New Beardie Glass Dancing, Help?

[suikajusu]

Okay so this is the first beardie I've ever owned. I got him from the pet store about 5 days ago and he's been doing really well; except, every once in a while I catch him "glass dancing" (trying to escape his tank). If any one has any idea why he would be stressed I'd really appreciate some advice

- Age- I'm guessing around four months? he's a juvenile
- Size- around 5.5 inches
- Size of the enclosure- twenty gallons
- Temperatures- 80 degrees on cool side, 113 on basking spot
- Type of substrate- tile
- Diet- around 15-20 small crickets dusted with calcium
- Any other info you think may help others understand the situation.
-He's been pooping once or twice every day, hasn't been drinking water that well
-is halfway through a shedding
-he's pretty timid, gets scared when people walk by his tank

if there's any more info that could help please let me know. This is my first beardie (his name is Boji) and I plan on having him for a long time

Lydia

 

[Elmontare]

Theres a couple reasons from what ive read and experienced. They see a reflection in the glass (you could try covering up three sides if its an all glass tank), sometimes itll be too hot and they just want out of the heat (your temperstures seem fine though depending on how youve measured them), or there could be something else about his enclosure he doesnt like (maybe not enough climbing stuff or enough room to run around). In your case though based on the length of time youve had him, hes prolly just testing the new enviroment for escape routs because of the common relocation stress.

 

[Stolzieren]

my beardie glass danced a bit when I got her home but she calmed down! now and then she does it though, I wouldn't worry unless it's excessive

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. 113 is a bit warm I would lower it to 110. How are you taking the temps and do you have a uvb light? If so is it a tube, coil/compact ? What brand?

 

[suikajusu]

I've been using a temperature gun to measure. I do have a uvb bulb but it's a coil, not exactly sure what brand it is.

 

[jacody]

With the coil UVB you may run into issues and isn't recommended.. you should save yourself the trouble and get a reptisun 10.0 and mount that.. is he 5.5" from snout to tip of tail?? Just asking since most chain stores don't sell juveniles and 5.5" is more like 2 months (if that).. as some pet store employees really aren't knowledgeable at all if he's 5.5" total length than he's def. not 4 months.. Have you given him a warm soak yet?? Young beardies especially need a regular soak to stay well hydrated.. that may be a way to bond with your new pet too and if he's skiddish still try holding him in his enclosure for a few minutes at a time and build from there.. if you're worried about transport to and from the tub use a small Rubbermaid and do it on the floor to prevent any accidental leaps or drops..
I always did that with my young ones until they felt comfortable with me carrying them down a flight of stairs and back up..

 

[suikajusu]

Just gave him his first bath He wasn't too happy with me, he tried puffing out his beard. When I was finished I sat with him for a while and it was the longest he's sat without trying to get away. How often should I be bathing him? Like two or three times a week? and I also measured him and he's more like 5 1/4 inches. The people at the pet store didn't really know that much about them, so they were probably wrong with the age. I've also got his basking spot down to 110.

 

[jacody]

5.25" total right? That's from tip to tip?? That's a baby baby!! Not a 4 month old.. hard to say as they all grow at different rates, but I'd guess 7 weeks max!! They do get dehydrated quick when they're that little so aim for every other day. Especially this young when they're not really eating greens that much, all they want is live food and I've only ever seen my 2 drink from standing water in the tub twice.. not sure what you're feeding how often, but at this age your new pet should be offered LIVE food twice a day and if you haven't already start offering a fresh salad daily even if he/she doesn't take to eating it for weeks even.. try collards that are minced up finely and add some squash or parsnips.. I think the page is posted here somewhere for an entire list of nutrition content on veggies and fruits and it's color coded as to what to use daily and what to use on occasion.. do not feed lettuce like romaine or iceberg.. it does nothing for them and could simply give the lil' one the runs..I'll look for the page and post again in a sec with the link..

 

[jacody]

Lydia-

It's www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition

Make sure you're dusting your live food with the calcium and with multivitamins.. on that site it tells you how many times per week per age of your pet.. is it Boji?? Does that mean something, just curious?? Would like to see a pic, love babies, you can upload from photobucket to here..

Have fun and once they take to the bath it's very relaxing for them..

Gina

 

[suikajusu]

I'll start bathing him a lot more. I've been feeding him live crickets 3+ times a day and dusting 75% of them with flukers clacium. he eats like a pig and he's gotten a lot plumper since I brought him home. His name was supposed to be Bojangles, but Boji just had a nice ring to it it also means fight in Slovakian and my family is from there! Thanks for all the great advice guys!!

 

[jacody]

Very fitting name then.. mine was Crixus and still is at the vet's office, but she turned out to be a girl so I call her Crixa..

Have a good night

 

[suikajusu]

so he was really good today with the whole glass dancing thing, until I turned off his light for the night. he actually fell asleep against the glass... what does this mean??

 

[jacody]

That's ok.. both of mine have done that on occasion... especially at a young age.. normal..

 

[suikajusu]

I'm just being a little too paranoid with him haha, my bad.

Here are some pictures!!

http://s322.photobucket.com/user/lyds001/library/?sort=3&page=1

 

[jacody]

He's very handsome and I'm partial to that coloring too.. thanx for sharing.. Have a good day..