Beardie depression?

[beardie_love]

I don't know what else to call it.

Well, some of you know that my 3 beardies are not with me anymore. For those who don't know, I'm secretly keeping my dragons at my sisters apartment (she lives in the suite right above mine), because we got a letter saying we can't have any pets, yadda yadda yadda. So, my sister said she will secretly keep them for me (because my caretakers know I have (or HAD now) lizards.)

Anyway, they took relocation stress pretty well. They've been eating fine - just a tiiiiny bit less than when they were with me.

BUT, I'm wondering what could be wrong with Baby. Since she's been with my sister, she hasn't been basking much, unless I put her on her log to bask (and yet she doesn't stay there long). She's usually hiding underneath her log. I was thinking 'oh it's just relocation stress', but it's weird that it's only that that she's been doing since the move, since she's eating okay and loves being picked up.

I haven't experienced relocation stress with any of my beardies, so I don't know if everything happens at once (not eating, always hiding, etc), or if it could be just one of these things??

Could she be depressed? Because when I pick her up, she loves me and cuddles with me n stuff.


Also, my other beardies seem not happy.. but when I pick them up, they seem so happy.
:'( I miss having them with me all the time..

 

[Pogie]

:'(

That is really not a nice situation, but the best you can do for now without giving them up.

I dont know much about relo stress as I only have 1 dragon and she didnt really have relo stress that I noticed. But it could be as Ive read relo stress can affect different dragons in different ways.

All I can really say is that I hope all is well again SOON, and my thoughts are with you guys

 

[corrine]

Could be reloaction stress. Did you check her temps after moving her? Is there something in her view that may be scaring her? When Yoyo was hiding all the time it was because he could see my older dragon.

 

[beardie_love]

Thanks Monique! I do hope things get better..

Corrine, yeah, her temps were okay. Her basking spot was the same temp as when she was living with me (about 113*F). She never did hide at that temp when I had her. But, I wanted to see if things would change, so I got a lower wattage bulb. The basking spot is about 111*F now.

Now to rant about my new bulb. Darn these hallogens! Okay I had a reptile basking bulb before I changed to the hallogen. The reptile basking bulb was a 150watt. SO, I figured I would get a nice temp with a 90watt hallogen. YEP, temps didn't change much.

HMM, could she be scared of turtles? There are turtles in her view.

Or maybe, could she NOT be noise tolerant? When she was here, things we pretty quiet. My sister has a baby so maybe him screaming is scaring her?

 

[renich]

Hey, Melissa. I was thinking about you the other day and was going to check on things. But here you are giving us updates.

Remind me how long it has been since they moved to your sister's place?

I think you have relo stress coupled with other stresses - turtles and baby. These are new to Baby. Any chance she can be moved from the turtles. I'm not sure if they are a natural predator, but your beardie could feel threatened if never seen these before.

 

[beardie_love]

Awww, thanks Renee

It has now been 12 days since they've moved there.

Sadly, I don't think she can be moved from the turtles. Their tanks are too big to be anywhere else than where they already are..... But as for my sisters baby, I requested to not have the baby around Baby or Ace for a while. Hopefully that will make Baby go back to normal....

Is there anything else I can do to make her comfortable again?

I do have good news though! How we were moving out of the city..... well, I think I've made my decision of NOT moving with my mom. I'm going to be living at my sisters place with my beardies!!!! I'm sooooo happy and I get to be with them ALL the time!

 

[renich]

You can consider blocking her view from the turtles. Put up a piece of paper on that side of the viv. Maybe having you around again will get her through her funk.

Glad you worked out your living arrangements. Just to play devil's advocate, are you and your sister considering moving to a place that accepts reptiles?

 

[beardie_love]

Put a piece of paper on her side of the tank? All sides but the front are pretty much blocked. Will blocking the front too make her feel too closed in?

Yeah, we do want to find somewhere where they'll accept our pets. For the time being, we are here. Once I get my life back on track, we would consider renting a bigger space.