Baby beardies fighting?

[JaffaCake]

Hey guys, my two baby beardies have been housed together ever since I got them, they have been very friendly to eachother and I have had no problems. Duncan is small compared to Jaffa though Jaffa was the biggest out of the other beardies we picked. Duncan has always laid ontop of Jaffa but he arm waves aswell, Jaffa hasn't arm waved for ages, wierd cause Duncan is the smallest I thought Jaffa would be the more dominant one. I do not know their genders they are about 2-3 months old. Just now I had Jaffa out of the tank and Duncan jumped out aswell and went onto my bed, as soon as Duncan moved Jaffa jumped out of my hand and went for Duncan.
I don't know what Jaffa was trying to do I think he kept licking Duncan but Duncan was puffing up, a clear warning. Everytime Duncan moved Jaffa kept going for Duncan, I don't know if they were fighting or Duncan just didn't like Jaffa licking him. I hope they weren't fighting because I would have to seperate them straight away and the new tank isn't set up yet.
Can someone tell me what is going on? Are they fighting? They are both back in their tank and they seem to be acting normal again. Also Duncan is still quite small, I don't know if he is even growing at all, he is shedding normally, eats and drinks like normal. Jaffa will eat anything...he's gutsy
Thanks ^.^

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. Its not unusual for 2 beardies housed together to fight as they are territorial and do not like being around each other except to mate. I would separate ASAP before one hurts the other one or worse.

 

[JaffaCake]

Thanks for the reply, I know that beardies are territorial but why would Jaffa do that outside the tank and not inside? Inside the tank they have less space than outside so there is less territory for Jaffa to claim... I just find it wierd that Jaffa would do it only when both him and Duncan were outside their home.

 

[destiny1998]

As I said they are having dominance issues. I have 3 beardies and none of them can be out near each other. My older girl willl chase the younger one and has attacked on one occasion. It's what they do in the wild. They do not like other beardies to be in their bubble outside or in the enclosure. You may want to take just one at a time out.

 

[Esther19]

I would consider putting Jafa in the new tank as soon as possible. As long as you have a basking and UVB light and something for him to climb on, you're good to go. You can use newspaper on the floor of the tank. I know you'd feel awful if one was injured.

 

[JaffaCake]

Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it All I have right now is a new tank and a UVB light so I will have to wait till I get another light then I can move Duncan into the new tank. I think Jaffa was only licking him and Duncan puffs at everything but better safe than sorry right? I don't want any missing toes or tips of tails.
Another thing is Duncan's size, I know I have only had him for 3 months now but he's still really small compared to Jaffa, Duncan is like the size of Jaffa's tail maybe a little bit taller...I don't know if Jaffa is just growing really fast or Duncan isn't growing at all.
I feed them both the same, they are great with their food and both of them drink out of their water bowl and swims in it when they are shedding. I feed them separately so they both get enough food and aren't pinching eachothers food. I feed them locusts dusted in Calcium powder, Juvenile soft pellets, grapes and lettuce. Also Duncan is very scared, if I go near him he runs for it and puffs up. I've tried coaxing him around by leaving a worn shirt in the tank where he sleeps and feeding him from my hand but he runs for the hills no matter what...
Any Ideas?

 

[destiny1998]

Imo I think he will flourish not having a roommate. I think he is stressed by having a cage mate. Whenever you house 2 together one always dominates the other and just because we don't see what is going on with our own eyes does not mean they are fine. One is always stressed by having a cage mate and ends up being small having health issues etc... Hopefully you can separate them soon. The sooner the better. As for bearding at you they get moody if their habitat is stressing them out. Like if I was to be in the same room with the same person 24/7 and they were bulling me I'd be grumpy too. Just an example . Have you tried snuggling at lights out? Thats what ive done. Wrap them like a burrito in a shirt you've worn. They get use to you and your sent that way.

 

[JaffaCake]

Yeah I have tried to wrap him up and that but he won't even let me do that, If i actually do manage to get him out of the tank he wont let me wrap him or even touch him. Doesn't matter how long he is out of the tank he stays the same mood, puffy and runs like hell away from me. I actually feel offended by it xD I know it's just i have been told that Duncan is the dominant one he is the one that lays ontop of Jaffa. I will separate them as soon as I can.

 

[destiny1998]

You probably just need to show him who's the boss applesauce :wink:

 

[JaffaCake]

Haha Both Jaffa and Duncan have me trained xD I know when they are hungry because they both sit/lay in their food bowl and stare at me until I give them food haha as if to say "We are waiting for our dinner, servant."

 

[destiny1998]

Yeah they sure wip us into shape . I'm definitely a slave. Like when they poop they look at me or my husband like "hurry and clean it up now" then they watch very closely to make sure its all cleaned up before they go back to doing their hard life :lol:

 

[JaffaCake]

Haha they have such a hard life xD Did you say you had 3 dragons? Are they adults? This is my first having baby beardies so I can't tell if I'm doing okay with them, I have told my family that they were "fighting" so they should be separated pretty soon. I have had 2 adult beardies before them and made a lot of mistakes so I'm researching stuff and looking through this good site for good tips and advice.
Your beardies sound so adorable ^.^ I think we are all beardie slaves now xD