Circular Head Motion

[wanderingmoonmen]

Hi guys, I just have a quick question/behavior observation. Today it was warm enough to take my beardie outside, it is his first time outside ever so it was very closely monitored. Overall he seemed to enjoy it and would run away from me when I tried to bring him in (he doesn't usually run from me when he's let out). There was one thing he did though that made me concerned and I couldn't find it mentioned anywhere else - at some point he kind of pulled his head back and moved it in a circular motion quickly with his eyes closed. He did it twice and then not again for the rest of the time. It wasn't quite like a normal up and down head bob and I was worried that his harness was choking him, but it definitely wasn't. He did eat one tiny piece of grass (1/4" long, really thin) before I could stop him. Is this his own weird head bob or is something else going on?

He did do a little glass surfing today (I'm thinking because he wanted let out/he needs to move to a larger tank which I'm expecting this week) and he is just finishing up a head shed. He also did some gaping outside but I was chalking that up to heat regulation, no black beard, no extreme stress marks. I've never seen him head bob befowordings. He's 7 months old, 17" long.

Thanks!! Sorry for all my wordiness.

 

[KarrieRee]

Hi guys, I just have a quick question/behavior observation. Today it was warm enough to take my beardie outside, it is his first time outside ever so it was very closely monitored. Overall he seemed to enjoy it and would run away from me when I tried to bring him in (he doesn't usually run from me when he's let out). There was one thing he did though that made me concerned and I couldn't find it mentioned anywhere else - at some point he kind of pulled his head back and moved it in a circular motion quickly with his eyes closed. He did it twice and then not again for the rest of the time. It wasn't quite like a normal up and down head bob and I was worried that his harness was choking him, but it definitely wasn't. He did eat one tiny piece of grass (1/4" long, really thin) before I could stop him. Is this his own weird head bob or is something else going on?

He did do a little glass surfing today (I'm thinking because he wanted let out/he needs to move to a larger tank which I'm expecting this week) and he is just finishing up a head shed. He also did some gaping outside but I was chalking that up to heat regulation, no black beard, no extreme stress marks. I've never seen him head bob befowordings. He's 7 months old, 17" long.

Thanks!! Sorry for all my wordiness.

Are you using a coil uvb?

 

[Longfellow777]

If he’s finishing the head shed that very well could’ve been stretching out his neck. I worry too don’t even trip. Are the temperatures hot enough outside where you live for the gaping to be heat regulating? Was the head movement after the grass?

 

[wanderingmoonmen]

It's 83 degrees out here so it could be a possibility? He was hanging out mostly in a pretty sunny spot. And the head movement was after the grass so I thought maybe he was going to throw up, but he didn't.

 

[Longfellow777]

If there’s no Blackbeard and eating and basking like normal I would just keep an eye on him I’m sure it has to do a shed

 

[Longfellow777]

Was there any noise or clicking coming from the dragon when he made that neck movement or when he gaped

 

[wanderingmoonmen]

Yes, I know it's not ideal and I'm getting the tube one this week with getting his bigger tank.

Are you using a coil uvb?

 

[wanderingmoonmen]

Was there any noise or clicking coming from the dragon when he made that neck movement or when he gaped

He wasn't making any noise, he just kind of did it. I offered my hand out and touched him and he wasn't angry at me and seemed ok

 

[Longfellow777]

Yes, I know it's not ideal and I'm getting the tube one this week.

didn’t even see that post oops. Yeah I’d switch that up ASAP

 

[KarrieRee]

Yes, I know it's not ideal and I'm getting the tube one this week.

Ok good what brand and bulb did you get please not all long tubes are real good -

 

[wanderingmoonmen]

Ok good what brand and bulb did you get please not all long tubes are real good -

didn’t even see that post oops. Yeah I’d switch that up ASAP

I was planning on getting the ReptiZoo T5 lighting kit with a 10.0 UVB that has a 22" bulb, I was going to get one at the pet store today but they've been out of stock for a while. (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HCL4J8D/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_490K0YH6JDGJKQ4F8WC0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 sorry if link is weird, doing this on my phone) I'm getting a tank that's 48x24x18 and I was assuming you wouldn't want it to the run the length of the tank or have it too close in elevated areas.

 

[KarrieRee]

I was planning on getting the ReptiZoo T5 lighting kit with a 10.0 UVB that has a 22" bulb, I was going to get one at the pet store today but they've been out of stock for a while. (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HCL4J8D/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_490K0YH6JDGJKQ4F8WC0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 sorry if link is weird, doing this on my phone) I'm getting a tank that's 48x24x18 and I was assuming you wouldn't want it to the run the length of the tank or have it too close in elevated areas.

You can get the repti zoo but the bulb is not a good one- I would recommend you get the Arcadia pro T 5- Arcadia ProT5 12% UVB Bulb With Hood
12% bulb-- these are one of the best on the market

 

[wanderingmoonmen]

You can get the repti zoo but the bulb is not a good one- I would recommend you get the Arcadia pro T 5- Arcadia ProT5 12% UVB Bulb With Hood
12% bulb-- these are one of the best on the market

Great thanks!!