Relocation to New and bigger tank... But acting CRAZY!!!

[LilNut00]

Hi there,

So I just got a new tank for my lil lady about a week ago. She went from a 33 gallon Mesh tank to a 40 gallon glass tank.
Her temps read Basking:107 Middle: 90 Cool side:75-80. She has a repti sun 10uv.
She's a year and a half old, I've had her for that long too. She about 17.5 inches long.
She eats collard greens mixed with acorn squash everyday and calcium she needs 3 times a week. She's not much into crickets anymore so I feed her superworms only 4 once a week.
She gets her bath 3-4 times a week and she has a water bowl she drinks out of fresh water everyday.
She poops regularly every day or every 2 days. not runny.
Well it's been a week and she hasn't calmed down. She's been running back and forth scratching and jumping at the glass to get out. She's breathing a little heavy and has NO stress makes. So I'm trying to figure out if she's just being more active then usual or she feels that she can't breathe because she doesn't have the air flow going through her tank like she use too? She's been opening her mouth a lot more too. Over all she's super healthy just not sure how to calm her down. Or if I'm doing something wrong.

 

[diamc]

She sounds very stressed, I'm sure it's a big change for her. What wattage heat bulbs are you using in her new tank? Also, and very important, what type of thermometer? Is the Repti-Sun a coil, compact or strip fluorescent bulb and what is the distance to your basking beardie? What is the humidity level?

If she enjoys her baths, I would increase those to see if that makes a difference in her behavior.

I would also increase her superworms as only 4 a wk is not enough. Adults can have 50 small feeders like crickets or 35 large feeders like superworms a wk.

 

[LilNut00]

It's a 100 watt Zoo Med Power Sun, Repti-Sun 10.0 uv Strip fluorescent, And just an ace hardware thermometer. The lights are about 3 weeks new. I've always used them.The humidity level is at normal 35%.

I moved her heat light up and further away from her basking spot(it's reading 95 degrees now) , but she is really trying to get out of her cage. So I let her out and she's happier but still running about the house. I think she's just really energetic. I did increase her superworms which she is enjoying. But it's weird I use to give them to her before and she never really had much interest in them like she does now. She usually loves her greens. Which she still eats. I also didn't want her to get to fat from them. She doesn't like crickets at all. She did when she was younger but has lose total interest in them now.

 

[FATBOYDADRAGON]

It's a 100 watt Zoo Med Power Sun, Repti-Sun 10.0 uv Strip fluorescent, And just an ace hardware thermometer. The lights are about 3 weeks new. I've always used them.The humidity level is at normal 35%.
Why would you have 2 uvb bulbs (power sun ,repti sun 10.0)?
I would keep the powersun for heat and UVB and replace the Reptisun bulb with a regular home depot or lowes bright white florescent tube. Once the powersun gives out you can replace that bulb with a regular household bulb for heat and put the reptisun 10.0 back in for uvb
Also the thermometer you are using is not very accurate .
Go to wal-mart and buy an accurite digital probe thermometer place the thermometer on cool end and probe on basking side .you can find them in the garden department where they keep the big outdoor thermometer for about 12 bucks.
Glass tanks hold in heat more than the screen type enclosures and i think what you will find out with digital probe thermometer that you are overheating you're dragon(keeps mouth open is how he regulates his body temperature) similar to humans when we sweat.
Just make these few adjustments and let us know how he/she id doing.
Mike D

 

[LilNut00]

She's doing a lot better.
THANKS!

 

[Aznrainbowdime]

I just posted the same exact issue. viewtopic.php?f=5&t=118433

Relocation stress can take up to a month :shock: ! Just be patient and give her some more time and extra cuddles =) ! But I know how you feel because I got so worried,.. she ran back and forth, kept bumping her nose to the glass and was scratching and breathing heavy and started blackbearding ! My poor baby But no worries. MJ is still not back to her normal self lol.. I'm starting to think she's just crazy like her mama ! j/k

 

[LilNut00]

haha! Yea she's doing better then before, but still has her days. I actually took out some more of her old stuff that couldn't fit in her old cage anymore into her new one and that's helped immensely. Started feeding her more. It's been week 3 and she's looking really good and happy. I've been letting her out a lot more to play with the cat and her teddy bear. :] She's getting spoiled and is enjoying every min.

 

[ABLuvsKatie]

We want to get Katie a bigger tank for Christmas. We just adopted her but we also bought their tank and so she's got the exact same set up she's always had - but it's been three weeks since she's been living with us so I'm sure she's still adjusting. I haven't wanted to change anything drastically on her but she does need a bigger tank...when we do move her to a 40g, are there things we can do to ease the transition? I'm using sand the way her last family was but when we get a new tank, I'm debating whether to stick with it or do tile or something else...would it be too drastic to change all that at one time too?

 

[Aznrainbowdime]

We want to get Katie a bigger tank for Christmas. We just adopted her but we also bought their tank and so she's got the exact same set up she's always had - but it's been three weeks since she's been living with us so I'm sure she's still adjusting. I haven't wanted to change anything drastically on her but she does need a bigger tank...when we do move her to a 40g, are there things we can do to ease the transition? I'm using sand the way her last family was but when we get a new tank, I'm debating whether to stick with it or do tile or something else...would it be too drastic to change all that at one time too?

You can keep some of her old furnitures in the tank. MJ has moved twice since I got her.. when I moved her the first time, I put brand new furnitures in her tank as she was sleeping.. so lets just say she woke up in a shock that everything was new. No relocation stress. However, the last move I did to the 40 gal... she is still suffering from. I kept some of her old furnitures but seems like she's having a hard time adjusting. Just be patient =)

I'd switch to tiles IMMEDIATELY by the way .. there are many posts around here on hot debates of sand... good info to know. It would be a change for Katie, but it's for the best.. and sooner or later she'll realize it

Good Luck