Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OK, at 12" and 130g my little guy is no longer just an eating and pooping machine - my little boy is growing up. And along with his beard needing a shave (lol!) his personality is developing too, but I am not to sure if I am "getting it."

This may sound strange but I think it is in part due to his black eyes. Even Luna's googly chameleon eyes were readable! I know Darwin is in there we are just having some trouble communicating! Much of my confusion is around food and sleep. His eating habits (not so much type of food, but how and when) and his hours keep changing.

Like tonight. Around 7:30 he disappeared down near the big rock (on the tank floor). I turned out all but his UVB light -b/c he will sometimes pop back up for awhile. Well, sure enough, by 8:00 or so he was basking again. I took him out and brought him downstairs to watch TV with me and Lita (cat). At one point I put him on the table and he jumped back to the couch - cuuute! He began to snooze so I brought him back to the tank - he sat upright as if to bask.. Anyway, it is now 10:00 and he's basking. He got up around 8:30 (let him sleep in since he was up until 9:00 last night).

So I ask you experienced (and other newbie!) bd keepers if you can shed any light on how to determine behavior. He is totally trusting of me and I wonder if he wants more interaction. Going from a cham like Luna who would prefer no handling to this docile little guy takes some getting used to. Btw, he has done no arm waving, only licks things in his tank that are new and even that is minimal, eats his veggies (just turned him on to violet leaves and flowers, also clover ) etc.

Any insight???

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Chameleon Help & Resource Info

0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.3 Mad. Hissers (2 died ;(
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha

>>OK, at 12" and 130g my little guy is no longer just an eating and pooping machine - my little boy is growing up. And along with his beard needing a shave (lol!) his personality is developing too, but I am not to sure if I am "getting it."
>>
>>This may sound strange but I think it is in part due to his black eyes. Even Luna's googly chameleon eyes were readable! I know Darwin is in there we are just having some trouble communicating! Much of my confusion is around food and sleep. His eating habits (not so much type of food, but how and when) and his hours keep changing.
>>
>>Like tonight. Around 7:30 he disappeared down near the big rock (on the tank floor). I turned out all but his UVB light -b/c he will sometimes pop back up for awhile. Well, sure enough, by 8:00 or so he was basking again. I took him out and brought him downstairs to watch TV with me and Lita (cat). At one point I put him on the table and he jumped back to the couch - cuuute! He began to snooze so I brought him back to the tank - he sat upright as if to bask.. Anyway, it is now 10:00 and he's basking. He got up around 8:30 (let him sleep in since he was up until 9:00 last night).
>>
>>So I ask you experienced (and other newbie!) bd keepers if you can shed any light on how to determine behavior. He is totally trusting of me and I wonder if he wants more interaction. Going from a cham like Luna who would prefer no handling to this docile little guy takes some getting used to. Btw, he has done no arm waving, only licks things in his tank that are new and even that is minimal, eats his veggies (just turned him on to violet leaves and flowers, also clover ) etc.
>>
>>Any insight???
>>
>>
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>>Chameleon Help & Resource Info
>>
>>0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna
>>1.0 Beardie - Darwin
>>0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
>>0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
>>0.3 Mad. Hissers (2 died ;(
>>0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
>>0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha
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www.AlphaDragonZ.com

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I plan on getting him onto a timer once I get a feel for his schedule. He was just moved into his new tank Friday night (last) and figured he needed adjusting time. If the lights are off and he is up "basking" 1/2 hour later this is telling me something. In the smaller tank he would go to sleep or to the floor on his own. Last night I ended up bringing him downstairs to watch TV and he fell asleep on me.

I also meant to add his feeding habits. He will not hunt for crickets now (or minimally) and yesterday he had the bowl of them (back to leg removing - ick) and he just looked at them. I picked them up and offered and he gobbled them down. He will take silkies on his own.

So my questions are not just about timers and bed time, but about general personalities and quirks. I am not an early riser so maybe I will just adjust him to my schedule. This morning I had a blanket over his tank and when I put on the UVB lights at 9:00 I woke him up.

He seems to be developing his personality and wondering about others' experiences and quirky dragons.
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Chameleon Help & Resource Info

0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.3 Mad. Hissers (2 died ;(
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha

Just get him on a timer and get him on the sheduele you want him on using the lights. Don't give him choices but keep him consistent or he may stress out. On at the same time and off at the same time daily. When they get used to it mine go to bed 5 minutes before lights off every day. Plus their appetite will change as adults they will not eat as often or as ravenously.
They also get a lot less active.
Some will eat daily and some will eat every other day or even every third day. Plus now is the time to add more vegies and greens and less and less insects. I feel adults that eat too much protein live shorter lives. Really you don't need to worry about that till he is a year old or more. (In Feb) Yes I remember his birthday month!
What kind of mom would I be if I didn't!

Little One will chase down crix but Smaug very rarely does...seems the older they get, the lazier...I can tell with Little One, the bigger he gets the less scared...he's getting used to petting and drinks better, before he seemed more on alert when drinking...he acts different with me than others...I am the caretaker...when I pet he usually is ok now but does watch me alertly except if my daughter has recently been petting him, then when I reach to pet he will keep turning so that he is facing my hand...not that my daughter harms him, she just is faster in her movements...I try to read his mood more so if he acts scared I'll leave him be...
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1.0.1 Bearded Dragons - Smaug and Little One (for now, till I know the sex for sure)
3.1 Bettas - Jason, Ori, Fishy Fishy Fishy, Faith (R.I.P.)
1.0 3 Legged Bullfrog - Jeremiah Sim Choy
1.0 Leopard Gecko - Spike
0.1 Guinea Pig- Oreo

hard to say...although other than twice turning his beard black, gaping and hissing twice with good reason, Smaug has head bobbed about three times but not till he was older....Little One has armed waved quite a bit...never turned beard black but has gaped and hissed...their lights go on and off the same time everyday...usually they seem to be ready for sleep by the time they go off, especially Smaug, maybe cause he's older...and they are usually fed basically the same times every day, sometimes a little late depending...
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1.0.1 Bearded Dragons - Smaug and Little One (for now, till I know the sex for sure)
3.1 Bettas - Jason, Ori, Fishy Fishy Fishy, Faith (R.I.P.)
1.0 3 Legged Bullfrog - Jeremiah Sim Choy
1.0 Leopard Gecko - Spike
0.1 Guinea Pig- Oreo

I agree that getting a timer might help. If you set the timer to go on and off at the same time he will get used to it. Hanny is always up on her sleeping spot and snuggling down with her eyes closed just before the light goes off. You can also adjust the timer with the seasons to give them a more realistic home...ie longer days in the summer, shorter in the winter
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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican Black kingsnake
1.1 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Tokay Gecko
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Anerythristic Corn
0.0.1 Red Tegu
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats