a beardie from across the room because there is extra decor setting on the top lol. (I drive my girlfriend crazy with all the extra i have piled all over the place)

 

[BeardiesMum]

The tank is too small for her --- please upgrade - that is why your getting all the glass surfing -- if you can get her out everyday for a couple of hours it may help w/ that -- she needs floor space and she doesnt really have any-- the UVB is a T 8 or a T 5? They have different placement and distances between the 2 bulbs ---

Thank you!! I agree, I need to get her the bigger tank! I adjusted a few things in the meantime, because I feel like she was also feeling closed in - Here are some pictures I just took. I normally let her run around my apartment a few hours a few nights a week, I would do more but I work a lot and am not here for that. She also gets a proper bath 2/3x a week.

I removed the sandstone background because I felt it was upsetting her and making the reflections stand out more. I also removed some of the additional items from her tank that were really making it look tight in there.

I have a T8 uvb light, and will work on getting it installed inside the tank when I can. I placed the red blanket on the cooler side of the tank because the colors and print seems to drown out her reflection and she seems a little calmer now. Still a work in progress, but thank you all for your feedback!! She is my little bitchy dragon princess and I want her to be happy.

 

[KarrieRee]

Thank you!! I agree, I need to get her the bigger tank! I adjusted a few things in the meantime, because I feel like she was also feeling closed in - Here are some pictures I just took. I normally let her run around my apartment a few hours a few nights a week, I would do more but I work a lot and am not here for that. She also gets a proper bath 2/3x a week.

I removed the sandstone background because I felt it was upsetting her and making the reflections stand out more. I also removed some of the additional items from her tank that were really making it look tight in there.

I have a T8 uvb light, and will work on getting it installed inside the tank when I can. I placed the red blanket on the cooler side of the tank because the colors and print seems to drown out her reflection and she seems a little calmer now. Still a work in progress, but thank you all for your feedback!! She is my little bitchy dragon princess and I want her to be happy. View attachment 75875

Please get the T 8 adjusted to 6-8 inches directly above the basking decor w/ no screen - it's great that your getting her out- the more floor space the better- please drop the bathing down to 1 time every 2 weeks too many baths will dry her scales out-