Bearded dragon freaking out

[Mamabakes]

Hey all!

So I have a beardie that’s about 1 year old. She has been running around her enclosure for the past couple of days towards the backdrop like she’s trying to climb on the logs in it. I thought maybe she wanted to get out but when I take her out she freaks trying to run across my arms to get down and trying to get out of my hands. I’ve been handling her daily but I just don’t know how to get her to chill. We’ve had her for about 3 weeks. Also I think she’s starting to shed her arms, legs and tail so maybe that’s what’s got her worked up? They’ve been kind of grey for about a week now. Any advice? please help!

 

[Sadie]

Hey all!

So I have a beardie that’s about 1 year old. She has been running around her enclosure for the past couple of days towards the backdrop like she’s trying to climb on the logs in it. I thought maybe she wanted to get out but when I take her out she freaks trying to run across my arms to get down and trying to get out of my hands. I’ve been handling her daily but I just don’t know how to get her to chill. We’ve had her for about 3 weeks. Also I think she’s starting to shed her arms, legs and tail so maybe that’s what’s got her worked up? They’ve been kind of grey for about a week now. Any advice? please help!

Please post a pic of her and the tank-- could be several things going on here- any frantic digging or glass surfing?

 

[Mamabakes]

Hi! Thanks for replying. I’ll take some pics in the morning. I haven’t caught her digging. She’s just been running her face across the back of the tank where the picture is like she’s trying to go into it but she doesn’t know it’s not real. Usually she stays on here bridge that I made her. Temps seem fine too her basking reaches 110 and her cooler side gets to about 85. She goes back and forth but mostly stays at the top of the bridge. Here’s a pic of her sleeping.

 

[Sadie]

Hi! Thanks for replying. I’ll take some pics in the morning. I haven’t caught her digging. She’s just been running her face across the back of the tank where the picture is like she’s trying to go into it but she doesn’t know it’s not real. Usually she stays on here bridge that I made her. Temps seem fine too her basking reaches 110 and her cooler side gets to about 85. She goes back and forth but mostly stays at the top of the bridge. Here’s a pic of her sleeping.

You can change out the back ground see if that makes a difference in her behavior - 110 is pretty warm older dragons like temps between 95-100-
Uvb are you using a coil or a long tube fixture? How old is the bulb?

 

[Mamabakes]

You can change out the back ground see if that makes a difference in her behavior - 110 is pretty warm older dragons like temps between 95-100-
Uvb are you using a coil or a long tube fixture? How old is the bulb?

Maybe I should change that. She sits in the spot that gets to 105 but she goes down when it’s too much. Im using a tube uvb T8 reptisun with 10.0 bulb

 

[Sadie]

Maybe I should change that. She sits in the spot that gets to 105 but she goes down when it’s too much. Im using a tube uvb T8 reptisun with 10.0 bulb

Your T 8 needs to go into the tank -- they are not strong enough to go thru screen so shes basically getting slim to no UVB -- no cover over the bulb if there is one and it needs to be less than 6 months old -- the T 8 needs to be directly over the basking decor 6-8 inches please -- so the gradient heat is good -- what size tank? they will glass surf to get out in small tanks -- I would look at upgrading her tank and the UVB -- and I see stick ons for temp gauges - I would recommend getting 2 digital probe thermometers for accurate surface basking temps- the stick ons only give ambient temps and IR guns cannot read off of certain materials example the hammock in the tank -- I would make the adjustments and see what her behavior is like --- after making the lighting and getting correct temps adjusted if shes still doing the behavior thing I am gonna say its the size of the tank -- you can try getting her out more often as well to see if that curbs the frantic behavior --- if shes gravid she would be doing excessive digging in the tank as well as glass surfing --

 

[Mamabakes]

Your T 8 needs to go into the tank -- they are not strong enough to go thru screen so shes basically getting slim to no UVB -- no cover over the bulb if there is one and it needs to be less than 6 months old -- the T 8 needs to be directly over the basking decor 6-8 inches please -- so the gradient heat is good -- what size tank? they will glass surf to get out in small tanks -- I would look at upgrading her tank and the UVB -- and I see stick ons for temp gauges - I would recommend getting 2 digital probe thermometers for accurate surface basking temps- the stick ons only give ambient temps and IR guns cannot read off of certain materials example the hammock in the tank -- I would make the adjustments and see what her behavior is like --- after making the lighting and getting correct temps adjusted if shes still doing the behavior thing I am gonna say its the size of the tank -- you can try getting her out more often as well to see if that curbs the frantic behavior --- if shes gravid she would be doing excessive digging in the tank as well as glass surfing --

