Bearded dragons and talking???

[LuvUrDarkAngel]

Hi! I have a beardie who is around 4 yrs old. I rescued him from a very abusive house hold about 3 years ago. Ciele has an under the tank heater (he has carpet over it so it doesn't burn his belly) and I had his tank propped up while putting on a new one a couple months ago and Ciele is super smart and responds to questions and to his name. He walked over to the side of the tank I was working on and he looked at me, cocked his head to the side (I've learned in the past with him that this indicates he's listening to me) and he started grumbling. He wasn't puffed up or upset. His colors were bright orange like he is when he's happy and he was grumbling at me. It sounded like an old man grumbling under his breathe. He finished grumbling at me and then walked away and went for a swim in his bath.

Has anyone heard of beardies talking???

 

[CooperDragon]

I haven't heard of them talking before or making much noise at all really. They communicate with eachother visually from what I can tell. I wonder what the grumbling was about.

 

[LuvUrDarkAngel]

That's what I thought. Ciele LOVES LOVES people but on the rare occasion that he really doesn't like a person I've heard him hiss so I know he can make sounds. The grumbling really caught me off guard. He's only done it once or twice. I wish I would have gotten it on video.

 

[SDragon]

Hissing is a bit different as it doesn't require vocalisation ability.

A little off topic, are you using a heat mat?

 

[LuvUrDarkAngel]

Yes I have a heat mat. Its under his tank. It has his carpet over it and it's a very small mat (made for a 10gallon) so it's not very hot. You can put your hand in his tank over the spot it's on and its warm, it's not hot enough to hurt/burn him. I made sure of it before I put him in. He loves it. I've used them for years, just recently replaced it. He curls up on his blanket on it when he naps.

 

[SDragon]

It's not really the preferred way to keep heat beardies. Does he have a basking spot?

 

[LuvUrDarkAngel]

I know it's not. He has a basking spot. His temps are around 75-80 on the cooler side and about 90-95 on the hottest side. He doesn't like his tank in higher 90s. He gets mad and stressed. I know a lot of people are against heating mats but it works out for mine. When I bought his larger tank a breeder and store owner in my home town looked it over after I built it and he said his lights and heating arrangements were fine and he's been breeding reptile for 30 something years so I trust his opinion. To each their own right?

 

[SDragon]

If I'm honest to each there own isn't an adage I apply that widely within bearded dragon keeping, however you will have to do as you think best. (I know that sounds a little arrogant, I don't base it on my own expertise but rather general best practice) Personally I think an accurately measured, higher overhead basking spot is preferable with a broad gradient, the low range sounds good.

 

[LuvUrDarkAngel]

Everyone is going to do what's best for their animal. His basking spot used to be around 100 at the hottest spot and I noticed he was always black and very stressed and when I lowered the temps a few degrees he was happy. Sometimes the norm doesn't work for every animal. I try to go with what has been proven the best for dragons but in the end if it isn't making my dragon healthy or happy I will adapt it. He's fairly healthy considering his past and he's happy. The heat mat isn't doing any damage. He has a basking spot, and a cool down spot so it is up to him how he wishes to heat up. He usually uses the mat to take naps on during the day or during bromation it helps heat up his little hutch that he sleeps in to the temp that he best likes. I understand where you are coming from and you're points however I think my use of a mat isn't hurting him. I suppose we will have to agree to disagree about this.