Dark stressmarks and darker beard

[jenneelk]

I didn't even know about this until today when I was researching something else and came across this. My 5 month old often gets them on the tummy and I actually thought the coloring was normal. :/ His beard has been dark pretty often the last few days when we have been trying to handle him more to get him used to touch. Also.. he hates his bath and I gave him one 2 days ago. Should I be worried?
Not knowing what they were.. we did move him from his 30 gallon to his new 100 gallon today. He was chilled a bit for 2 hours at 95 or so but I got it up to normal 105. He already has eaten his normal 15 cricket and 10 worm dinner and did some digging in his new 'pit'. So he seems happy. I did notice for the first time he was bumping his nose against the plexiglass in a few spots but it didn't last long.

With his new digs should we maybe not handle him for a few days?

 

[AHBD]

Hi there....he's a cutie ! Some dragons are just a bit more excitable. He should be fine, handle as you have been, unless he's really jumpy, then just handle a little less than usual. He should settle in soon, but some males are more alert to reflections and act up a bit at seeing their own.

 

[jenneelk]

He's pretty jumpy but I've been working a lot on it today also. He did settle on my shoulder but I don't know if the close eyes means relax or playing dead. lol
Will the marks go away ones he's 'de stressed' so I know?

 

[jenneelk]

He's even darker now and I'm getting a tad more worried we are doing something wrong.
His basking is about 103 and he's under his UVB when he basks.

His whole beard is very dark, like black. And his back is very dark now too even when basking.



On the left and right edges of his back he also has black marks. Kinda hard to see in the pic.. iPhone pic.

 

[Tonja]

Beardies will darken their color when basking and will flatten their bodies so there is more surface area exposed to the lamp and for absorption of heat. He could also be undergoing some relocation stress since you moved him from a smaller to a much larger tank. Give him some time to adjust.