Relocation Stress???

[AngeBod]

Hey guys

Just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Ange and I've just purchased my first 8-week old dragon, Gandalf. His viv is all set up and running nicely. Temps exactly how I want them. I think he might be suffering from a bit of relocation stress. Have had him 3 days and he's a bit inactive. Seems to know where his basking spot is. Looks alert when he's there. Notices his food running around but not tried to catch anything yet. He's had a few greens out of my hand and have been misting him daily and noticed he's drinking ok. He's also shedding at the moment which I know might make him a bit sullen. Had a first stool out of him last night which seemed ok if a little bit sloppy. There was also a big chunk of yellow-y substance in there which I hope is the urine element but will be keeping my eye on him. Am trying very hard to just leave him alone and let him get used to his new surroundings but will feel a lot more relaxed when I know he's eating properly again. Any advice you can give at this stage would be a great help.

Thanks a lot

AngeAngeBod
Newbie Poster

 

[zebraflavencs]

Angel, try offering a soak in water to his shoulders, temps 90-100*F, for 15 minutes. This will help with the urates I believe, as they should be a chalky white, not yellow.

Do you also see stress lines ? On his belly you would see striations, instead of a creamy white belly.

Janie.

 

[AngeBod]

Thanks for your reply.

I'd considered giving him a little bath to help with the last patches of his shedding as well. Just wasn't sure if he'd enjoy it if he's already feeling a bit stressed. But if you think it will help with his bowel movements as well then it might be the way forward.

I haven't checked his belly as i haven't wanted to handle him too much with him just moving homes. i thought it might be best to give him some time to settle. if he does have stress marks, is this something for me to be concerned about or will he settle down on his own without my or the vets help?

Thanks again. I'm probably just being a worrier!

 

[zebraflavencs]

It's okay to worry ! These are our Babies !
No stress marks just tell you that he is just that, stressed. Once he is used to you and his new environment, those marks will disappear.

Yes, bathing does help with poo, and is much better for hydration than misting or a water bowl in the viv.

Also, relocation stress can last as long as 1 month, so take it slowly, and all will sort itself out !

Now, let's talk pictures ! Ohhh we loove pictures !
If you need help posting one here, just ask!
Janie.

 

[AngeBod]

this website is great. everyone is so friendly and helpful!

ok - panic over. will just take it easy on him and may try to bond with him by giving him a little bath tonight and see how he does. have followed husbandry and feeding advice to the letter so now i guess it's up to him.

haha! will sort out pics of him asap. he is shedding at the mo but you can still see his beautiful colouring. he's a little cutie.

ps - i love how i keep referring to "him" - i've taken a best guess on his features (head size, tale base, comparison with the rest of his clutch etc.) but from what i've read i could just as easily have a beautiful little girl on my hands! will keep you posted.

 

[zebraflavencs]

Once "he" is older we can sort out sex as well
Janie

 

[AngeBod]

Hey again!

Just wanted to say thank you so much for the welcome and the advice. Today we are a much happier mummy and beardie. Got home from work and Gandalf was hiding behind his basking spot. Was a bit concerned until I realised he was in the middle of pouncing on his last 2 crickets! (i think i left 6 in there this morning.) He then scurried right back onto his spot and when i opened his viv to say hello he seemed very relaxed yet alert. He didn't seem to mind me stroking his back and then i gently took him out for his first bath. And I'm happy to say i think he loved it. He shed his last patch on his back to reveal some lovely orange and yellow colouring with brown markings. And we got a very good stool out of him. Exactly how it's supposed to look according to every book and article I've read! Back in the viv with him and then it was feeding time!! He ate 15 crickets in one feeding and a bit of veg out of my hand!! Gave him a misting and he drank the drops off his nose.

So now I have one more question. Because he seemed so distressed the last couple of days I decided (rightly or wrongly) to remove the paper from the floor of his viv. I wanted to be able to come home and monitor all his feeding and if he's pooped anywhere. All was well but when I watched him feed this evening, I'm not sure bare floor is the best for him. He seemed to scurry as if there was not much friction for him and as soon as he had his cricket he seemed to get right back up on his basking stone or ran into his food bowl in what seemed like a bit of a rush. I think it looks like he's slipping on the floor too much. But with him being only 8-weeks I'm reluctant to use any substrate and did have paper in there but there were just far too many places for his live food to hide from him.

Suggestions please??

Yours happier

Ange and Gandalf

ps - pics soon. promise.

 

[katieerin]

Yeah, a bare tank floor isn't good for their traction at all. Personally, I've been using papertowels and he doesn't seem to mind

Also, I wanted to mention that putting crickets into his tank isn't ideal. (Especially leaving them there after the feeding time.) They can stress a beardie, and even bite them. It's a good idea to have a separate feeding container, and let him eat as many as he wants in 10-15 minutes, then put him back to digest for a couple hours.

And I LOVE the name Gandalf, my beardie is actually named Pippin. And someone here has a Frodo lol.

 

[AngeBod]

Ok guys. So once I get him to show off and be a model for me...how do i get my pics on here?

Thank you for the advice again. We had a very active morning and he's eating so well now. I'm going to put some paper back down for him now i know he's eating ok and will see what i can do re getting a seperate container for feeding his live food. He ate everything in one go this morning so there was no need for me to leave anything in there with him. He went through 10 crickets before strutting back onto his basking spot!

Hopefully will get some decent pictures this evening.

thanks again xx

 

[zebraflavencs]

Ange, just open a Free account with photobucket, post your photos there. Now under each photo there are 4 links. Use the last one, and copy, then paste here !
Just that easy !
If you still have issues, one of us can actually post a photo for you, using our accounts
Janie.