baby beardie always closing eyes???

[jennacharpy]

Hi, I got my baby beardie about two weeks ago. He is 6 inches and was 10 weeks when i got him. I have noticed that he keeps closing his eyes whenever he is basking or just standing around the tank. He will also sometimes only close one eye, but there is one eye that he closes a lot. I have a 50 watt halogen bulb to bask and the repti sun T8 UVB light for the cool side. He has also had tons of stress marks since i got him that have yet to go away. He seems really skiddish when ever i put my hand in the tank. I have held him a few times and given him a bath, but he seems uneasy and sometimes tries to hide underneath his paper towel substrate. Could something be wrong because of the eye closing? He has done this since i got him and this is my first beardie so i thought it might be normal, but the more i have read i think it may not be. Thanks!!

 

[CooperDragon]

He's probably just relaxing while basking. What are the surface temperatures around your tank? I would move the T8 next to the basking light so the highest UVB output is combining with the basking light and higher temps to simulate sunlight. A T8 should sit about 6-8'' above the main basking platform and have a reflector to direct as much light downward as possible.

 

[dezismom]

Hello, and welcome to the beardie forum!

as a new and responsible beardie slave, you have quite a few questions! Good! There are great articles on these topics here, so please hunt them up and read them. I printed some out to add to my files when I got my adorable boy, DeziLu, and that has been a great resource for me. But lets address each topic --this will be a long response, so grab a cup of tea and get comfortable.

EYE CLOSING: Baby may just be resting his eyes, but if it is so often, it may need investigating...Because he is also trying to hide under the paper, he may find the light is brighter than he is accustomed to, which would not surprise me, as pet stores enclosures are almost always insufficiently lit. He will get used to it, but you must be sure the lights are not too close to his eyes, or too far away. The lamps will have come with instructions directing you to keep lamp within certain parameters which must be followed precisely. My reptisun 10 UVB tube lamp has those on the box, which I cut out and saved. That one says it needs to be no closer than 6", or it can cause serious eye damage. Also, no further than 20", or it will not provide enough UVB, which is critical, especially during the first year,when metabolic bone disease is a big concern. Do not guess about this--use a ruler and measure exactly, from his little head to the bulb. The box says that a wire mesh lid will block 50% of UVB, so adjust accordingly. I have a mesh lid, so I have my boys lamp 10" above his head. As he grew, I remeasured and readjusted the lamps. I have no halogen lamps, so you will have to check your instructions for that info., but it is so important because the eyes can be burned and have permanent damage. Do this the moment you finish reading this, today!

If the lights are in good order, it still may take a few days for him to adjust, if it is brighter than he had before. Also, closely Examine his eyes--are they the same? any redness, swelling, or white runny matter in one or the other? Become familiar with what his eyes are supposed to look like, for future reference. They sould be clear, bright and matter free. He should not be rubbing them (unless he is shedding around them).

STRESS MARKS: This is a very misleading term. All beardie babies will have lovely markings on their underside. When excited, all their markings darken, including the inderside...-it does not always mean bad stress. It means a higher level of excitement-- sometimes happy, sad, interested, enjoying a good football game (Dezi loves that--may be the motion and colorful uniforms, but I like to think he is a fan.) also: upset, glad to see you, enjoying a new food, even sexual excitement. (at six momths, Dezi got quite randy about black shoes ??? ) It is up to you to observe ALL of his behavior, together, to learn his language, so to speak, and then you will easily know what he is expressing.

LANGUGE: This is not one of your questions, but since it applies equally to your being a new owner and wanting the best for your baby(what is his name?) I am tossing it in, as a bonus, ha, ha!
Beardies have great body language, in addition to darker color, like: how he holds his head, tail position, eye closing (indicates pleasure if you are rubbing just the right spot, indicates "no more, thank you" if he does not want a certain food, can mean he is displeased with his servant, if he goes off in a corner and pouts!) They also smile and frown, just as humans do. It is harder to see, when they are very small, because they have such little lips,and each one has his own version of the beardie smile. Then there is the infamous "stink eye" which you will know when you recieve it. It is an indicator of great disappontment in his human... They also have grunts, puffs, sighs, and little clicks. You will be amazed at how communicative yours is. They are much more intelligent than one supposes. And also, prone to being drama queens. It is one of the reasons we human servants of dragons are so devoted to and in love with them. It becomes a lifelong passion. And it is alot of work, time and $$$, so be warned. They are not the "easy, great as first reptile pet" that your store may have advertised them to be. Not a beginner pet at all, in my (very humble) opinion.

It will take a few months for you and he to learn each others language. Be patient and observe him carefully, and you will be having great conversations in time! Dezi and I "talk" all day. Dezi is nearly four, and we are still learning new "words" together.

Meanwhile, observe his environment to get hints as to anything that may be causing a little extra excitement for him. Of course, being in a new home is bound to cause excitement for several weeks. They all hate change. If I move his tree, Dezi can skip a meal. Is ther a big dog coming around hsi vivarium? Barking? loud music ot tv? does he have a dark place to sleep at night? Any of these factors can cause a high level of alerness, amd darker markings. Beacuse a prolonged high stress can make your baby sick, check out everything around his environment, and change what you can, to be better for his comfort.

Understand, however, that baby beardies are naturally more excitable than adults. You will not be able to provide a "perfect" environment and he will have to get used to certain things, over time. As with younger humans, everything is newer, more exciting, possibly threatening...at around six momths, they go through a teen aged stage and decelope their hormones, but after that they start to settle down and be the relaxed and snuggly fantastic companions you see photos of on this site. They decide you are their safe human, and demand hugs and kisses, petting and as much time out on you can give. You can make this bond better and stronger, by taking them out and handling them as much as possible when they are young.

. Helpful hint: I have several manilla envelopes in my beardie cabinet, marked "reciepts", " instructions", and " vet care" in which which I have saved all the above. It makes life easier, so I recommend you do the same.

Another help: always read completely the instructions that come with lights, fixtures, erc., because each brand is a little different. I put mine in an envelope, and also cut out the instructions on the box to save.

If you have other questions, feel free to ask. There are many here who can help. we would appreciate photos of your baby and his vivarium very much. It would help us to help you better, and we just plain like to oogle other peoples beardies. Yes, we are weird that way. Be careful, or you will be, too!
Welcome to the wonderful, sometimes weird, world of beardies!


Dezi says hi!

Penny demonstrates her version of a dragon smile