Worried about my Beardie (not brumation, maybe too quiet?)

[ColeDWestin]

For a bit of background, my bearded dragon Ryu is going to be 3 years old this November. He's my third beardy. He was a classroom pet last year (special treat for my grade 3 classroom), and he loved the classroom attention (his father was apparently the shop's showman for field trips and the like), and was always active, ate his veggies and bugs without issue (apart from the occasional finger munching -- just mine, lol) and in general acclimated to school life easily.

The problem is that now, due to outside circumstances, I've had to move his cage back home due to some teacher aides in my new class having a genuine phobia of lizards (I agreed to move him safely to avoid issues) and the move back home has not helped Ryu. I know that every bearded dragon is different, and it's possible he's simply not happy with moving, but it's been 2 months and I'm starting to fear I'm doing something wrong. Where Ryu was once active and chill around people, he now avoids me and hides in his sleeping cave for days at a time. Doesn't want to go on walks atop my shoulder anymore, and other than occasionally coming out for food, he just hides all the time.

Everything about his cage is the same, with years of practice and following advice to give him proper lights, temps, etc. Only the location is different, but that's apparently upset him a lot.

Is it just the moving making him unhappy? I genuinely don't think it's brumation or an illness. He's a healthy weight when I weighed him a week ago (before he immediately went back to his cave). Just doesn't want to come out, and I'm trying not to make things worse by forcing the matter.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Sadie]

For a bit of background, my bearded dragon Ryu is going to be 3 years old this November. He's my third beardy. He was a classroom pet last year (special treat for my grade 3 classroom), and he loved the classroom attention (his father was apparently the shop's showman for field trips and the like), and was always active, ate his veggies and bugs without issue (apart from the occasional finger munching -- just mine, lol) and in general acclimated to school life easily.

The problem is that now, due to outside circumstances, I've had to move his cage back home due to some teacher aides in my new class having a genuine phobia of lizards (I agreed to move him safely to avoid issues) and the move back home has not helped Ryu. I know that every bearded dragon is different, and it's possible he's simply not happy with moving, but it's been 2 months and I'm starting to fear I'm doing something wrong. Where Ryu was once active and chill around people, he now avoids me and hides in his sleeping cave for days at a time. Doesn't want to go on walks atop my shoulder anymore, and other than occasionally coming out for food, he just hides all the time.

Everything about his cage is the same, with years of practice and following advice to give him proper lights, temps, etc. Only the location is different, but that's apparently upset him a lot.

Is it just the moving making him unhappy? I genuinely don't think it's brumation or an illness. He's a healthy weight when I weighed him a week ago (before he immediately went back to his cave). Just doesn't want to come out, and I'm trying not to make things worse by forcing the matter.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Has he brumated in the past and when does he usually go down? Is he basking at all from the way it sounds not at all? Is he pooping? It is not uncommon for them to go thru relocation stress but 2 months is quite a long time especially if all is the same w/ the tank only difference is the scenery -- Lets start here and then move forward to see if we can resolve the mystery w/ him

 

[ColeDWestin]

Has he brumated in the past and when does he usually go down? Is he basking at all from the way it sounds not at all? Is he pooping? It is not uncommon for them to go thru relocation stress but 2 months is quite a long time especially if all is the same w/ the tank only difference is the scenery -- Lets start here and then move forward to see if we can resolve the mystery w/ him

He did brumate last year in December. Came back out in late January.

He does try to bask on top of his log or basking rock when he comes out (bask temp about 105 degrees F). Then he starts hiding under the log before for a day or two before
retreating into his sleep cave.

He’s had two baths since this started, and he pooped both times. Healthy light brown color both times, no unusual colors or surprises as far as I could tell.

If it helps, I’ve tried to keep some stimulating noise near his tank (TV or radio on), but nothing deafening. Just enough so he’s hearing voices so he’s not totally alone when I leave to teach for the day. I’ve also placed his cage on a new stand so I’m not towering over him when I try to read a story to him.

 

[Sadie]

He did brumate last year in December. Came back out in late January.

He does try to bask on top of his log or basking rock when he comes out (bask temp about 105 degrees F). Then he starts hiding under the log before for a day or two before
retreating into his sleep cave.

He’s had two baths since this started, and he pooped both times. Healthy light brown color both times, no unusual colors or surprises as far as I could tell.

If it helps, I’ve tried to keep some stimulating noise near his tank (TV or radio on), but nothing deafening. Just enough so he’s hearing voices so he’s not totally alone when I leave to teach for the day. I’ve also placed his cage on a new stand so I’m not towering over him when I try to read a story to him.

I was going to say the noise from the class during the day to silence would be a jolt for him - the poop is there urate which would be white- we dont want him dehyrated- the basking temp I would lower to 95-100 older dragons do not like the real hot temps - see if he will bask longer -- how are you keeping an eye on that if your gone during the day? You might want to start some cuddle time in the evening see if that doesnt change some of his behavior

 

[ColeDWestin]

I was going to say the noise from the class during the day to silence would be a jolt for him - the poop is there urate which would be white- we dont want him dehyrated- the basking temp I would lower to 95-100 older dragons do not like the real hot temps - see if he will bask longer -- how are you keeping an eye on that if your gone during the day? You might want to start some cuddle time in the evening see if that doesnt change some of his behavior

Can’t remember the first poop, but the second did have urate on the end.

Admittedly there really isn’t much I can do except drive home to check on him at lunch. I wish I had a camera or something to check on him. I do check on him as soon as I’m home… and he hasn’t moved much beyond shifting around. It *could* be brumation, but I’ve no idea. I’m also terrified of forcing anything and damaging his trust in me.

I’ll try adjusting the temps in his cage and try to add more cuddles with story time.

 

[Sadie]

Can’t remember the first poop, but the second did have urate on the end.

Admittedly there really isn’t much I can do except drive home to check on him at lunch. I wish I had a camera or something to check on him. I do check on him as soon as I’m home… and he hasn’t moved much beyond shifting around. It *could* be brumation, but I’ve no idea. I’m also terrified of forcing anything and damaging his trust in me.

I’ll try adjusting the temps in his cage and try to add more cuddles with story time.

There are two types of brumation- one is a semi where he will go sleep for a week or two come out bask maybe eat -- the other is the long brumation where he will go into his hide sleep for a month or longer - my one did the semi brumation never longer than 2 weeks- most of the winter time during that season he was awake - the other one slept longer for like 3 weeks to a month - there are cameras where you can buy set it up and use the app on the phone to check on him -

 

[ColeDWestin]

There are two types of brumation- one is a semi where he will go sleep for a week or two come out bask maybe eat -- the other is the long brumation where he will go into his hide sleep for a month or longer - my one did the semi brumation never longer than 2 weeks- most of the winter time during that season he was awake - the other one slept longer for like 3 weeks to a month - there are cameras where you can buy set it up and use the app on the phone to check on him -

I’ll start looking into a camera then. And hopefully this is just a temporary brumation or “moving sickness”.

I’ll update if things change.

 

[Sadie]

I’ll start looking into a camera then. And hopefully this is just a temporary brumation or “moving sickness”.

I’ll update if things change.

Could be a slow down period -- keep an eye on the eating the pooping and the basking- if he is doing all 3 he should be fine --