Do BD go through an adolescent "nervous" phase?

[sixxmum]

I know that dogs sometimes go through a phase when they are adolescents that they get a little stubborn but also a little anxious. I always think it is about having more of a sense of the world (which creates more anxiety) but losing the puppy "whatever" attitude. My beardies are 3.5 months old and seem to be going through the same thing. They seem a little more nervous about being handled, are spending a little more time in their hides, and one even got somewhat fearful of the crickets. What do you think? Is this common?

Just for reference, my info:

How old is your dragon? 3 months
How long have you had your dragon? 1.75 months
How long is your dragon? 8 and 8.5 inches
What is the sex of your dragon? Uh....
What size enclosure do you have your dragon in? 48 X 24 X 19
What type substrate do you have on the bottom of your tank? ceramic tile
Do you use UVB lights? Yes. ReptiSun 10, 1 month old
How close can your dragon get to the UVB? 7 inches
Do you use a separate basking bulb? What kind and what is the wattage? ExoTerra brand, I think, and 100 watt
What are the basking temps? 105-110*
What is the cool side temp? 75-80*
Do you take the temps with a stick on thermometer, a digital thermometer with a wire and a probe end or a temp gun? digital with probe
Where exactly are you taking your basking temps? center surface of basking area
Do you use a heat rock or heat pad? no
What do you feed your dragon? Please be specific. Greens (kale, collard, dandelion), pellets, and crickets
How often do you feed and what time do you feed (morning, afternoon, night)? morning - pellets and greens (stay all day), afternoon and night - crickets until full
Do you gutload (feed) your crickets, worms, etc? yes, cricket food, veggies, and supplement water
Do you use vitamin or calcium supplements? What brand(s)? How many days a week do you use each of them? Repcal calcium + D2 - 4-5x per week, multivitamin 2-3x per week
Is your dragon having regular bowel movements (poops)? yes
Do you bath your dragon? How often? 3x per week
Do you mist your dragon or offer water other than in the bath? mist and in a bowl

 

[Resputan]

Yes.

I have a female beardie and she went through a kind of teenage phase but she was a little older than yours, probably 7-8 months (Though I got her from petsmart so thats an assumed age). She was fidgity, hid a lot and jumped at crickets if they snuck up on her. Just let her have him/her have their space, make sure if you are reaching in to the cage your doing it slowly and where he can see you. If he backs away, blackens his beard or runs then slowly back out and try again in a little bit.

Mine grew out of it after a month or two but when i was going through it I talked to some people that said it took longer, it just depends on their personality. You set up sounds perfect though so he should relax soon and start feeling comfortable again.

 

[chago11]

you can always try worms. my beardie love PWs

 

[ghr15]

I have a young beardie named larry he is a just full grown male. He is very skittish though he is better then he was. I also once had a beardie that at a young age would bite me if I so much as put my hand in the cage to chage his water. I would clean his cage he would bite me. I would feed him he would bite me. If I so much as looked at him he would puff and hiss. He then later ended up being the most tame beardie I ever had.

In fact every beardie I had was mean when young but all grew out of it. Ohh and larry used to be a biter he does not bite now but he still puffs if you pick him up.

 

[sixxmum]

Thanks for the feedback. I've been trying to secretly observe them today and at least one of them is being quite adventurous when she is alone. So, she is not frightened or stressed in general and is enjoying running around her area checking out the different decor etc. The other one does seem a little anxious and tends to go to one spot (often hanging high on his vines or in his hide) and stay there for quite a while. I guess we need to work with him a little more frequently.

 

[diamc]

Hi, when I read the symptoms that the one is showing, it sounds like they may be housed together, is that correct?

 

[sixxmum]

Shoot! I thought I put that in my questions list : ) Nope, they aren't even housed on the same floor of my house. They are in identical (in terms of lights, size, substrata, etc) 4x2x2 enclosures in 2 different rooms.