New Beardie

[Opie]

I brought home a 5 month old Beardie (Opie) on Friday. He is in a 40g tank. Basking temps 100- 105 degrees, 95 degrees on floor of hot side, 85 degrees on cool side. Ceramic tile substrate, climbing log, natural rocks and a home made hide/ climb. I use a 150 Basking spot and a 24" ReptiSun 10.0.
I realize he will need time to adjust to its new surroundings, but here are my concerns:
-Constantly hiding- Ventures out occasionally, looks around, tastes everything. Seems normal to me for being in a new environment.
-I have handled him a little everyday. I come in from the side at a slow pace, Opie will flatten out, and show it's beard or open it's mouth. I back away and try it again in a few minutes. At times he will seem okay as I stroke his back or head. I hope this will change. Not much fun having a beardie that won't interact with you.
-I have been feeding a salad of collard greens, kale everyday. And a couple of small pieces of fruit in the mix every other day. He seems to be eating it fine. He has eaten out of my hand almost everyday even though it is only a few bites. By the end of the day the majority of the salad is gone. The store I got him from was feeding approx. 20 crickets every other or every third day. I have been continuing this schedule. I have been feeding him 2 week old gut loaded crickets sprinkled with a cal/ vit supplement. First feeding he ate 15- 20 crickets. Today he ate maybe 5-6. Should I be concerned yet? He continues to nibble on his salad throughout the day.
-The thing bothering me the most is that he has not had a bowel movement since I brought him home. I bathed him for 15- 20 minutes on Saturday to try and see if I could help move it along. Nothing. At what point should I become concerned? Could it just be a result of stress?
-He is constantly watching everything that is going on throughout the house as he is hiding. Seems to get very nervous when someone walks toward or around the tank. When he does come out it doesn't take much to send him back into hiding. Is there anything I can do to help him relieve a little bit of this stress? Is it best to just leave him alone until he adjusts?

Thanks
Jon

 

[Chad55]

I would leave him alone until he adjusts and starts eating normally. Also the norm for feeding a juvi is as many crix as it can eat in about 10 min once or twice a day. So I would up the feeding scheduel and leave him alone until he is atleast eating good.

 

[Newdragon1245]

Mine will do that at times too... I gave him his space and now he loves being picked up he doesnt show any signs of agression of not wanting to be handled. New environment. Let him settle.

 

[msmisty]

Yeah I would do the same, But some thing that I did was to put my shirt in there with them at night so he could get use to my sent, and then I would let them sleep on me. Good Luck

 

[mickeysmomma]

I was upset when my new baby beardie wouldn't let me get near him. Finally, after about 2 months, he lets me pick him up and hold him! He is still jumpy, but not nearly as much. and, he does flatten out sometimes when I get near the tank.

 

[DaChief]

I was upset when my new baby beardie wouldn't let me get near him. Finally, after about 2 months, he lets me pick him up and hold him! He is still jumpy, but not nearly as much. and, he does flatten out sometimes when I get near the tank.

Really glad to hear that mickeysmomma, really puts me at ease. My beardie Loki has hardly left his hide since discovering it Friday. I got him on Friday and was starting to get worried that he might be sick or really stressed out.

One concern I have is he won't eat while I am around, so can I leave crickets in the Viv and let him eat when he feels comfortable? I only ask because I remember reading somewhere live food should be taken out if they don't eat it within 10-15mins.