ATTACK ISSUE

[ScottishBirder]

Hi there, I have 2 Beardies Stan and Ollie who have lived in harmony since I got them 4 months ago. They eat well together and seem happy. Last week Stan started headbopping all the time and then Ollie started digging under a log . He was completley invisible except his head. Igot worried as he had not eaten so I dug him out. Stan then launched at him biting the top of his head. When I grabbed Stan he would not let go.
My calm world has been shattered and now Ollie hides all the time. HELP

 

[changilass]

Poor Ollie, this is why they need seperate enclosures. They may live together for a while in what seems like harmony but eventually this sort of thing happen.

If you don't seperate them you could have a death on your hands, or at the very least, large vet bills due to Ollie needing treatment.

I am guessing you were told by the pet shop that they were sociable, but they really only come together to mate.

Good luck in finding a new enclosure.

Keep reading these forums, there is some great advice from really lovely folks.

 

[ScottishBirder]

Went to pet shop and got new tank with all the llights and heating. Ollie is in his new home and Stan is mad as hell. He is running around his tank head bobing and attacking the glass.
Also Ollie has dug himself under a log in his new tank. Is he still feeling threatened or do some just hide allot under sand.????

 

[ziggy23]

if they can still see each other, then there still might be dominance issues. if not, then it's relocation stress. They don't care for change too much. Give them a week or 2 and they'll be fine.

 

[ScottishBirder]

Thanks for the info . They can see each other and Stan still bobs his head like crazy. I will cover side so that cant happen. Can I ask another few things as you seem to know allot about Beardies. I put play sand in the tank for them to make it look like the desert. Some people say no and some say yes. Is it ok for sand or will it harm them.?. It is playsand I have used.
Also I feed them live food most of the time and when I give them veg they dont eat it. I have been told to starve them until they eat it but I hate to starve them.?
And last but not least, They dont seem to drink. I put water dish in and they never use it so I squirt them often during the day but they close there eyes and mouths. I bath them twice a week but they dont like it. How do you know if they are drinking enough water.

 

[mickeysmomma]

NO sand. It causes impaction, and could even lead to death. Not worth the risk. Beardies don't normally live on sand in the wild...they live on clay. Use shelf liner, tile, reptile carpet...or even paper towels .

 

[ScottishBirder]

Thanks for the advice. My pet shop owner who says he has bred beardies for years swears by sand. He said it is the best thing for them. Calcium sand but once bigger playsand. Crazy he should say this when lots of people say no sand is best. Thanks

 

[ziggy23]

You can judge for yourself how good calci-sand is. Put some in a bucket and get it wet then let it dry in the sun. When it dries, it's hard as a rock, and that's how it will end up in your animals stomachs.

dragons explore with their mouths and like to taste things. And they aren't always that careful when chasing their food. So there are very good odds that they'll eat some. Playsand has stuff in it that is not recommended for even humans to ingest or breath in. It's generally not a problem for humans because one does not spend that much time in a sand box. But dragons would be on it 24/7 with no escape. there's a thread on the stuff in it in the enclosure section. I forget all the details right now.

As far as the salads. It's normal for them to not eat them at first. Before a year of age it's more of a snack than anything. Not worthy of starving them for it. The most important things for them in the first year is protein and calcium and that's what they will naturally crave. What you can do is put the salad in first thing in the morning, and delay the first insect feeding for an hour or 2. Little ones are usually ravenous in the morning. If they are "starving" right now, and breakfast isn't for 2 hours, they might settle on the salad to hold them over. Just provide it every day and leave it in all day. It's just a matter of time before they start eating it.

 

[ScottishBirder]

Thanks for the advice I will remove all the sand in the morning. Is it okay to put in tiles.? I have tiles that i got for the bathroom that will fit. It has been a full day since I split them and Ollie still burying himself under log. He has not eaten allot for days except one Locust yesterday.
Any other suggestions before I put tiles in.???????

 

[ziggy23]

tiles are good if they aren't slippery.

 

[ScottishBirder]

Put tiles in one tank but it dont look good. One tank like desert with cactus and rocks and live food. Other one looks bare but if it stops them hurting themselves I will leave it.

 

[changilass]

Good on you for acting so fast on the advice given.

It may look a bitty bare compared to what it was but its best in the long run.

 

[diamc]

Great that you made all these changes already. Too bad that Ollie is still burying himself under the log though. Just to make sure anything besides the relocation stress is bothering him right now, could you give us the details of the setups? The more details, the better, lighting, temps, type of thermometer, etc. Also, the greens and feeders that you're offering and how often you're dusting with calcium and vitamins.

Pictures of their tanks would also be helpful.

 

[ScottishBirder]

Sure. Tank number one is 3 and a bit feet long. It is tiled with dark non slip tiles. It had two large rocks with two bark logs in it. A water dish ( large ) and a veg dish ( small ). A UV light which runs the length of the tank and a 100w heat bulb at right hand side of tank with basking log underneath it. Approx 7 inched from light to log. The tank temp is 102 at log end and 74 at bottom end where food and water is. I feed live hoppers five days a week even though Ollie not been eating allot. Between both it use to be around 150 large hoppers a week. Veg wise I give chopped Endive and Spring Greens and small diced Beetroot and Carrot. I have tried Apple, Pear Strawberry, Grapes and Mango but they wont look at it. I have never seen Ollie eat veg or fruit but Stan will eat Veg sometimes.

Tank 2.
About a foot bigger than previous tank (Stans One) . Floor covered in Play sand about a inch to two inches deep. Lots of branches and rocks with fake bushes stuck to window. UV light full length with heat light at one end. 105 at basking spot and 75 at other end. The tanks did face each other but have moved and covered so Stan cant see Ollie even altough it appears he still knows he is there,. He looks for him and head bobs.



Am I over feeding .? I put in around 20 and let them help themselves. There is usually excess running around but not for long.

 

[diamc]

Hi, since they are so young, you're certainly not over feeding, they needs lots of protein to help them grow. In case you haven't seen it, thought I would share this link with you that shows the best veggies/greens to feed: www.beautifuldragons.503xtreme.com

Thanks for giving us a little more info. Could you look on the side of the UVB bulbs and give us the brand name as well as the output ex: 2.0, 5.0, 8.0, 10.0? Also, what type of thermometer are you using, a digital stick-on, a round gauge, temperature gun or digital thermometer with a long wire & probe end?

How often are you dusting with calcium and vitamins?