Just saw the funniest thing!! and a question.

[atristofkate]

my zumo just tried "jumping out" of his tank towards me. from sitting on top of his log he jumped at the glass like trying to jump up & over... much to his surprise the top is closed for one and for two ....the top is no where near where he was jumping from. he "fell" back clinging to his log for dear life. bless his heart. kinda feel bad for him scaring the crap out of himself & glad he didn't hurt himself... although it was quite comical display. since i got home this morning he's been watching me and bobbing his head. he's still a baby and hasn't been liking much to be picked up, although he's usually fine once i have him secure, so i haven't been picking him up the past few days... just trying to feed him and talk gently and let him calm that skittishness down. he actually bit me a few days ago. so i figure it's best to let him relax for a while and get over it before handling him anymore. today he seems to be saying... "hey! where's my attention?!?"

so i definitely have to get a timer for his lights tho cuz i was away a lot this weekend and had someone "dragon sitting" who forgot last night to turn one of his lights off!!! maybe his behavior is that he's just mad about not getting any sleep. so... i was wondering... since my dragon sitter didn't turn off the light, should i then let him have the lights off today while i'm gone for about 6 hours? or just turn his lights off a lil earlier tonight? or make him just go the day as usual?

 

[Goonie]

If you're talking about the UV light, then no, you shouldn't turn it off for the day while you're gone. Given he's still a baby, he would need as much UV as possible on a daily basis. 6 hours is too long.
Do you have a hide in his viv? Even if it's past lights out time, he could still find some darkness to go to sleep if there was a hide. You could even give him a small hand towel, fold it up in a way that he could crawl into.

 

[atristofkate]

yeah i end up leaving the lights on and going off to work. he has a hiding spot and is very energetic this afternoon. still jumping around. i rearanged some things so he has stuff to jump on in the tank and still be safe... since he seems determined to be a jumper butt!!

 

[DLohrman]

I just had this happen too with my "problem child", Buddy! I had him on the patio for some exercise (boy, he is fast and after my 15-pound cat!), and he hunched back and sprung right into the air!! Is that OK? He fell backwards and went off running again. It scared me so I put him back in his enclosure for some settling down.

 

[atristofkate]

lol! my zumo seems determined to be a jumper!! so i tried to arrange his tank to provide a place for him to jump to. he has his log and then if he wants his hammock he's gotta jump to it. and he loves his hammock!! and jumping. it worries me a lot that i'll always have to be on guard. but what can i do?? he is after all an animal with his own mind for how things should be done! ;p good luck to your cat! lol