New dragon owner. Concerned.

[Draak]

Hi all,

Literally just picked my Dragon up a few hours ago.

He's been here 3 hours, he was fine until he heard the dogs and he jumped off his basking spot, since then he's been jumping round the viv it's wooden with glass front, he's still bright coloured etc but worried he's going to hurt himself jumping around, his viv is in the living room so can't really keep dogs out, although they are in their beds atm. He is about a year old Viv is 4 2 2 and temps are 38 basking and 27 cool, is he stressed or just checking the viv out? He's come from Hamm so first viv he's been in since travelling over. Bit worried.

 

[Mysty]

Beardies like most reptiles will go through relocation stress. This can last from a few days to a few weeks. He may hide, have reduced appetite or show stress behaviours.

There are some things you can do to help him settle in.

1. Cover his viv if the dogs are stressing him.
2. Introduce you and other family members gradually. Putting your hand in the viv- not touching and hand feeding are good starts.
3.Keep everything in the viv the same for a few weeks. Making decor changes can increase the length of adjustment time

 

[Draak]

Thank you for the reply, it's just myself and my partner so other than putting him in the viv I've left him alone, oh is away atm. He's stopped now and is basking again. I have to let the dogs out at some stage, so will cover him up. Thank you again was worried he's hurt himself.

This is Draak.

 

[kingofnobbys]

Hi all,

Literally just picked my Dragon up a few hours ago.

He's been here 3 hours, he was fine until he heard the dogs and he jumped off his basking spot, since then he's been jumping round the viv it's wooden with glass front, he's still bright coloured etc but worried he's going to hurt himself jumping around, his viv is in the living room so can't really keep dogs out, although they are in their beds atm. He is about a year old Viv is 4 2 2 and temps are 38 basking and 27 cool, is he stressed or just checking the viv out? He's come from Hamm so first viv he's been in since travelling over. Bit worried.

<<< I suspect a number things are going on
> he may be very used to dogs (ask previous keeper about this and his interactions if any with the family dog)
> he may be very curious about what he can see outside the viv and wants out to explore and stake his claim (especially if he's a boy !!)
> he might be unhappy about the new viv and other changes forced on him.

38oC at the basking spot is OK but he can do with it being a few degrees C warmer overall (say 42oC at the basking spot (NO WARMER !!)).

A common mistake is cohabitation (if sharing tank or can see another beardie) , even if he can see another beardie , or a snake or very large lizard ?
Are there other pets (cats, dogs ) in the household ? yes .... he may be stressed by the dogs or wants to meet them (if he's used to living with and interacting with a dog - BE CAREFUL !).

And details of your feeding schedule and other husbandry aspects .
Might be a very easy fix .

Photos of the tank and showing substrate and lighting and of the beardies will help too. Use XIMG button to upload photos from your computer.

How heavy are each of the beardies ?
...... recommend weighing them regularly (weekly say)?

Can you give us a good rundown on the setup and schedules (light and feeding) :
Basking light
........ is it a coloured globe ? (BAD)
........ what is it's wattage ?
........ how far from the basking spot ?

TEMPERATURES ?
>>> daytime
.......warm zone
.......basking spot
...... how are you measuring your temperatures ?
TOO COLD = SLEEPY DRAGON
>>> overnight minimum viv temperatures ?

UVA AND UVB ADEQUATE ?
>>> is the uv rated AT LEAST 10%UVB ?
>>> is it a COMPACT (curly globe & WATTAGE ?
>>> or a T8 tube ?
>>> or a T5 tube ?
>>> or an MVB ?
VERY IMPORTANT : what is the brand ?
(not all UVB compacts and tubes are created equal or as well , many shops sell their own brand (Zilla, All Living Things, Reptile-One, Nat Geo , Natural Selections (in green boxes) which are cheap Chinese clones made very cheaply using very poor quality quartz glass and cheap phosphors ==> very poor UV spectrum produced incl UVC band and bad parts of the UVB band)

>>> also is it covered (in a domestic fluorescent light fitting )? == BAD
>>> also is it sitting ontop a mesh top ? == BAD
>>> how far from basking spot ?
too far and the UVA and UVB WILL BE TOO DILUTE.
UVA FLUX TOO LOW where dragon is ==> a very lethargic dragon w/ a very poor apetite just in the short term , and neurological problems if this persists , not to mention MVB if UVB flux too low long enough with inadequate metabolisation of dietary calcium or inadequate intake out calcium

http://www.arcadia-reptile.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/guide-bearded-dragon.jpg

TANK
>>> construction , photos of the setup are often helpful .

SUBSTRATE ?
>>> is it sand ? == BAD AND IF CALCISAND this is EXTREMELY BAD/LETHAL when ingested
>>> is it particulate ? == BAD

SHARING TANK ? == BAD

TOO SHORT A PHOTOPERIOD (lights are not kept on long enough each day , will make beardie think it is winter , recommend at least 14 HRS PER DAY)

FEEDING SCHEDULE (I recommend at least 2 hrs lights/heat on before first live feed and after last feed of the day)
>>> when are you offering live feeder insects ? what are they ? how big are they ?
>>> when are you offering greens and other veg ? what are you offering ?
good guide is here : http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutritionframeset.html