newbeardieparent
Member
Hi all, I'm so happy to have found this site. I'm a (fairly) new beardie parent. My son brought the school bet beardie home one weekend last February and next thing I know we were at the pet store the following weekend. A beardie wouldn't have been my choice, but since he's been with us I'm his main caretaker and I've become quite attached and want to be sure his is as happy and healthy as possible. I have a few questions and would be grateful for any advice.
1. Brumation at 8 months? Lately he hasn't been eating or pooping much. And at one point he was laying in his water off and on all day. I had to refill it several times, which is unusual. I assumed he was just getting hydrated. And then two days ago his main heat lamp broke so that the temp in his cage was around 90 degrees. After that he found away under his substrate and was there all day yesterday. I put a towel over him to give him a little more cover. He's been sleeping on and off, but hasn't moved or eaten. His eyes are open right now. Is this Brumation or do I need to be worried? What should I do? Leave him alone or get him out for a bath? Is it the temp and once I replace the one heat lamp it should resolve itself?
2. Behavior In House - When I take him out of his cage around bedtime and place him on my shoulder with a cover, he'll go right to sleep and stay that way. His color gets very light. I'm assuming that means he likes this. But if I take him out during the day, he seems to always want to go explore. Generally he'll look around for a bit, then find a covered hiding spot and stay there. He won't just hang with me during the day. Does this indicate he's not really attached to me yet? I've read that some owners can take their beardie out and they'll just sit on their shoulders for hours.
Also, I see some people let their beardies run around on their couch or bed. I would do this except he pooped on me a few times. How do you handle that possibility?
Additionally I've read that some people let their beardies sleep on their bed with them, or in a cat bed type thing next to their bed and they are still there in the morning. I would be afraid he would get up and go during the night and I would have to search for him in the morning. But perhaps they don't do that because they are sleeping and bodies are not too warm?
2. Outdoors for Beardies? I've been reading and reading on this forum and see that some people take their beardies outside and let them run around a bit and they don't run away. I would love to give our beardie that experience (too cold now but next summer) but am terrified he'd run too fast for me to get him. I have a backyard, but it has a metal fence around it which has holes big enough for him to get through. Normally he doesn't ever go faster than I could get him, but not sure if he would in the outdoors. I was waiting until I had an outdoor enclosure for him, but maybe I don't need to?
What about taking a ride in the car? One owner said their beardie is happy to be in the car looking at the world go by. I've had ours with us when we needed to be gone for a while and had to take him. But we kept him comfy in a box with a blanket, food, etc. Could I have safely let him out?
4. Where is best spot for beardie's home? Recently moved him from my son'ts room into our living room so that he could see more of us and vice versa. Do they like seeing more activity? Maybe feeling safe and quiet much of the time was better?
Thanks for any thoughts!
1. Brumation at 8 months? Lately he hasn't been eating or pooping much. And at one point he was laying in his water off and on all day. I had to refill it several times, which is unusual. I assumed he was just getting hydrated. And then two days ago his main heat lamp broke so that the temp in his cage was around 90 degrees. After that he found away under his substrate and was there all day yesterday. I put a towel over him to give him a little more cover. He's been sleeping on and off, but hasn't moved or eaten. His eyes are open right now. Is this Brumation or do I need to be worried? What should I do? Leave him alone or get him out for a bath? Is it the temp and once I replace the one heat lamp it should resolve itself?
2. Behavior In House - When I take him out of his cage around bedtime and place him on my shoulder with a cover, he'll go right to sleep and stay that way. His color gets very light. I'm assuming that means he likes this. But if I take him out during the day, he seems to always want to go explore. Generally he'll look around for a bit, then find a covered hiding spot and stay there. He won't just hang with me during the day. Does this indicate he's not really attached to me yet? I've read that some owners can take their beardie out and they'll just sit on their shoulders for hours.
Also, I see some people let their beardies run around on their couch or bed. I would do this except he pooped on me a few times. How do you handle that possibility?
Additionally I've read that some people let their beardies sleep on their bed with them, or in a cat bed type thing next to their bed and they are still there in the morning. I would be afraid he would get up and go during the night and I would have to search for him in the morning. But perhaps they don't do that because they are sleeping and bodies are not too warm?
2. Outdoors for Beardies? I've been reading and reading on this forum and see that some people take their beardies outside and let them run around a bit and they don't run away. I would love to give our beardie that experience (too cold now but next summer) but am terrified he'd run too fast for me to get him. I have a backyard, but it has a metal fence around it which has holes big enough for him to get through. Normally he doesn't ever go faster than I could get him, but not sure if he would in the outdoors. I was waiting until I had an outdoor enclosure for him, but maybe I don't need to?
What about taking a ride in the car? One owner said their beardie is happy to be in the car looking at the world go by. I've had ours with us when we needed to be gone for a while and had to take him. But we kept him comfy in a box with a blanket, food, etc. Could I have safely let him out?
4. Where is best spot for beardie's home? Recently moved him from my son'ts room into our living room so that he could see more of us and vice versa. Do they like seeing more activity? Maybe feeling safe and quiet much of the time was better?
Thanks for any thoughts!