Juvenile beardie sleeping on basking rock at night?

[saintnicholas]

Hi. I'm new here. My 9 year-old son got a beautiful 12 to 16 week bd for Christmas. We are learning care as we go along. For the 1st two nights, he slept under his rock, up against the glass. Tonight we came home a little late, and found him still awake (but tired) on his basking rock. When we turned out the lights, he just closed his eyes right there on his rock and fell asleep. I'm assuming he'll stay up there all night. Is this a sign that something's wrong? Or was he just too pooped by 8:45 to move? (We usually do lights out at 7 P.M..)

This is hard work. Kind of like having a newborn in the house again, and just like when my son was little, I'm convinced I'll end up killing him with ineptitude. The little guy's name is Nicholas, btw, for that other bearded gent who delivered him on Christmas Eve.

Thanks in advance.

Liz

 

[zillathakilla]

Thats completely normal, no reason to worry, most beardies just fall asleep wherever they are when the lights go out,my beardie sleeps on his basking rock most nights,theres nothing wrong with it.

 

[AMHaak]

Like the above poster said there is nothing to worry about. My beardie sleeps where ever he feels like it. Just wait until there is a day that you look at him and say "You cannot possibly be comfortable sleeping that way"!

angie

 

[zillathakilla]

Haha i had a whole thread deadicated to the random ways beardies fall asleep ;P, also they usually sleep on there basking rocks b/c they retain heat well

 

[mrstuart75]

Or he was waiting for you to pick him up and snuggle him to sleep! That is the perfect time to take your dragon out and wrap him in a little blanket and snuggle him until he's fast asleep. Then you can put him back and he'll stay put where you put him. Try it! They are cuddly like infants too! :-D

 

[saintnicholas]

I want to thank you all for your replies. I've spent a fair amount of time reading this forum and have picked up some good tips. I'm petting Nicholas every time I open his viv, and he's allowing it and closing his eyes. Tonight, I will pick him up just before he drifts off to sleep, and tomorrow morning too, just after he wakes up. What if I don't use a blanket, and just lay him on my chest? I want him to get used to my (and my son's smell) and I want "real" contact now, while he's small, so that neither of us is afraid when he's bigger, kwim? Those who do use blankets, what size/kind would you use for a 12 to 18 week old little guy?

Thanks again everyone. I'm a cat person and a dog person, but I never thought I would be a reptile person. Now I'm obsessed! :study:

Liz/Use[img][/Users/fredstr/Desktop/P1010537.JPG/img]

 

[Bwalter]

when my girl was little I just used a wash cloth to wrap her up, now I use a hand towel, it works but she has her tail hanging out.

 

[bltkpo]

My mom used a receiving blanket when we visited her over Christmas! I know some people to just cut a square piece of fleece too. I tend to rest him on my chest, and cover him with my blanket. It keeps him cozy, and he goes right to sleep. Have you heard of the Beardie Burrito?

After a bath, it's good to wrap em in a towel so they dry off nicely before you return them home. We sometimes do this with Bindy even just to snuggle. He wriggles out a lot now, but when he was a baby he'd snuggle right in because it was cozy and warm, and snooze.

Another idea, is to wrap them in an old teeshirt or something, as this will help them become accustomed to your smell . Or leave one in the tank, to help this along

Take care!