Glass dancing, quite often.

[jbowers]

Hey all,

My beardie sam, who's about 8-9 months old keeps glass dancing. He does it a few times every day, quite intensely for about 15 or so minutes. He is also eating very poorly. He has recently been treated for parasites, though I am not sure if they are still present due to the fact that I havent been home at a time to collect a fresh stool sample to get it checked since the final dose of medication. The parasites have been there before once (treated and he was ok, but then they came back a month or two later), but the glass dancing only started in the last few weeks.

Here's my set up/circumstances: I recently changed his enclosure to a 4x2x2 (He has been in the new one for about 9-10 days), but he still did the glass dancing thing before. He has a arcadia d3+ uvb, and 2 bright white globes in there for light/heat. Basking spot it 39.5 degrees, ambient in the hot spot is about 31, and cool side is 24 (all in celsius). Humidity sits at about 31%.

Any info or tips would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
James

 

[AussieOutlaw]

do you handle him fine?

 

[SARBEAR]

WOW!
Your temps scared me until I read that they were in Celsius lol.
Usually glass dancing is because the beardie isn't satisfied with the temps of the viv.
But to me it seems like the temps are fine.
He may not be getting the right UV he needs.
I've heard that the compact bulbs aren't the greatest.
And the tubes should be used instead..
Any other thoughts?

 

[dechainechel]

Your temps are fine if you are using a digital thermometer w/a probe or a temp gun. I would seriously consider getting a tube light like repti-sun 10.0, or a megaray. The coil lights are very dangerous, and have caused serious health problems. When a beardie glass dances it usually means they want out. Your job is to find out why. If everything is okay with you husbandry, than maybe he just wants attention. Beardies need a decent amount of out time with teir owners.

 

[Buggsy]

The Arcadia D3+ is a tube, its what we use in the UK.

Everything seems to be fine, at that age it may just be puberty mixed with relocation stress. How long have you had the bulb?

 

[jbowers]

He's fine with being handled. Normally totally cool for about 10-15 minutes then gets a bit antsy, but never gets out of control or vicious, just starts to get very exploration-minded when I have him out for over 15 minutes.

The bulb is not the issue, from what I have read it's as good if not better than the reptisun, he did it when using the reptisun as well. I feel also that it may be a puberty type thing, as when he started doing it he would black beard and head bob a heck of a lot. But if it's just this, then why is he off his food?

And yes, the temperature is from a digital therm with a probe. I've tried bumping the basking spot up to as high as 42, but that doesnt seem to please him any more. He spends most of his time not in the basking spot, in the middle of his enclosure. I am assuming that this is because he isnt eating much so he doesnt need to digest and be super warm.

 

[jbowers]

Oh also, i try to handle him atleast once every day. I either just keep him on my hands or let him roam around my desk where i have put a little log under a lamp for him to bask on.

 

[AussieOutlaw]

i have put a little log under a lamp for him to bask on.

what bulb? that could mess him up a little bit if its the wrong bulb

 

[jbowers]

i have put a little log under a lamp for him to bask on.

what bulb? that could mess him up a little bit if its the wrong bulb

He doesnt do it very often, hes done it maybe 3 times in total. It's just a normal lamp bulb, white light.

 

[AussieOutlaw]

well if he didnt like it he probaly would move off hmmm

 

[Buggsy]

Can i just ask again how long he is?

 

[jbowers]

About 40-45 cm.

 

[AussieOutlaw]

About 40-45 cm.

Sam's a big boy then

 

[jbowers]

He may be older than 8 months, perhaps as old as a year. He has, from what ive seen of other dragons, a very long tail though.