How to deal with a climber/ jumper

[Stres]

See this little guy

Looks so innocent and well behaved, but he keeps giving me mini heart attacks by his climbing antics.

He jumps from the fake rock to this point

Tried climbing the vines but at around 7 months and 400grams they came out due to his weight (there fixed much more securely now)

I know there considered semi arboreal which is why iv tried to give him places to climb and perch but he just decides to take the most dangerous route to get there.

I don't know wether to keep the decorations or remove them he's around 7/8 months old and I don't want to remove the things he plays on as it's part of his nature and gives him something to do, but I also hate the thought of him injuring himself as he's far from graceful.

He just seems to happiest being sat on an angle.

What would you guys suggest, any help is appreciated.

 

[kingofnobbys]

Give more things to climb .... solid bits of drift wood or old tree branches ....

Noticed you have appears to be a particulate (wood chip or bark chips) or gravel substrate = BAD IDEA.

 

[Taterbug]

Yeah, give more stuff. I've found with pepper he's less likely to just jump if he has an easy climbing route or if jumping is less convenient.

 

[Stres]

Give more things to climb .... solid bits of drift wood or old tree branches ....

Noticed you have appears to be a particulate (wood chip or bark chips) or gravel substrate = BAD IDEA.

Hi kingofnobbys thanks for the reply, it's a 60/40 topsoil/sand mix and only covers one third of his 5 ft viv, it's basically a dig box I'll post you a better picture.

I realise the possible risks but I do make sure he's never fed at that side and I don't have feeders left in the tank, I always hand feed him half his crickets etc and observe the rest then remove any that are leftover. Veggie dish sits on the tile.

Iv only recently added it as I would never of used loose substrate when he was little, and guess I'm just trying to see if it's something he will use or not, I have a few more bits of driftwood and stuff to add to the viv I'm just trying to introduce them to him slowly so not too stress him out.

 

[Stres]

Yeah, give more stuff. I've found with pepper he's less likely to just jump if he has an easy climbing route or if jumping is less convenient.

Thanks for the reply iv more drift wood and hides to add to the viv but have been trying not to throw too much in at once to minimize stress but I'll make sure to add them over the next few weeks.

 

[Cinnasticks]

Hi kingofnobbys thanks for the reply, it's a 60/40 topsoil/sand mix and only covers one third of his 5 ft viv, it's basically a dig box I'll post you a better picture.

I realise the possible risks but I do make sure he's never fed at that side and I don't have feeders left in the tank, I always hand feed him half his crickets etc and observe the rest then remove any that are leftover. Veggie dish sits on the tile.

Iv only recently added it as I would never of used loose substrate when he was little, and guess I'm just trying to see if it's something he will use or not, I have a few more bits of driftwood and stuff to add to the viv I'm just trying to introduce them to him slowly so not too stress him out.

Wow, that's a beautiful viv set up. It looks like a habitat you would find in a zoo! I love the idea of a dig box. I'm a newer beardie owner, and I'm aware of impaction and substrate with juveniles. But if he's over a year, I thought it was more than okay to have a substrate like that? It looks beautiful, and I bet your beardie enjoys digging in it. I can't wait to build one for my juvenile once he grows up--he always digs at the corners of his hide cave.

I agree with some other posters, I'd imagine if you added larger driftwood pieces for him to climb at angles he enjoys, you may see less jumping behavior. He also just might be a more active dragon; have you tried making an outdoor exercise pen or something? Give him some room to explore and be active? My dragon that likes to dig is also very active, and is less so when I give him time to swim in the tub or take him outside to explore. Keep in mind that in the wild these guys jump lengths and heights much greater than what you have in your viv, and they're built for that kind of behavior. Don't worry tooooooooo much about him getting hurt unless he starts jumping from your desk to the floor or some such silly dragon nonsense. :lol:

 

[Taterbug]

I like your setup. How's he like the dirt?

If he's not showing signs of stress (still eating and active just fine) I wouldn't worry too much about adding too much at once, or rearranging things periodically. Environmental enrichment can actually help animals maintain the mental flexibility to deal with changes better

 

[Stres]

Thanks for the replies, Iv had him in this viv since I picked him up when he was around 10 weeks old, but only over the past two weeks added the dig box, from what iv seen he hasn't really been interested in digging or the change in that side of the vivarium at all.
Think I'll keep it in there a bit longer and see if that changes but if he's not interested in it I'll likely remove it.

I'll get the other stuff added over the weekend and lower that piece of bark, hopefully it'll stop him jumping so much.