Pics of new pet!! (plus I have some questions) :)

[fsasnicky]

I named him Bowser....

http://i43.tinypic.com/348hzif.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/t98kn6.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/24zx6ic.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/10h1s21.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/25a3fyp.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/wjyyw2.jpg

Hes a 2 and a half year old male Bearded Dragon.

Anyways, I have some questions

I got him on Sunday and hes doing great.
Not to mention I actually think he enjoys watching what goes on outside his enclosure.
Today I am home from school and I have noticed he likes to 'tap'' or 'climb' on the glass. I am afraid if he does that constantly he will hurt his nose if he bands his head as he did once today... today before school I let him out next to me for about 15mins. when I came home I help him again and fed him some cos lettuce, broccoli and carrot..which he ate. Then I help him again because he was 'tapping' on the glass...probs for about half an hour..then put him back ..
then he was 'tapping' again so I took him outside in my lap in the sunlight for a long time..now I have placed him on his rock and he has stayed there..

my questions are:

Does the tapping MEAN anything ... or is it just something they do?

Do they like affection? - obviously so far he has enjoyed me holding him as he kinda just falls asleep.

I heard beardies can get 'fungus' in their feet if they are in water..then on sand..
is this common..because so far he loves his water..but hes also on sand :/

Anyways.
I am sure I will have a few more random questions some other time.
Appreciate your help in the mean time!!

 

[mckellar007]

by tapping do you mean hitting his head against the glass? as in head bobbing? or trying to walk through/up the glass? for the latter i would think he is just exploring his enviroment, getting used to his surroundings, seeing if there is a way out of the tank, and for the first one its a dominance thing, hes probably trying to dominate you ....or it could just be his reflection in the glass.
i wouldnt say they "like" affection, but they do seem to enjoy coming out and being with people, watching tv or running around on the grass.
the fungus isnt something i would be too worried about, ive kept beardies on sand before without problems, as long as the basking temps are normal and the ambient tempreture is right i wouldnt be worried about it.

 

[Lovemydragons]

Yeah mine try to climb through the glass, and the back wall and over the thermostat aswell. I think they're just trying to push the boundaries, see how far they can get, how much space they actually have.

 

[fsasnicky]

hes been 'scraping the glass' for at least 15mins.. he isn't banging his head.. i can just hear his claws... should i let him be ? :/

 

[sweetangel]

hes fine, he is just trying to get out. my ackies do it all the time. they dont realise the glass is there and keep trying to get through.

 

[mckellar007]

they just dont realise that the glass is there, and cant figure out why they cant get through it, my stumpies do it all the time, as well as my blueys and beardies occasionally.

 

[Jazza369]

i dont know much about beardies but that looks lik one nice dragon

 

[LullabyLizard]

Nice


Don't use sand!! It can cause impaction and RI. Use something like Newspaper or paper towel instead. I know it doesn't look as nice, but its better to be safe than sorry

 

[fsasnicky]

ok thank-you.. although bummer to hear he constantly wants to get out hope hes not unhappy

Do you think if I take him out more it will make him 'happier' ? or would it be a bad thing because 'he go his way''.
although it should never be a bad thing to let him out of a cage.. actually i'd rather him not be in a cage .. but of course thats impossible

sorry bout the questions..
thanks for you help!

 

[Kay-Dee95]

sand is fine for a bigger dragon (your size)
but he is also looking a bit skinny

 

[fsasnicky]

the reptile guy said he was at optimum although I fed him the day i got him (crickets) and today lettuce, broccoli and carrot.. it wasnt too much and he didnt finish it. tomorrow i plan to offer crickets again - by looking at his tail he could probably benefit from a bit extra.

also i worked out its not really just the glass.. he is .. digging.. i can now see the bottom of the enclosure.. should I be encouraging this by perhaps buying more sand and wetting it so he has something to dig through? or?

thanks!

 

[fsasnicky]

hes still digging yet there is no sand left to dig :/

 

[fsasnicky]

actually now hes scratching the glass and hitting his nose on the glass.. is there a way to prevent this he wont stop..although just then I did let him out because i was showing a friend. I think I should stop opening that side of the glass for a while until he settles... I just dont like now how hes hitting his nose :/

 

[Shadowfoxpika2]

Great looking Beardie! Yeah he does look a bit thin but other wise he looks great!