Grumpy new adoptee - Help!

[jberntsenr]

Hi everyone, we just adopted an 18 mnth old Beardie that we call "Spike". We have had him for 1 1/2 weeks and at first he was pretty friendly. However, he has been irritable since Saturday. When we first brought him home, he liked to be picked up and let my 7 year old even put little lettuce hats on him. However, Saturday he was in the back of his cage and flared up and opened his mouth at us. He calmed down Monday and we picked him up last night and he was fine. Tonight, however, he was in the back again. Didn't flare but still did not look friendly.

I noticed that when we first adopted him that he was shedding a little on his face and his tail is now turning gray. His former owners said he was due to shed anytime. Could this irritable behaviour be because of shedding? I am really concerned because we adopted him for my 7 year old son and I am afraid to let him hold him because of this behaviour! :|

 

[NightmareDisco]

It may be because of the shedding, but it may also be because of the relocation stress. He may still be unsure of his new home. Try to handle yourself more often before letting your son play with him, let him get used to everything. If he continues to be grumpy, maybe he is not feeling well? Sometimes (most of the time, actually) adoptees come from not so good homes and his care may not have been up to par.

 

[jberntsenr]

Thanks! We are taking him to the vet next week to have him checked out. I am thinking his cage is not in the best spot either. He cannot see us coming in the room but he right next to the door....I think he gets spooked when he hears us coming towards his.room, etc but cannot see what is going on.

 

[NightmareDisco]

that could certainly make him nervous. What is your set up like?

 

[jberntsenr]

His set up came with him. He has a very large wooden cage with glass sliding doors on one of the sides. He has one very large log, slate floor, several basking degrees and a thermostat that keeps his.basking area around 105 degrees.

His cage is on the floor right next to the door. He cannot see us walking in either so I think he gets spooked when we walk in. Do they need to be off the.ground? If he is in the back of.the cage, we leave him alone. He has been back there for two days. I feel bad.we have not.gotten him out but he just.does.not seem to be in the mood. He did not eat very much yesterday either. One of his crickets was near the front glass doors and he would not come up to get it until we left. :-(

 

[TheAnthropologist]

Having him on the floor could definitely be part of the problem. I have noticed that when my beardies are on the ground and I walk up to them, they get scared. I would try elevating him. He also could possibly sense the vibrations of you walking on the ground and that could scare him as well. It could sound like a predator coming.

 

[jberntsenr]

I am going to try and rearrange his room this weekend so he can see the door and raise him up. Also, is it ok for him to sit with his mouth open but not flared?

 

[HaleyMaree]

Yep it is fine!

Thats what we call gaping, almost like a beardie smile and thats a way that they can sweat.

~Haley

 

[jberntsenr]

Good! We sat on the floor next to his cage tonight and played with my son's legos. He came up in front of the cage and watched for awhile and did not flare up when we came closer. We did not get him out today since this was the first time he came up to the front on his own. When we stood up, he flared up again so we definitely need to get him off the floor.

How long does it normally take beardies to get used to their new environment?

 

[HaleyMaree]

It all really depends on the beardie. It could be up 1 month or only for a couple days or weeks.

~Haley

 

[jberntsenr]

I am hoping once we get him in a better spot in the room, he will be better. When we do get him out, he does ok but we make sure he is in a good mood first...I really hope he gets better!

 

[jberntsenr]

Also, how long does it take for beardies to grow to adult size?

 

[HaleyMaree]

It all really varies, they can still be growing intill 1.5 years or they can stop at 8 months . Right now puff is still growing and they also go through gorwth spurts.

~Haley

 

[jberntsenr]

Spike is supposidly 18 months old and I have been told he still has.some growing to do..he is small compared to the adult beardies I have seen...I hope he is ok...

 

[HaleyMaree]

He could maybe grow a little bit more. How long is he?

Sometimes their growth can be stunted as well, ( from previous owners)

~Haley