Beardie Mood Swings?

[ubergnomie]

So Rambo is having an off day. Yesterday he acted like my best friend untill he ran up and my arm and jumped... but hes fine and later lastnight he took a nap on my lap...

Today he's hardly moving, "stress marks" i think is what everyone here calls them, they haven't gone away from the time he's woken up to now. I Tried giving him a bath and the little bugger tried to bite me.

I know shedding makes them moody. He shed a little a couple days ago, but he stopped. I'm not sure if hes maybe going to shed more in the next couple of days maybe? Regardless I'm worried. He won't eat his salad or his crickets today. Hasn't even gotten excited when he saw me with the cricketkeeper...

Any ideas why he's being a moody little guy?


*edit*
So he just went poo and it was almost pure liquid. And he still has no interest in food...

And as I was typing that I looked over at him and he was doing the eye bulge...so I don't know if I should be worried, or if its just him getting ready to shed more now... :?

 

[Ethelia]

Hello there,

Well mood swings can be down to a number of things. Most of them easily rectifiable.

Most of the time an agressive dragon is one with a slightly improper set up.
Could you run through some questions for us?
I know they are boring!

How old is your dragon?
How long have you had your dragon?
What size enclosure do you have your dragon in?
What type substrate do you have on the bottom of your tank?
Do you use UVB lights?
If so, Is it a coil, compact, fluorescent tube, or Mercury Vapor bulb?
What is the brand name and number of your bulb? Wattage (if MVB)?
How old is your UVB bulb?
How close can your dragon get to the UVB?
Do you use a separate basking bulb? What kind and what is the wattage?
What are the basking temps?
What is the cool side temp?
Do you take the temps with a stick on thermometer, a digital thermometer with a wire and a probe end or a temp gun?
Where exactly are you taking your basking temps?
What do you feed your dragon? Please be specific.
How often do you feed and what time do you feed (morning, afternoon, night)?
Do you gutload (feed) your crickets, worms, etc?
Do you use vitamin or calcium supplements? What brand(s)? How many days a week do you use each of them?
Is your dragon having regular bowel movements (poops)?
Do you mist your dragon or offer water other than in the bath?

Holly

 

[LJean]

It's possible he is getting ready to shed more. How old is he? I was thinking maybe puberty hitting, LOL but not sure how old your dragon is.

 

[ubergnomie]

How old is your dragon? I don't know for sure. He's 7" long
How long have you had your dragon? a little over 2 weeks
What size enclosure do you have your dragon in?10 gallon, very temporary, probably upgrading by wednesday
What type substrate do you have on the bottom of your tank?repti-carpet, thats changeing to tile with the upgrade
Do you use UVB lights?yes
If so, Is it a coil, compact, fluorescent tube, or Mercury Vapor bulb?not sure, it was given to me by my friend that just recently had to move out of country. (is there an easy way to tell the differenct?)
What is the brand name and number of your bulb? Wattage (if MVB)? I'm not sure of the brand, 60 watt
How old is your UVB bulb?3 months, I'm getting a new one with upgrade also. (Whats the best kind for the money?)
How close can your dragon get to the UVB? about 10"
Do you use a separate basking bulb? What kind and what is the wattage?not yet, thats also coming with the upgrade
What are the basking temps?99 at the moment
What is the cool side temp?75 at the moment
Do you take the temps with a stick on thermometer, a digital thermometer with a wire and a probe end or a temp gun?temp gun and digital thermometers on each side
Where exactly are you taking your basking temps?basking spot
What do you feed your dragon? Please be specific.crickets, collard greens, carrot, corn, tried romaine lettuce but he turned his nose up to it, other veggies, banana, I try to change it up every day...
How often do you feed and what time do you feed (morning, afternoon, night)?2-3 times a day, 1 morning feed at about 7:30 before I go to school, If I come home for lunch I feed him then (usually around noon) and at around 5 or 6 at night
Do you gutload (feed) your crickets, worms, etc? yes
Do you use vitamin or calcium supplements? What brand(s)? How many days a week do you use each of them?right now I dust atleast one seving of crickets with dragon dust, but going to look into better options...
Is your dragon having regular bowel movements (poops)?twice a day if not more...
Do you mist your dragon or offer water other than in the bath?I mist him(?) atleast once a day, bathe every day or every other day, and if my room is really hot I put a little dish of water in the cage.

 

[Ethelia]

Hi there,
The bulb is very important. Its even more important for young dragons.
Can you have a check on it? Somewhere on it it will be printed on the bulb.

Holly

 

[ubergnomie]

Its Zoo Med

Rambo is shedding today, a lot, so I think maybe that was his problem... silly beardie.

 

[Ethelia]

Hehe ah if you have a baby in shed thats most likely to be the source of his grumpiness.
Ruben is an absolute stinker when he's shedding. Doesnt like to be held, bathed or even looked at!

Holly