So many questions

[Berryr386]

I just got my dragon approx 3 weeks ago and I have so many questions. one being, my dragon is very active sometimes. It often runs around the cage as if it wants out. I'll get it out, and put it on my chest and pet it. After a few minutes, he starts to run around, which scares me because he is so small I'm afraid I'll lose him. Is this normal behavior? Also, everything I have read says that the temp should be 110-115. I am having trouble getting my tank above 102-105. My dragon seems to stay in the shade any way. It gets to 102, he will go to the cool side of the tank (85), or get under the rocks where the it's cooler. Do I need to worry about getting my temp up to 110?

 

[Stres]

I just got my dragon approx 3 weeks ago and I have so many questions. one being, my dragon is very active sometimes. It often runs around the cage as if it wants out. I'll get it out, and put it on my chest and pet it. After a few minutes, he starts to run around, which scares me because he is so small I'm afraid I'll lose him. Is this normal behavior? Also, everything I have read says that the temp should be 110-115. I am having trouble getting my tank above 102-105. My dragon seems to stay in the shade any way. It gets to 102, he will go to the cool side of the tank (85), or get under the rocks where the it's cooler. Do I need to worry about getting my temp up to 110?

The 105-110 are surface temperatures taken with ideally an ir gun or by placing a probe on the basking surface and leaving it there for around 40 mins to get a reading.
The ambient temperature will be a fair bit lower depending on size of the vivarium, my 5 ft viv has an ambient temperature of around 90 degrees at the hot side and a 105 degrees surface temp on the slate rock where the dragon basks. Surface temp is the important one as it is needed for them to digest food I believe.

Be careful if your using the cheap dial temperature readers they can be out by over 20 degrees either way, and could be why your dragon isn't basking much if it's too hot or too cold.

Hope this helps a little bit.

 

[Berryr386]

My viv is a 55 gallon. I have a digital probe thermometer. It wasn't too cheap, but not real expensive either. I will take a pic of my set-up and post it when I get back ( had to run and get my lil buddy some crickets). It seems to be eating ok I think. It eats at least twice a day, 5-10 crickets, right out of my hand. Won't eat unless I hand feed it, kinda spoiled. It will not touch veggies. Its only a month or two old. I don't know how to get it to eat veggies. I know they aare supposed to. I researched info before purchasing my dragon, but false information, and purchased items that I later discovered I shouldn't have, such as mealworms and ground walnut substrate. I'm rather attached to the little guy so any information is greatfully appreciated, and very helpful.

 

[Rankins]

I would be concerned about a tiny dragon running around in a bedroom unless closely monitored. They are small and can fit in small spaces and are easy to lose. They also like to taste test everything, including inedible items.
I once lost a cat for an entire day, and she is full grown. I knew she didn't get out of the house, she didn't have the opportunity. She just vanished, like aliens abducted her.
I found her the next day...she lifted the heat register up and climbed down the ducting. I spent 6 hours under the house tearing apart my ducts to get her out.

 

[Berryr386]

Oh my! Glad you got her out. That is why I never let him out of my sight. I will let him on my chest, but once he starts crawling around, back in his cage he goes. He is too fast to just let lose in the house, he would be lost for sure.

 

[Berryr386]

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As promised, here is my set-up. Sorry the image is up-side-down. I could not figure out how to rotate it. Hardly figured out how to upload it.

 

[Rankins]

I see a problem with it....your rocks are glued to the lid of the enclosure.

Seriously.....nice setup

 

[Berryr386]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: I just died. :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Zombiepanda]

You're fear of losing a tiny lizard is totally justified!! I swear they will disappear as long as it takes you to go to the restroom. True story: Maggie was about 7" long and I took a load of clothes from the dryer to the bedroom and she was gone. I looked for nearly 4 hours trying to find her. And my house is super tiny!

Also I totally LOVE the antler in the viv. Nice touch!

 

[Berryr386]

I am terrified of losing him in more ways than one, lol. I have posts all over this forum asking questions as I am new to taking care of a beardie. My pets have always been cats, dogs and horses. I researched his needs throughly before purchasing him, but got a lot of false info, such as using crushed walnut shell as a substrate ( I wasted money on that) and feeding him meal worms ( wasted money on that too). Both can cause impaction. He is a very active guy, runs around the cage a lot which worries me. I don't know if he is bored, stressed, or searching for food. My main concern is his eating habits. He eats at least twice a day ( gut loaded and dusted crickets) but will only eat 5-10 crickets at a time.

 

[Rankins]

Lots of questions are always good. It proves your invested in keeping your dragon as healthy and happy as possible.
There is a lot of bad info out there, but this forum is awesome. Tons of very helpful people here. You'll nearly always get good info because bad info would get rejected by many of the people on the list.

 

[Zombiepanda]

It's great that you did so much research!! Pet shops are notorious for giving out some really bad info. I was lucky I found this forum beforehand so I been stalking the threads for about a month or two before I grabbed maggie. There's some difference of opinion too on sand causing impaction. relocation stress is different for each dragon. Maggie went through phases. Then it was like overnight she started eating bug everything I put in there(not veggies though). The glass surfing, I've seen lots of threads about it. I think it could be anything from boredom to just because. Maggie will do it and then try to get back in. You had cats, I honestly think lizards and cats have similar personalities.

 

[Rankins]

Yeah, I'm one of the ones that disagrees about using sand for adults. I think its perfectly fine, been using it for a couple decades without problems. But I'll probably give tile a try...I'm surely not opposed to the idea

 

[Zombiepanda]

Yeah, I'm one of the ones that disagrees about using sand for adults. I think its perfectly fine, been using it for a couple decades without problems. But I'll probably give tile a try...I'm surely not opposed to the idea

Did you the post with the wood print tile? It was pretty cool looking

 

[Rankins]

Yeah, I saw that one. I'm going to try to find something more natural looking though.