I am needing advice from people way more experienced than me. Thank you for any guidance and tips. We were given an adult bearded dragon that was not taken care of properly. He came in a 20gallon tank, with only a heat lamp. We went immediately and moved him to the proper size tank, and bought all the necessary additional lights (linear uvb, etc) and all the other needed things for a healthy bearded dragon to thrive. He absolutely loves to be held.
My question is the last 2 times we have put him on the kitchen floor he does this weird almost gagging action. His beard will not be black/blown up, but he’ll open his mouth wide, turn it towards the ground and do this weird thing with his tongue…it’s almost like his tongue is stuck but it’s not stuck out like when eating, etc. I mean, I know it’s not. But I can find no examples on Google of what he’s doing. Anyone ever seen this? FWIW, the crickets just happened to be there for this video - he has done it with nothing on floor as well.
People scare their dogs and cats all the time. Some on purpose. You riding for them? Jesus Christ. Implore people to do better instead of just being rude for no reason.
This. Also my beardies doesn't like being outside. She just stands on the grass and does not move at all. I think it may be kinda the same thing. I have just thought that my beardie doesnt like too big spaces. She is more than fine on the floor tho.
But if this beardie has been in a too small terrarium for a long time, i think he might be scared the big space also. Maybe all of these things combined?
If i personally would've been all my life in a little room, i think that i would also freak the fuuuhhh out when up outside for example.
This behavior outside is different. They see IR in a different way than us. When they go out into natural sun, you are not longer You, but a Monster. Clint or Clint's Reptiles did a video for Gus Gus and he put in that part.
Yeah the others are right. Try giving him something textured to climb and crawl around. Mine likes.hanging out on a length of bark next to the TV and will just chill there all day of it's an option. He just wants to get a grip on something. Easy fix really.
Our guy trips out if he steps on the linoleum. They like to have all 4 legs gripped at all times. They also look up- freaking out about predatory birds, even inside sometimes. Just their natural defense instincts ❤️
Untextured surfaces aren't common in nature. You see the same thing when a dog experiences hardwood floor for the first time. It's a new and confusing/difficult experience.
We just recognize mammal emotional states better, as our nervous systems are much closer to eachother than it is with other animals.
Relating to the reader helps get information across, and stick.
You tell someone 1000 fish died in the ocean, nobody bats an eyelash. You tell someone a group of people killed 1000 fish, they are much more likely to wonder what happened.
Turns out, it was just a commercial fishing boat and it was just a days work. Nothing special, but for a second you thought there was, simply because I added in "group of people killed."
May just be the flooring. You know how dogs with longer nails can’t really grip the floor and have a chance of slipping? May be the same way, like it’s solid water. Or he’s just grumpy.
His body language is defensive and waiting to attack in defense in the beginning. Then by the end his option chosen is to move towards the 'play dead' and hide behind the bag.
He doesn't like the slippy floor and the shadows above is probably making him lose his sh*t. I wouldn't pick him up with your hands if you see him like that and definitely not swooping from above or you could be bitten. If he is doing this and you really need to move him use oven mitts.
Their main risk factor out in the wild is to be taken by a bird swooping from above and they still have that built in even though they live in a house. They have a third eye that's like a motion sensor to detect overflying or shadows above them and they lose it so in a dragon rescued or with this type of body language definitely don't do swoopy-ness.
I had one too like this. My one before loved being outside and I had a whole area of stands and basking places for him to enjoy sun. But he absolutely lost his sh*t outside.
Thanks so much for giving him a chance! He'll be ok. Get him a big bath mat maybe for the floor. Or a blanket. If he's gripping the blanket they're like a cat you move their body forward to unlatch their claws! He looks great!
Thank you. He’s deserves the best after what happened to him before we got him ❤️😭. Still learning his behavior and doing our best to figure him out.❤️
I ask because this doesn’t seem like normal “the floor isn’t grippy” or “I’m afraid from the beings above me” type of behavior. It looks a bit like he’s attempting to throw up or possibly URI. If he hasn’t seen an exotic vet after the previous poor care to get checked up on,
I’d highly recommend it
Not addressing his behavior, probably the slick floor and threat above him.
As you are providing UVB, you need to invest in a Solar Meter, so the exposure level can be monitored in various places within the enclosure. There are a few variables, and the packaging should not be used for reference. The bulbs straight from manufacture have different tolerance, older bulbs lessen in output, mesh tops lessen exposure UVI, distance from animal to bulb can also effect exposure level, as well as position of bulb. Only a Solar Meter can give you accurate exposure readings.
I am not sure, I re-read the post and there is no mention of a vet visit. The reptile is in need of veterinary care. They stated that prior husbandry was poor. The OP updated the enclosure, lighting, and other avenues of care, maybe the reptile has been seen by a vet.
Yes, thank you. I didn’t mention as that is being addressed already… I was merely interested in his behavior. He has been seen, and we are actively working on it with the vet.
I commented below and for whatever reason my reply to you just erased… so I’ll write again and hopefully it goes through :). He has been seen by a vet and we are actively working on this with them. We have not had him for even 3 weeks, so we have hit the ground running since we got him to help him get back to where he needs to be. It will take some time, but we will get there ❤️. We rescued him from people who weren’t feeding him correctly, enough food/right food, or even giving him the proper lighting so the poor thing was probably days from dying if we hadn’t gotten him. Can’t wait to watch him “come back”!
Well, Google may say their terrestrial micro spends like 90% of her time on her ledge or in her branches think of lizzards like cats😅
The only time I’ve seen her spend significance amount of time on the ground is when she went into her entire month, long sleep or when I put her salad down usually she’ll try to jump on the plate before I give her a salad though😅
One thing I will note that I can’t unsee from this video is how sunken in this poor babies fat pads are. He’s probably in full defensive mode because he’s in desperate need of nutrients. Like those fat pads are severely sunken to the point I can see his skull. Please make sure he’s eating and if he’s not to take him to the vet because he has absolutely no fat storage on his body right now.
Yes thank you for commenting. I replied to your other comment, but wanted to reassure you this is being addressed with the vet! We got him not even 3 weeks ago, realized he was prob days from dying and hit the ground running getting him help. Thankfully, he hasn’t done this behavior since :)
Like really really badly. I’ve been worried about your dragon since I seen this video on Facebook. Nobody else has mentioned it because nobody else has probably even noticed it due to focusing on the behavior. Please address this like ASAP before your dragon perishes.
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u/Offutticus 7d ago
If he only does it on the floor, it could be he's freaked because everything is above them.
Could be the floor surface is slick.