Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, so I'm mainly a snake guy - colubrids, ball pythons, boas and rattlesnakes. However, over the better part of 20 years I've kept reptiles of all types; besides snakes, I've also had monitors, geckos, chameleons, etc....BUT NEVER a beaded lizard! So when I got this one, I really wasnt sure what to expect and was/am not familiar with "normal, healthy" behavior.

So here's the skinny:

I keep him on newspaper currently, with a hot rock, an overhead UV incandescent bulb, with hide box and water bowl. He has a thermal gradient with a median temp of around 86 degrees. Will someone please tell me if this is correct and what, if anything should I change, or do differently? I ask this because this little guy (approx 6" ) is really lazy most of the time and just lays around in his water bowl almost all day long! Occasionally if I check on him at night, he'll be out prowling around. Also, I acquired him just a few weeks ago, and so far I've fed him small f/t pinkies, (3 times, 1 pinky ea time). He has an appetite and seems healthy, but I just don't know how he SHOULD behave, and/or if my husbundry for him is optimal.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for any direction!

Baby beaded lizards

I don't have experience with beadeds but here is a link....

www.helodermahorridum.com/neonate.php

-Chris
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Christopher E. Smith
Contact
Captive Bred Herps
Wildlife Research & Consulting Services, LLC

Cool man, I'll check it out. Thanks Chris.

Regarding his behavior, that all seems pretty normal. They aren't an active species, so they do lay around a lot (except at night when they are generally much more active). I will warn you that sooner or later you are going to walk in and see him laying on his back, or on his side with his legs sticking up in the air. Don'tt worry, this is completely normal. Both beadeds and gilas do this through adulthood. Freaks you out the first time you see it, but they are fine.

Your set up sounds fine, but the UV light (in fact any light beyond ambient room light) is unnecessary.

Sounds like youre keeping it too hot. Try a daytime ambient temp. in the high 70s with a basking light for a "hot spot" and give it a hidebox filled with a damp medium. They shouldn't be using the water dish as more than a drinking vessel and occasional soaking area unless they're overheated and/or dehydrated. Also, you might want to try a more natural substrate than newspaper as both gilas and beadeds like to dig and tunnel. It also creates a more interesting environment for both the keeper and the kept. Good luck.
Dave

Ok, and thank you for the reply. I already reuduced the temp and I've noticed he hasn't been soaking anymore like he was. I also placed some "furniture" in there for him; an extra hide, a big branch, and a giant fake cactus. He almost immediately began climbing around and exploring his new "crib" (Hahahaha!) After I did this. It almost seems as though he may have been bored before. LOL! Now he a lot more active and seems really content.

I'll take your advice though and change out the substrate to something more natural.

Thanks again for the good word Dave!

Micah

I'm glad your beaded lizard has responded to the changes you made with your husbandry. When a healthy captive specimen doesn't act "normal" it's usually telling you that something isn't right with the captive environment you have provided it with. Heat, or lack of, is usually the culprit. (I think many hobbiests initially overdo it with the whole heat thing wether it be lizards, snakes, chelonians or even amphibians.)
I've found young beadeds to be far more outgoing and active than baby gilas and take to climbing and exploring their habitat with less fear and apparent loathing of their keeper. I've had baby beadeds come to me (source of food) at less than a month old and walk over my hand to take a pinky off tongs...some gilas have taken four or five months to respond to human interaction without huffing and a gaping/snapping mouth.
ps: And don't get bitten...even by a baby...it really F******* HURTS !
Dave

LOL! Your description is right on point, regarding all the huffing and puffing with the gaping mouth and loathing towards the keeper. SO accurate! I do hope he calms down a bit, mainly for his sake though. He gets REALLY worked up sometimes and I know he probably hates me. I just want him to be content.