Tapping and scratching the glass

[Lifeson]

Why does my bearded dragon keep tapping and scratching the glass? Keeps looking out going back and forth.

 

[Hdrydr31]

Maybe he wants out? Is he normally calm or is he like this alot? is he trying to get away from something? Is he new? does he have places to hide to sleep in?
I guess what I'm asking is please give some more info on your set up and more about your dragon so we can help you and your dragon out.. pictures are always helpful too

 

[Lifeson]

Maybe he wants out? Is he normally calm or is he like this alot? is he trying to get away from something? Is he new? does he have places to hide to sleep in?
I guess what I'm asking is please give some more info on your set up and more about your dragon so we can help you and your dragon out.. pictures are always helpful too

Thanks. He has plenty places to hide. See pic Attached. Not trying to get away from anything. I let him out everyday to run around a little and to pet.

 

[Hdrydr31]

Good looking dragon. what is the substrate you are using?? What are the temps for basking, overall and the cool side for sleeping?

 

[Lifeson]

Good looking dragon. what is the substrate you are using?? What are the temps for basking, overall and the cool side for sleeping?

Substrate I am assuming his soil or what I out in the cage, it's a bark I guy at a reptile store recommended. The temp on the cool side is around 80. The hotter side is 90-93, the basking in the tree you see him (for which I read is is getting to his desired temp) get to 105 the rock where he chooses gets to around 100.

 

[Lifeson]

Oh most of the time he is calm but for like a hour he does the scratching

 

[PatsyB]

How big is the tank? It looks he might be growing out of it, hence the scratching and tapping. You need to be careful with wood as the substrate, they lick EVERYTHING and it would be easy for him to ingest a piece of the wood and become impacted.

 

[Hdrydr31]

You really shouldn't use any kind of wood, mulch because of impaction risk, the oils in wood tend to irritate their skin. Cedar is especially bad the compounds in cedar is a natural insecticides that give it it's good smell they are very toxic to lizards, skin lesions and respiratory issues.. They are bound to eat some of the substrate when they eat, and they also taste their environment which can lead to ingestion..
Please be safe and think about changing that to paper towels, repti carpet, contact paper...

 

[Lifeson]

How big is the tank? It looks he might be growing out of it, hence the scratching and tapping. You need to be careful with wood as the substrate, they lick EVERYTHING and it would be easy for him to ingest a piece of the wood and become impacted.

You really shouldn't use any kind of wood, mulch because of impaction risk, the oils in wood tend to irritate their skin. Cedar is especially bad the compounds in cedar is a natural insecticides that give it it's good smell they are very toxic to lizards, skin lesions and respiratory issues.. They are bound to eat some of the substrate when they eat, and they also taste their environment which can lead to ingestion..
Please be safe and think about changing that to paper towels, repti carpet, contact paper...

Ok thanks

 

[Lifeson]

Any recommendations of carpet brand?

 

[PatsyB]

Repticarpet is good. I have a few around the house and when I take one out to clean I put in the clean one. Paper towel is good, and so is ceramic tile.

 

[Lynchman18]

You could use tile that looks natural and is easy to clean. In my cage I have a small section of the cage away from the food that has some substrate. Yes substrate is not good but the % of it actually causing impaction is a lot less then most will lead you to believe. My cage is 42" long and only 1 foot on the far side of the cage is substrate so they can burrow. dragons like to what I call create a nest to sleep in at night. My food is on the cool side with over 30" of tile that way when they eat they have an even less chance of eating the substrate. I feed my crickets to my dragons in a separate tub and the roaches and other bugs are in the bug bowl on the same side as the food bowl. your dragon's cage seems way to small for the size of the dragon. They like to move around and stretch their legs. (Now watch all the people talk crap about using substrate) lol

 

[Hdrydr31]

No crap talk about substrate.. I think everyone just want's what is best for their scaly friends and I think we all know that alot of the info given from pet stores come from folks that really don't know everything about everything.. If used in a controlled manor and after you know your critter's habits and bodily functions making their environment more realistic is great. I wouldn't suggest it for beginners, and not everyone that gets into housing dragons have done very much research on their needs.

 

[PatsyB]

No crap talk here either! I always feel like hdrydr31 said, you will learn your dragons habits and know what's good for them. I always feel like if you have a well hydrated dragon, offering greens and variety of juicy bugs, then impaction shouldn't be a problem.

I like the idea of a half and half tank. I had Dexter on sand for awhile and she didn't really like it, she'd never walk around in it and would spend most of her time in her hammock!

 

[Lifeson]

Thanks for the advise everyone. I now have reptile carpet. ( see picture). This dude is so cool and calm. The entire time I redid is home he was so at ease. I actually think these recognize their owners

 

[MillieD]

My bearded dragon sometimes does this too - when he wants to come out for a walk or cuddle or if he sports some live food that has escaped

 

[Hdrydr31]

looks nice great job!! I agree they do recognize their owners.