This is one of my enclosures:
https://i.ibb.co/SsmGpT8/C144357-E-2-FF4-450-D-BCA9-4-CCD0-B2-E0-E2-E.jpg
It’s 36x24x18. Ignore the decor - it’s cleared out at the moment. Is the lighting ok? Does it need more vents? My temps were correct and the humidity stayed between 30-40%.
I’m asking because my 4-5 month old dragon seemed unhappy in it since the day I got him. He was hiding a lot, not eating much (maybe 10 dubias a day) and had stress marks constantly. I did some research and discovered that the UVB should only be covering 2/3 of the tank and the basking bulb should be on the same side. I thought maybe the UVB covering the whole enclosure was bothering him and making it too bright. My girlfriend also pointed out that it looks like an insane asylum lol and would make any living thing claustrophobic.
Sooo, we put him into a 36x18x18 Exo Terra to see if the previous enclosure was the issue and he hasn’t improved much. He does seem to be basking and sometimes exploring more, but still not “normal”. When I take him out to give him his meds, he’s bright colored with a white belly. As soon as I put him in his basking spot, he stays there, but with stress marks. He’s also started glass surfing and I’m having more trouble keeping the temps high enough.
I should also mention that he’s got a few parasites and is being treated for them. Maybe that’s why he’s acting weird, but it’s strange how he’s ok out of his enclosure and only seems stressed when he’s in it.
In the future I’ll be putting him in a 4x2x2, but for now should I keep him in the Exo Terra and cover the sides, maybe add a CHE? Or redo the lighting/fixtures in the melamine enclosure and try that again?
Just trying to get some advice from other dragon parents. I hate that he’s not happy.
https://i.ibb.co/SsmGpT8/C144357-E-2-FF4-450-D-BCA9-4-CCD0-B2-E0-E2-E.jpg
It’s 36x24x18. Ignore the decor - it’s cleared out at the moment. Is the lighting ok? Does it need more vents? My temps were correct and the humidity stayed between 30-40%.
I’m asking because my 4-5 month old dragon seemed unhappy in it since the day I got him. He was hiding a lot, not eating much (maybe 10 dubias a day) and had stress marks constantly. I did some research and discovered that the UVB should only be covering 2/3 of the tank and the basking bulb should be on the same side. I thought maybe the UVB covering the whole enclosure was bothering him and making it too bright. My girlfriend also pointed out that it looks like an insane asylum lol and would make any living thing claustrophobic.
Sooo, we put him into a 36x18x18 Exo Terra to see if the previous enclosure was the issue and he hasn’t improved much. He does seem to be basking and sometimes exploring more, but still not “normal”. When I take him out to give him his meds, he’s bright colored with a white belly. As soon as I put him in his basking spot, he stays there, but with stress marks. He’s also started glass surfing and I’m having more trouble keeping the temps high enough.
I should also mention that he’s got a few parasites and is being treated for them. Maybe that’s why he’s acting weird, but it’s strange how he’s ok out of his enclosure and only seems stressed when he’s in it.
In the future I’ll be putting him in a 4x2x2, but for now should I keep him in the Exo Terra and cover the sides, maybe add a CHE? Or redo the lighting/fixtures in the melamine enclosure and try that again?
Just trying to get some advice from other dragon parents. I hate that he’s not happy.