Thank you. Yeah I have been trying to figure out how I can get the uvb inside the tank. The bulb is maybe a month old. The tank is a 40 gallon. There is the stick on on the right side and a digital probe on the left and I also use a gun. Should I still be getting her out when she freaks out? Iv seen a lot of people saying to put them back if they start to get stressed. How often should I be handling her?
Also, is her neck supposed to look like this after she eats??

 

[Sadie]

Thank you. Yeah I have been trying to figure out how I can get the uvb inside the tank. The bulb is maybe a month old. The tank is a 40 gallon. There is the stick on on the right side and a digital probe on the left and I also use a gun. Should I still be getting her out when she freaks out? Iv seen a lot of people saying to put them back if they start to get stressed. How often should I be handling her?
Also, is her neck supposed to look like this after she eats??

It looks like she might have food stored in her beard -- it should go down in a day or two --- the T 8 can be hung in the tank w/ these things 3 M command Velcro fasteners- picture hanging wire –long plastic zip ties or fishing line - or take the screen off place width wise on one end of the tank and take the screen butt it up to the UVB fixture w/ the basking bulb next to it --- make sure the distance on that end under the UVB is 6-8 inches - if shes glass surfing take her out put her on a couch or chair in front of a LR window let her watch outside - you can let her run on your LR floor for like 2 hrs out time -- make sure she cant get under stuff you cant get her out and NO pets like cats or dogs that can get to her or freak / stress her out more -- you should be petting her or handling her every day -- is she used to being petted etc

 

[Mamabakes]

Sorry yesterday got busy.
Thank you for that advice. I’ll hang it as soon as I can. I’ll have to work something out for letting her run around bc we also have a rescue kitten. I try to keep him out of the room where she is but occasionally he finds his way in and watches her/sleeps on the floor under her.
I have been handling her every day. At first she would sink really low when I would pet her but now she will stay still and sometimes close her eats for a second. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad. I have no idea how she was cared for before we got her so I’m not sure if she’ll be really receptive of affection but I’ll keep trying!

 

[Sadie]

Sorry yesterday got busy.
Thank you for that advice. I’ll hang it as soon as I can. I’ll have to work something out for letting her run around bc we also have a rescue kitten. I try to keep him out of the room where she is but occasionally he finds his way in and watches her/sleeps on the floor under her.
I have been handling her every day. At first she would sink really low when I would pet her but now she will stay still and sometimes close her eats for a second. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad. I have no idea how she was cared for before we got her so I’m not sure if she’ll be really receptive of affection but I’ll keep trying!

The closing of the eyes means she has gained trust in you -- most dragons love to cuddle and they love affection-- that is why people fall so hard for them -- your kitten will get used to her -- since she is a kitten and we know they like to play keep an eye on her so she is not scratching etc -- letting her get used to the dragons smell is good --

 

[Mamabakes]

The closing of the eyes means she has gained trust in you -- most dragons love to cuddle and they love affection-- that is why people fall so hard for them -- your kitten will get used to her -- since she is a kitten and we know they like to play keep an eye on her so she is not scratching etc -- letting her get used to the dragons smell is good --

Okay great! I have seen a lot of mixed opinions about the eyes closing. People have said it means they close their eyes hoping you’ll go away and others say it’s a good thing. I’ll keep doing it! Thank you guys so much for the advice! I really appreciate it!

 

[Debbrat057]

Hey all!

So I have a beardie that’s about 1 year old. She has been running around her enclosure for the past couple of days towards the backdrop like she’s trying to climb on the logs in it. I thought maybe she wanted to get out but when I take her out she freaks trying to run across my arms to get down and trying to get out of my hands. I’ve been handling her daily but I just don’t know how to get her to chill. We’ve had her for about 3 weeks. Also I think she’s starting to shed her arms, legs and tail so maybe that’s what’s got her worked up? They’ve been kind of grey for about a week now. Any advice? please help!

Sounds like she looking for a place to lay eggs. Make her a dig box. She can lay eggs even without a male. The eggs won't be fertile of course. Once laid if unfertile freeze them then discard them.