I just brought my lil guy (Mick) home yesterday, and he was very freaked out. He seems to be around a year old, and his old living conditions were definitely sub par, but now he is starting a much better and healthier life with me . I have a few questions however, so thanks so much if you take the time to read and answer!
Mick seems to like the cool side of his tank which is at 76 degrees right now (also I'm concerned that's too cold). His basking spot on the other side is made of a hammock that was suctioned around 6 inches below the ceramic heat lamp. The temp was around 95 degrees, and after getting home from the pet store I put him down on this hammock thinking he would want to warm up. After sitting still for a few hours, he wandered up to the opposite side of the hammock, on the cool side. At first I didn't think anything of it, but he has been over 24 hours and he hasn't moved much at all. I just want to make sure this is normal.
I did move him closer to the warmer side and he stayed there for a little bit before jumping off the hammock into his water dish and slamming his little hands on the front glass (also the door to the terrarium). He scared the crap out of me and then walked out of the water dish, over his food dishes of untouched veggies and dubia, and back up to the cool side of the hammock.
Since then I've lowered the basking spot and right now it's around 85 degrees but that seems cold to me. Mick stayed in the cool corner all night last night, and I'm worried it got too cold, but he seems to seek out the cold...? Is it weird for bearded dragons to prefer cooler temperatures? Should I lower the temperature in the whole tank? Also he seems to dislike the ceramic tiles, and I'm worried they are getting too hot on the heated side? I'm new to all of this and I'm just looking or a little guidance. Thanks so much everyone!
Also I don't know how this would effect him but he ate one shredded piece of collard greens out of my hand, and I spritzed his mouth with water which he licked off. He isn't hungry but I expected that what with him only being here for a day and some change, he's probably stressed out of his mind.
Mick seems to like the cool side of his tank which is at 76 degrees right now (also I'm concerned that's too cold). His basking spot on the other side is made of a hammock that was suctioned around 6 inches below the ceramic heat lamp. The temp was around 95 degrees, and after getting home from the pet store I put him down on this hammock thinking he would want to warm up. After sitting still for a few hours, he wandered up to the opposite side of the hammock, on the cool side. At first I didn't think anything of it, but he has been over 24 hours and he hasn't moved much at all. I just want to make sure this is normal.
I did move him closer to the warmer side and he stayed there for a little bit before jumping off the hammock into his water dish and slamming his little hands on the front glass (also the door to the terrarium). He scared the crap out of me and then walked out of the water dish, over his food dishes of untouched veggies and dubia, and back up to the cool side of the hammock.
Since then I've lowered the basking spot and right now it's around 85 degrees but that seems cold to me. Mick stayed in the cool corner all night last night, and I'm worried it got too cold, but he seems to seek out the cold...? Is it weird for bearded dragons to prefer cooler temperatures? Should I lower the temperature in the whole tank? Also he seems to dislike the ceramic tiles, and I'm worried they are getting too hot on the heated side? I'm new to all of this and I'm just looking or a little guidance. Thanks so much everyone!
Also I don't know how this would effect him but he ate one shredded piece of collard greens out of my hand, and I spritzed his mouth with water which he licked off. He isn't hungry but I expected that what with him only being here for a day and some change, he's probably stressed out of his mind.