2 Beardies, 2 Habitats, so many questions!

[Dana1970]

Hello! My name is Dana and I became a mother of dragons for the first time June 2020. Thought she was a boy (she was about 2 months old), turned out to be a beautiful, sweet girl... Rango (or Ranga, her new female moniker). I did soooo much research on beardies and have properly spoiled her since Day 1. Then I thought I'd "save" a beautiful baby from PetSmart and bought my second last November, Floki. He was only 1-2 months old. So Ranga is probably about 11 months old at this time and Floki is 6 months old ish. I know he is a boy because she teases him and he goes nuts, bobbing and black bearding when he sees her. She can be let out - she is very well behaved and super mellow and can be held easily. He, on the other hand, does NOT want to be held and just tolerates us petting him. We are doing the same thing we did with her, feed by hand, talk to him a lot, etc etc. Any tips on getting him to love us would be appreciated

I have really nice habitats set up for them on opposite sides of a large living room. They can't see each other from that vantage point, but when I let Rango out - she loves to be out about an hour after waking up - she likes to go to his side and perch (tease him). He goes nuts then will finally relax. I'm worried this is stressing him out but she enjoys being out so much. I know it's normal for him to act like this during adolescence but wondering if it's stressing him out.

My other issue/question: Rango was lethargic and I thought she might be egg bound and took her to vet about a month or so ago. Doc said she was very healthy but thought she had eggs (see pic) and said she should lay them within a couple weeks, more calcium, soak her more, make sure eating and pooping. She has not laid eggs but then I read that some females don't lay them for years. Doc said if she doesn't lay them, it could be bad and may need surgery - I don't even remember what surgery cuz I was too horrified to concentrate. I've read horror stories about beardies & vets :-(. Please tell me I don't have to worry about this.

Thanks everyone for ANY input! Love, Dana (Kahleesi, proper Mother of Dragons LOL)

Pics below: Floki, looking handsome and not black bearding so hard; Rango being spoiled at back door (cold out there!); Rango eggs?; Rango on my rower - glad someone is using it! HAHA - in front of Floki's habitat.

 

[Sadie]

Hello! My name is Dana and I became a mother of dragons for the first time June 2020. Thought she was a boy (she was about 2 months old), turned out to be a beautiful, sweet girl... Rango (or Ranga, her new female moniker). I did soooo much research on beardies and have properly spoiled her since Day 1. Then I thought I'd "save" a beautiful baby from PetSmart and bought my second last November, Floki. He was only 1-2 months old. So Ranga is probably about 11 months old at this time and Floki is 6 months old ish. I know he is a boy because she teases him and he goes nuts, bobbing and black bearding when he sees her. She can be let out - she is very well behaved and super mellow and can be held easily. He, on the other hand, does NOT want to be held and just tolerates us petting him. We are doing the same thing we did with her, feed by hand, talk to him a lot, etc etc. Any tips on getting him to love us would be appreciated

I have really nice habitats set up for them on opposite sides of a large living room. They can't see each other from that vantage point, but when I let Rango out - she loves to be out about an hour after waking up - she likes to go to his side and perch (tease him). He goes nuts then will finally relax. I'm worried this is stressing him out but she enjoys being out so much. I know it's normal for him to act like this during adolescence but wondering if it's stressing him out.

My other issue/question: Rango was lethargic and I thought she might be egg bound and took her to vet about a month or so ago. Doc said she was very healthy but thought she had eggs (see pic) and said she should lay them within a couple weeks, more calcium, soak her more, make sure eating and pooping. She has not laid eggs but then I read that some females don't lay them for years. Doc said if she doesn't lay them, it could be bad and may need surgery - I don't even remember what surgery cuz I was too horrified to concentrate. I've read horror stories about beardies & vets :-(. Please tell me I don't have to worry about this.

Thanks everyone for ANY input! Love, Dana (Kahleesi, proper Mother of Dragons LOL)

Pics below: Floki, looking handsome and not black bearding so hard; Rango being spoiled at back door (cold out there!); Rango eggs?; Rango on my rower - glad someone is using it! HAHA - in front of Floki's habitat.
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Please keep your dragons from seeing one another --- you are definitely stressing them out and that is not good
What kind of UVB are you using for the dragons?

