Beardie dislikes his habitat?

[vivi_ends013]

So my bearded dragon Julien is just now three months old. I have had him for about two months. He's always been pretty shy as long as I've had him. He is only comfortable with four people holding him (my mom, two of my friends, and me) and I wake up at 6am on school days and of course I have to wake him up too and feed him because everyone in my house leaves for work or school in the mornings and no one is home until 3 to 4. At first he enjoyed the time alone but I'm starting to think it's bothering him or something. When I come home I feed him and after he's done eating and basking for a bit I take him out and he chills on my shoulder or lap, sometimes he runs around in the living room. Then his colors are bright and he's really happy. But when I put him back he gets darker and less happy. He's also starting to sleep all day (I'm guessing it's because no ones home.) And he runs around at night. Is there something wrong with him? I don't know if I should be worried or not it's just unlike him to act that way.

 

[Pixall]

Recently it has come to light that Beardies are much more active at night in the wild than we initially thought. I would not worry if your guy is active at night. My big bad male is up half the night, every night.

As far as going darker, it is possible he is doing so to absorb more light and heat when he is returned to his viv. What does his body temp get to when you have him out?

EDIT: are his feeding habits unchanged?

 

[Madzilla101]

Make sure his cage is big enough for him so that he can be active around it. He should have a forty gallon tank at the least. Make sure your cage has plenty of places for him to hide, climb, run, etc. Seems like you have a very social bearded dragon.

 

[vivi_ends013]

Recently it has come to light that Beardies are much more active at night in the wild than we initially thought. I would not worry if your guy is active at night. My big bad male is up half the night, every night.

As far as going darker, it is possible he is doing so to absorb more light and heat when he is returned to his viv. What does his body temp get to when you have him out?

EDIT: are his feeding habits unchanged?

Thats good to hear. Also, I'm not completely sure but I don't keep him out longer that 30 minutes. 40 to 50 minutes when he crawls into my jacket and falls asleep because my jacket is very warm. His feeding habits. They were unstable for a few days about two weeks ago but he's getting back on track now. I had my sister watch him for about four days because my mom was in the hospital and I stayed to help her out. I guess she was off schedule with his feeding times.

 

[vivi_ends013]

Make sure his cage is big enough for him so that he can be active around it. He should have a forty gallon tank at the least. Make sure your cage has plenty of places for him to hide, climb, run, etc. Seems like you have a very social bearded dragon.

I'm going to buy him a bigger tank soon, but since he is only nine inches he has a 20 inch because I didn't have the money for a 40 inch when I bought him. Other than that he's got plenty of places for him to climb and hide.

 

[Madzilla101]

Sometimes at Petco there is a 40 for 40 gallon sale. You can basically buy a forty gallon cage for forty dollars.

 

[vivi_ends013]

Sometimes at Petco there is a 40 for 40 gallon sale. You can basically buy a forty gallon cage for forty dollars.

That's good to know, thanks.

 

[diamc]

Could you fill us in on the type of thermometer you're using as that can certainly affect their behavior while in their tanks. There are some types of thermometers that are very inaccurate.

 

[vivi_ends013]

Could you fill us in on the type of thermometer you're using as that can certainly affect their behavior while in their tanks. There are some types of thermometers that are very inaccurate.

It's a zoo-med stick on. I've doubted it's accuracy but my mom thinks it's fine so theres not much I can do.

 

[ruben0311]

as far as accuracy it is probably better than the analog dial gauges however in that stick on thermometer is only reading the temperature of the glass it is in contact with or, at best, the ambient air temperature inside the tank. if you have about 10 dollars you could snatch up a decent probe thermometer that'll read a bit more accurately. or if you are just trying to get a quick temperature of a basking spot you can use a alcohol thermometer, like the ones people use, and place it on the areas you want to read.

 

[vivi_ends013]

as far as accuracy it is probably better than the analog dial gauges however in that stick on thermometer is only reading the temperature of the glass it is in contact with or, at best, the ambient air temperature inside the tank. if you have about 10 dollars you could snatch up a decent probe thermometer that'll read a bit more accurately. or if you are just trying to get a quick temperature of a basking spot you can use a alcohol thermometer, like the ones people use, and place it on the areas you want to read.

Oh okay thanks

 

[kingofnobbys]

Could you fill us in on the type of thermometer you're using as that can certainly affect their behavior while in their tanks. There are some types of thermometers that are very inaccurate.

It's a zoo-med stick on. I've doubted it's accuracy but my mom thinks it's fine so theres not much I can do.

These are very good ..http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2-LCD-Digital-Temperature-Thermometer-Fridge-Freezer-Aquarium-Fish-Tank-Reptile-/252084914332
.. I have up to 3 per tank, they are cheap too !!

I position the probes where I want them , and have the lcd display outside where it's easy to see at any time.

 

[vivi_ends013]

Could you fill us in on the type of thermometer you're using as that can certainly affect their behavior while in their tanks. There are some types of thermometers that are very inaccurate.

It's a zoo-med stick on. I've doubted it's accuracy but my mom thinks it's fine so theres not much I can do.

These are very good ..http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2-LCD-Digital-Temperature-Thermometer-Fridge-Freezer-Aquarium-Fish-Tank-Reptile-/252084914332
.. I have up to 3 per tank, they are cheap too !!

I position the probes where I want them , and have the lcd display outside where it's easy to see at any time.

Wow they are cheap! Thank you.

 

[CooperDragon]

These are good too http://www.amazon.com/Nubee-Temperature-Non-contact-Infrared-Thermometer/dp/B00CVHIJDK You can get spot surface readings instantly in any part of the tank.

 

[vivi_ends013]

These are good too http://www.amazon.com/Nubee-Temperature-Non-contact-Infrared-Thermometer/dp/B00CVHIJDK You can get spot surface readings instantly in any part of the tank.

A friend of mine has this and it does work well. I was considering getting one.