Beardie Wants Out

[jnwc82]

Hi everyone!
With Cricket on doctor ordered exercise, we have beet letting her out of her tank more and more to explore. She loves being out of her tank and having full run of the house. She never stays in one room for too long before she's off to the next. We have even tried blocking off rooms to keep her out, but she always finds a way in. She's like a scaley Houdini.
My only issue is I work nights now and usually sleep 8am to 2pm. She likes to start roaming around noon and makes so much noise trying to get out of her tank that it wakes me up.
Have any of you ever made a way for your beardie to get in and out of their tank on their own? Also, does anyone have any ideas on a "solar outpost" I could set up for her to get some UVB and heat while she's on the move? I would lover to see any photos if you have any.
Thanks from Cricket and a much sleepy me!

 

[CooperDragon]

It's good that she enjoys her time outside. If you're going to be working overnight for a while, you may want to change her light cycle to more closely mimic your schedule. I have a couple of portable basking lights - one in the kitchen and one in the living room - for warm up spots while roaming the house. I use 100w megaray bulbs in clamp lamps sitting about 12'' up from the floor. My dragon knows where they are and returns to them to bask and warm up.

 

[jnwc82]

Thanks Cooperdragon! Unfortunately, I cannot change their schedule, I'm the only one in the house who is on night shift and I only work 3 nights a week. The rest of the week I'm on a day schedule. I wouldn't want to flip them the way I flip back and forth.
I like your idea of the floor lamps. What do have the clamps attached to?

 

[CooperDragon]

That sounds rough bouncing back and forth between schedules like that. It's best to keep her schedule the same as you said. I clamp one of the lamps to the edge of a small side table and the one in the kitchen is clamped to a shelf that is below the microwave. That one is a little higher so I have a basking rock under it so he can get within 12'' to get optimal UVB if he wants it.

 

[jnwc82]

It's not as bad as it sounds. Lol
I think I have everything but the clamp, which I will pick up tomorrow. Now to figure out a way to let her out before she wakes me. Lol

 

[jnwc82]

*Update*
Cricket made a huge fuss to get out of her tank on Saturday. as soon as she got out she began digging and anything that would move. I happened to have some coconut shavings that I wet down and put in a tub for her. She dug around for hours. After she calmed down, we checked her box and found 31 eggs. :shock: She hasn't scratched on her glass since.
I am still working on her an UVB/heat outpost in the livingroom. We are looking to convert an old cat tower. I will post pictures when it is finished!