New adoption... need advice quick...

[acwood04]

I just posted this in the Behavior section, but I am now starting to think this topic needs a little bit of quicker attention..
As of now my smaller girl is on her basking ramp arm waving and the new male is sitting there in his cage starring at her. I am a little afraid of any effects on the smaller one as she has been looking at his enclosure with much interest and it seems to be a little worry. It was a good sign to see her eat some of her veggies and a couple phoenix worms a few minutes ago in between her looking over her shoulder and the new adoption. So this is whats going on...

Ok so I just rescued a beardie that my friend could no longer care for. He is a male about 13 inches long. He is a nice size. Anyways I have a female that is considerably smaller than the male I just rescued. Of course I have them in seperate tanks but because of space they can kind of see eatchother. The tanks are perpendicular. Bella (my female) I am worried about, she is much smaller. She seems a little shy, but after a while of watching her, she is doing a little head bob and then several arm waves with both arms. Crupi (the new, bigger male) just sits there. He is a bit more aggressive, as his owner did not give him the attention he needs. He just ate like 12 large superworms, and finally wont lunge at my hand as soon as it enters his viv. Any tips for introducing them? I am mostly worried that my girl (Bella) will get stressed and stop eating, basking, etc. I want them both to be happy and get along. I will never keep them together but if all goes well would like to breed these two.. Does anyone have any tips that would help them live near eatchother? Also to get the new male to warm up to me a little?

P.S. Also, Bella, who normally never has stress marks, has them now.
Also just a note that the husbandry is good, both good temps, reptisuns, etc. I must note that the male is on sand which he has been doing fine on for quite some time.. Thanks!

 

[Gail]

Its best if you never introduce them, at least not in the way I'm thinking which would be to let them out together to play or run around. The only time they need to be together is when they mate.
As far as her being stressed, it would be better if you can move the tanks so they can't see each other but I understand that can be difficult with limited space. She should eventually get used to his presence and calm down some.
Your male will tame down in time, just be calm and patient with him. Keep hand feeding and hold him often.

 

[acwood04]

I have been hand feeding, but the problem is... he bites my hand!! I've got scratches all over my hand and bite marks that drew blood all over my hands... LOL i dont care that much.. but he is feisty! I know he will take some time to calm down, but man he is strong too! I am quite grateful to have the opportunity to care for another beardie, but this one is gunna take some work!! She is currently in a 29 gallon tank, and she is almost 14 inches long or so... I am saving up for a larger viv...And I am trying to get the lighting situation figured out. The person that had him before didnt have a probe thermometer and he was on sand too. Tomorrow I am going to switch him to carpet. That is unless he rips it up!! I dont mean letting them out together, but I want them to be able to be fine in their own viv's next to eatchother... At least until I finish building my 4x2x2 wood viv then I can stack another on top... Anyways, if anyone has any tips for keepin em under control let me know... thanks!