Reptile & Amphibian Forums

my beardies routinely try to climb the walls of their tanks.

why?

Mine does that all the time...totally ok...I have heard(and could be worng) that part of it is that they cannot see glass so they don't understand why they aren't going anywhere...like i said its just something i heard and i am sure someone else will have something way better

any ideas on making it stop?

Wall climbing could be due to a cage that is too small (adult minimum size in my book, is 4'x2'x2') It can also be reflections in the glass of their cage and they think they have more room to go in that direction and just haven't figured out they can't go that way due to the glass.

About the only way to stop it is increase cage size (if smaller than minimum size) or cover the glass sides with something (cover the inside of the cage, as the glass will still reflect the interior inside if only the outside of the cage is covered). Or, make a cage that has only one glass size, or screen sided front.
-----
PHLdyPayne

that actually doesn't help to put something on the walls. it just gives thems something that they think they can climb even easier. and the tank size is big enough. he's in a 70.

I think it is something that you just get used to it...If everything is right in your tank your beadie should be alright.

My dragon is in a big display case that you see in a store. 3 sides are wood and the front is glass. Mine climbs the back wall that is not glass. So I think the glass theory may not work or a bigger cage. I wish it would stop also. I get scared that the dragon is going to hurt itself.
-----
Cheryl

UGH! My boy blighter is my baby. Though he does stupid stuff to make me want to smack him. When we first got him he was freaking out running around climbing walls, I think it was because he wasnt used to the snake smell next door... anyway he managed to break his wrist. We have no snakes now just a ton of dragons, after he broke his wrist he got really litargic and it was just bad. He didnt eat, run around nothing. Anyway he is all better now and climbing the glass.. AGAIN. We cant get him to stop and he likes to balance on his tail, we are afraid he will break his other wrist or his tail. So YES they can get hurt. But no, I have no way to stop it. If i take him out when he is doing it he scratchs me and trys to get back in the tank. So goddess knows what is going on in his mind. Good luck and let me know if you find a cure for the wall climbing.

---
Tia
-----
Proud mommy of Blighter ( sandfire beardie 6mo), Monster(hes yellow beardie... 6mo old) 5 dogs, 4 horses, 2 fish, and 3 legit cats...a billion strays. Obsolescenttears@aol.com