 

[Josh]

Welcome to the forum! Trust your intuition if it seems like it's stressing them out, stop doing it.
Give the male some time and he will probably calm down. It can be a phase or even seasonal things that make them grumpy. Even a bad shed.
As for the eggs, you can provide a lay box for her to safely put her eggs in. You don't need to cross the egg bound bridge until you get there. Hopefully you never get there

 

[Skybug]

Hello dana, welcome to the forum, can you please explain tank placement? They cant see eachother i hope? Personally those dont look like eggs to me, they’d be about the size of her thigh ,if they are eggs yes it can take some months for them to pop out, but dont just take my word for it, most boys dont like to be held, I wouldn’t worry to much about about socializing him(he might be a lost cause, because you have a female and he can sense her) id focus on your girl and make shure shes stress free and healthy, he can be an after thought (hes gonna stress himself out just by knowing shes there) not much you can do other than put a towl over his tank when shes out , if by chance hes somehow out the same time she is and he bites the back of her head to mate ,make shure their vents dont touch, you dont want 30 babies (then you’ll have a real problem) look up a utuber called animal1guy , ,he has videos about a beardie who had eggs, watch the video “lizard party gone wrong” i hope your babies are okay and everything is good

 

[Zontar’s Mom]

Hello dana, welcome to the forum, can you please explain tank placement? They cant see eachother i hope? Personally those dont look like eggs to me, they’d be about the size of her thigh ,if they are eggs yes it can take some months for them to pop out, but dont just take my word for it, most boys dont like to be held, I wouldn’t worry to much about about socializing him(he might be a lost cause, because you have a female and he can sense her) id focus on your girl and make shure shes stress free and healthy, he can be an after thought (hes gonna stress himself out just by knowing shes there) not much you can do other than put a towl over his tank when shes out , if by chance hes somehow out the same time she is and he bites the back of her head to mate ,make shure their vents dont touch, you dont want 30 babies (then you’ll have a real problem) look up a utuber called animal1guy , ,he has videos about a beardie who had eggs, watch the video “lizard party gone wrong” i hope your babies are okay and everything is good

Lizard party gone wrong LOL.... reptile porn

 

[Yvonne G]

Welcome to the Forum, Dana!!

 

[Dana1970]

Please keep your dragons from seeing one another --- you are definitely stressing them out and that is not good
What kind of UVB are you using for the dragons?

Hi Sadie,
I have the linear light for Floki the male but I need to install on the inside somehow. Rango the female still has the Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 UVB Fluorescent Reptile Lamp, 13-Watt (not the coil, but not the linear) - I will change to linear for her soon. I can keep Rango from perching near Floki - she just loves the front of the living room for the sun and the comfy dog beds. Was thinking of putting Floki's habitat in the office at home, but didn't want to stress him further.

 

[Dana1970]

Welcome to the forum! Trust your intuition if it seems like it's stressing them out, stop doing it.
Give the male some time and he will probably calm down. It can be a phase or even seasonal things that make them grumpy. Even a bad shed.
As for the eggs, you can provide a lay box for her to safely put her eggs in. You don't need to cross the egg bound bridge until you get there. Hopefully you never get there

Thanks for the info Josh! I do have a sand/soil mix box in Ranga's cage - it's in a short box top - the size of file box - takes up about 1/3 of her habitat. I've also shredded some paper in her hide, but she normally hangs out on her log (light side) and sleeps on her hammock (dark side). I put the sand/soil box on the dark side under her hammock in case she wants privacy when/if she lays the eggs. She is super active in the AM, running all over the place and then will settle in the sun in living room or back door. She eats dubias (and occasional worms) and hand fed veggies so she seems otherwise healthy. (She used to eat her veggies on her own but lately only if we hand feed them - she's more interested in getting out and exploring).

 

[Dana1970]

Welcome to the Forum, Dana!!

Thanks Yvonne! So glad there is a place to come and discuss all things beardies. I looked at another forum but this one seems to be the most informational. Have a great day!

 

[Dana1970]

Hello dana, welcome to the forum, can you please explain tank placement? They cant see eachother i hope? Personally those dont look like eggs to me, they’d be about the size of her thigh ,if they are eggs yes it can take some months for them to pop out, but dont just take my word for it, most boys dont like to be held, I wouldn’t worry to much about about socializing him(he might be a lost cause, because you have a female and he can sense her) id focus on your girl and make shure shes stress free and healthy, he can be an after thought (hes gonna stress himself out just by knowing shes there) not much you can do other than put a towl over his tank when shes out , if by chance hes somehow out the same time she is and he bites the back of her head to mate ,make shure their vents dont touch, you dont want 30 babies (then you’ll have a real problem) look up a utuber called animal1guy , ,he has videos about a beardie who had eggs, watch the video “lizard party gone wrong” i hope your babies are okay and everything is good

Thank you Skybug! I appreciate all the tips. I was thinking of moving Floki's habitat back to the office (another room) and just keeping them totally away from each other. Had no idea he'd stress (head bob and blackbeard and glass surf pretty aggressively) when he saw her - I've heard of a lot of people keeping several dragons in same rooms. I wouldn't let them get "together" LOL - I do NOT want 20-30 babies. 2 are enough! :-D As for the docs advice, I was also skeptical. I will wait and see what happens and keep spoiling my babies. have a great weekend!

 

[Sadie]

Hi Sadie,
I have the linear light for Floki the male but I need to install on the inside somehow. Rango the female still has the Zoo Med ReptiSun 10.0 UVB Fluorescent Reptile Lamp, 13-Watt (not the coil, but not the linear) - I will change to linear for her soon. I can keep Rango from perching near Floki - she just loves the front of the living room for the sun and the comfy dog beds. Was thinking of putting Floki's habitat in the office at home, but didn't want to stress him further.

