a bed for Dexter?

[CaptainVimes]

Hi guys,

Question for you all....

Dexter has made it obvious that he likes snuggling up to me, he's started burying his head between my fat neck, and my cardigan, which means most of his face is covered.

I put him to bed on his blanky at 8:30pm tonight, and when I checked on him just, he had turned round, snuggled up the corner of the viv, and dug his head UNDER the blanky.

I have had an idea to make him a "bed tent"... Basically make and lightly stuff two rectangular pieces of the furry blanky I have, making a lightly stuffed pillow for him to sleep ON.

Then somehow making a "canopy" on top of this cushion, like a four poster bed? So he's on top of his cuddly cushion, but also covered SAFELY instead of him burying his head into a pillow/blanky and suffocating?

I would OBVIOUSLY take this contraption out during the day, so he doesn't live in it, and not get his adequate basking and UV.

He isn't usually dark, and he doesn't have these stress lines that I've seen photos of, so I'm guessing that no hide in the day is not stressing him out?

I could of course, be worrying about him too much. But he does seem to like to SNUGGLE AND HIDE at bedtime?

Let me know what you guys think?

I DON'T want to give him a permanent hide, because I was told not to, especially with him having a certain amount of time, possibly a very long time, without adequate UV.

Did I say that he now has 12% D3+ T5?


*is very proud of herself for getting it so quickly!* lol

 

[bdalton]

I'm not the only one! Lol, I bought my girl a ferret bed from petsmart for xmas and she loves it. She cuddled up in it, its so cute. I don't have it in her viv though, I have it under a desk light for when she's out she can cuddle up and get warm then wander around and she ends up back in it eventually, then I know she's ready for bed. Phew, I thought I was crazy and have been being told since I bought it that she's a dragon, not a cat but I think she's just as cute and cuddley as a cat

 

[CaptainVimes]

Yay!

Thankyou! Now I know I'm not the only one too!

Dexter loves being pampered, he loves his bedtime cuddles too, but he especially loves to bury his head in something. (it hurt quite a bit when he tried to dig into my neck crease to make it bigger! :lol: )

I think I'll make his pillow, and see how we get on, if he goes UNDER his pillow, I'll make something to go on top, that covers him without the risk of suffocation.

One care sheet I read, mentioned giving a pile of soft tissues for them to burrow into, to imitate a burrow, which is where they would sleep naturally. I could tear up a loo roll for this purpose, then he could breathe through the layers, I don't know if he'd suffocate if he buried himself into strips of furry fabric.

Yup, unless I make the "four-poster bed" design, I couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't snuggle under the layers of furry blanket and suffocate, they're quite thick and fluffy.

I suppose I could put one over my mouth and nose, and see if I could breathe through it?

I'll have a look at various ideas.

To be honest, I'm not happy with the way the rough slate tiles are not coming completely clean from where I clean up his poop, (reptile disinfectant & plain kitchen towel) they're quite porous, in some places they're REALLY ROUGH, (if he pooped on that bit, my Fiancé would have to take it out and REALLY scrub it, then it would be too wet to put back in straight away, and I don't like the idea of him walking on the radiator reflector shield underneath, I don't know what it's made from) I might swap them out for ceramic or bathroom tiles...

Another idea is linoleum, but I've heard that it gives off "fumes" for months, if it's brand new?

I don't want repti-carpet because I've heard too many horror stories, where a lizard has gotten their claw trapped in the tiny loops of fabric that stick up from them. Plus it is expensive, plus I'd have to buy at least three lots, (wash, wear, spare) plus, it wouldn't prevent heat coming up through from my fiancé's boa viv. (the spot directly above on the top of the viv where the "che" is screwed in below, measures a whopping 58.9°C! (138°F) hence the radiator reflective material and slate tiles- Dexter's viv is not on this hot spot, but if I got him a 3wx3dx2H, it would be)

I COULD use kitchen towel on top of the tiles, but at £1.31 for two rolls, (Tesco value) changing it every day would work out quite expensive.

Maybe I should just put him a batch of paper towels in the spot where he has chosen for his toilet? I don't know, he might not like them, so he might purposely not poop on that bit lol

What do you guys use as substrate?

I'm DEFINITELY NOT GOING WITH SAND, so please don't suggest it, :lol:

 

[bdalton]

I have mine on porcelain tile and its fabulous! Lol i have this really natutal looking almost desert sand color and i love it. HATED slate. Lol it wipes clean and leaves no marks and she doesnt slip whatsoever.

 

[bunnyrut]

I used tiles from home depot. I just picked one that looked like sand, but was slightly rough. This helped with keeping my beardie's nails trimmed too. Before that I just used paper towels. It's easy to clean.
As for bedding, I have a giant shoe box with sand in it. Not only does he like to sleep in it, he also 'plays' in it during the day. If you are not comfortable with sand at all, I previously used a shoebox with a pillow case. He just pushed the pillow case around until it covered his face. only problem is that the shoebox doesn't look so nice.

 

[Dracosbuddy]

Off subject but captainvimes I love your quote!