Digging at edge of Viv

[OrlyBloomerzBaby]

Spyke has just recently (today) started ripping up and scratching the corner of his viv. Just the one corner. He's never done it before, and as I am leaving for PA in a week, I'm kind of worried. It looks almost as if he's nesting, but as he is male and cannot become gravid, I don't know. Is it common for males to act like that? I have to leave in a week (Friday) for PA and will be leaving him with my boyfriend. We're going to completely recreate his viv at my bf's house and I'm spending the first night there. However, I don't want to stress him out from relocation if he's already stressed out from something else. Like I said, he's never done this before, so it's weird. Any ideas as to what may be causing the strange behavior?

Info:
Age: 3 years as of (Jan 14th 2011)
Size: apprx 10-15 inches (head to tail)
Temps: (not sure, it's been off lately, I think my gauge broke, it's been reading 105 on the hot and 72 on the cool, at night doesn't go below 70)
Bulb: 75 watt walmart herp bulb, mvb - i forget the brand, but I just changed it.
Viv size: -I'll have to check-
Diet: Chicken baby food (vet approved), mustard greens, assorted fruits and veggies. (According to Beautiful dragons website)

If there's anything else you need just let me know. Thanks for the help.

~Caitlynn & Spyke

 

[jharris08]

cant say for sure, but with his age he might be wanting to brumate...has he ever brumated any other winter?
also I noticed you are located in Florida and I know its colder than usual down there right now, so this could be sending him into brumation.
im just guessing b/c if hes scratching in the corner he might be trying to get under something in his mind to sleep.
if he continues and starts to slow down metabolically, might start refusing food....then its probably brumation.
also I noticed on your set up...do you have a UVB bulb in addition to the heat bulb? if not then a repti-sun 10.0 bulb is the best...UV rays are essential for overall health and calcium/vitamin D3 synthesis in dragons.

 

[OrlyBloomerzBaby]

cant say for sure, but with his age he might be wanting to brumate...has he ever brumated any other winter?
also I noticed you are located in Florida and I know its colder than usual down there right now, so this could be sending him into brumation.
im just guessing b/c if hes scratching in the corner he might be trying to get under something in his mind to sleep.
if he continues and starts to slow down metabolically, might start refusing food....then its probably brumation.
also I noticed on your set up...do you have a UVB bulb in addition to the heat bulb? if not then a repti-sun 10.0 bulb is the best...UV rays are essential for overall health and calcium/vitamin D3 synthesis in dragons.

Yes, he's brumated every winter I've had him. And he already brumated this year. Is it normal for them to do it more than once?
And sorry yes, I do have a uvb. thats what i meant to put instead of mvb. I'm not sure what it is, but I believe it was a repti-sun 10.0
Trust me, I've been through the ringer with him as far as health goes, so I'm very careful about his diet and calcium.
The only other thing "wrong" is the calci-sand flooring. I'm changing that this weekend, to either tile or reptile carpeting.

 

[jharris08]

ya go ahead and change that sand... and as far as brumating twice in a season i dont know for sure...Ive never experienced that with my dragons, but not saying that it isnt possible. maybe someone else can answer that question for us.
only other thing I would ask is is he just scratching in the corner or in other places too? its probably a long shot, but I had a dragon one time before I wised up and took sand out, that went nuts in the sand and was digging and scratching in it....turned out that it had mites and the sand was just further irritating it. check and make sure just to be safe.

 

[OrlyBloomerzBaby]

yes, it is just in one spot. He stopped doing it though. I picked him up and held him for a bit, then put him back on his log and he never went back to it. He actually fell asleep in the same position I put him in. Weird.
But now that you say that I am DEFINATELY! changing his substrate.
today actually, I'm setting up the new viv at my boyfriends house. Spyke is familiar with him and snugges with him all the time so I thought he would be the best to watch him while I am gone.
I was just worried about the new weird behavior as stress is not something I want with me leaving so soon.