Hi Dana --
here are some things to get the UVB inside the tank --- 3 M command Velcro fasteners- picture hanging wire – long plastic zip ties-- fishing line -- potted plant wire hangers -- and this stuff I use it it works great its like Velcro straps- cut it into strips wrap around the fixture -- https://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-15-ft-Cable-Ties-Hook-and-Loop-Spool-Black-10375/304220195
Please get the 13 watt replaced ASAP --- they are NO good at all --- very bad cant stress that enough---- try this website to get a UVB https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/zoo-med-reptisun-t5-ho-terrarium-hood.html you want a 24" for a 40 + gallon tank --- w/ this bulb -- a 22" Reptisun 10.0 T 5 -- the fixture comes w/ a 5.0 bulb you can use it but distance and placement would be different from the T 5 -- if you use it it needs to go inside the tank w/ distance of 6-8 inches directly over the basking decor --- the UVB you have for Floki is what? Distance and placement is key here as well -- you can look on other sites for the Reptisun 10.0 T 5 bulb --- you can move him hes gonna stress one way or another -- just make sure hes in a room w/ activity as well - can you put the tanks side by side w/the tank sides covered so they cant see each other -- I know bringing them out of the tanks they will probably see one another I suppose - I have two males in the same room in my office but they are in tanks that have bamboo sides so they cant see each other at all and when they do come out they go to the LR so they arent even in the same room to see one another out --

 

[Dana1970]

Yeah, I'm afraid to move him to home office because the hubby only works in there a couple hours a day and don't want Floki to not have any, or very little, interaction. Someone suggested to maybe throw a towel over the front so he can't see Rango when she's on that side of the living room, otherwise they can't see one another when in their tanks.
Floki has the proper linear bulb currently and I LOVE the tips - thank you! I will work on getting it inside the tank today. I'll check out the website to get Rango her new light today as well. I'm so in love with her; I want her to have the best of everything. And I of course, want them to be as healthy as possible and live long and happy lives. I appreciate all your replies... you've been very helpful!

 

[Sadie]

Yeah, I'm afraid to move him to home office because the hubby only works in there a couple hours a day and don't want Floki to not have any, or very little, interaction. Someone suggested to maybe throw a towel over the front so he can't see Rango when she's on that side of the living room, otherwise they can't see one another when in their tanks.
Floki has the proper linear bulb currently and I LOVE the tips - thank you! I will work on getting it inside the tank today. I'll check out the website to get Rango her new light today as well. I'm so in love with her; I want her to have the best of everything. And I of course, want them to be as healthy as possible and live long and happy lives. I appreciate all your replies... you've been very helpful!

how often is Floki on the one side of the tank -- you dont want Rango covered up all the time-- are you using glass tanks? You can put up some background cover like buying one or use magazine pages newspaper construction paper etc on the outside of the tank-- it is just one side you need to cover?

 

[Dana1970]

how often is Floki on the one side of the tank -- you dont want Rango covered up all the time-- are you using glass tanks? You can put up some background cover like buying one or use magazine pages newspaper construction paper etc on the outside of the tank-- it is just one side you need to cover?

Floki (male) seems to be on his log under the basking & uvb most of the time. He sleeps in a shoebox that I covered with no-print newspaper and filled with sand. He goes to his hide/cave once in a while (dark side), but other than when he's eating, or glass surfing when Rango is present, he's pretty content. It's a ZenHabitat - so it has the 3 bamboo sides and floor, front plexi and screen top. I have some decals/decoration in there, too. Also, I never covered the front until today because of other comments about him bobbing/stressing over Rango - and she only recently went to that side of living room to climb the new giant ficus tree in the corner, so I covered Floki's plexi. She was zooming around this morning, but is now very content in her perch on the ficus branches. All is quiet in the household

 

[Sadie]

Floki (male) seems to be on his log under the basking & uvb most of the time. He sleeps in a shoebox that I covered with no-print newspaper and filled with sand. He goes to his hide/cave once in a while (dark side), but other than when he's eating, or glass surfing when Rango is present, he's pretty content. It's a ZenHabitat - so it has the 3 bamboo sides and floor, front plexi and screen top. I have some decals/decoration in there, too. Also, I never covered the front until today because of other comments about him bobbing/stressing over Rango - and she only recently went to that side of living room to climb the new giant ficus tree in the corner, so I covered Floki's plexi. She was zooming around this morning, but is now very content in her perch on the ficus branches. All is quiet in the household

Ok so you can set them side by side then -- the only time they would see one another is when one was out of the tank - you could take them to another room to roam set up barriers so they cant get under stuff and have a window for them to look out - they love looking out windows -- I place my dragons on a big chair in front of my LR window and they look outside -- you really dont want them seeing one another --- it does stress them out too much --