Beardies on the wire

[moimac]

Morning all,
Yesterday we received our 4 hatchling central beardies. We have built an enclosure using a corner shelf unit frame with small bird aviary wire and perspex (door and about 10cms around the base). We have put an awesome big flat rock in and some nice pieces of dried out gum for lounging around but they climb up and just hang off the aviary wire right at the top. I am wondering if we should have used aviary wire now but as we live in the tropics (high humidity) we thought the more airflow they received the better... Can anyone tell me if this is normal behaviour, should I change the enclosure to prevent them climbing? Help!

 

[bk201]

Wire is a bad idea for dragon enclosures as they can do damage to their noses on the wire

 

[moimac]

Wire is a bad idea for dragon enclosures as they can do damage to their noses on the wire

Right. So your recommendation would be to remove the wire or at least prevent them from climbing up? Are there any other issues or suggestions?
Cheers,

 

[PK1988]

It could be they are too cold and trying to get closer to the heat lamp.

Mine used to climb the rock background, but after they got bigger they grew out of it because they were to heavy to cling on to its small protrusions.

I would just try to stop them getting up onto it if there is a risk of them touching the heat lamp or falling any considerable height.

If you provide something in the enclosure for them to climb on with a flat-ish surface on top they will probably prefer that to clinging onto wire... try doing this and every time they climb the wire remove them and put them where they are supposed to be.

A must would be to make sure there are no sharp points where you cut the wire.

 

[Dutchy88]

Like PK1988 said they may be trying to get closer to the heat are the branches positioned under the heat? if so it may need to be closer but obviously not close enough for them to touch.also you could put a piece of Perspex say a 1/4 of the height of the enclouser around the sides so the can't reach the wire

 

[moimac]

It could be they are too cold and trying to get closer to the heat lamp.

Mine used to climb the rock background, but after they got bigger they grew out of it because they were to heavy to cling on to its small protrusions.

I would just try to stop them getting up onto it if there is a risk of them touching the heat lamp or falling any considerable height.

If you provide something in the enclosure for them to climb on with a flat-ish surface on top they will probably prefer that to clinging onto wire... try doing this and every time they climb the wire remove them and put them where they are supposed to be.

A must would be to make sure there are no sharp points where you cut the wire.

The heat lamp is not where they are climbing the wire, it's fixed to the timber ceiling so they can only get within the minimum distance as recommended. It's a UVA/UVB heat light all in one and out of reach.

They are climbing up about 80cms off the floor surface. Slightly frustrating as it will require quite a bit of work to rebuild the sides however animal welfare is a higher priority. Not sure what the attraction is with the wire clinging... seems an uncomfortable way to spend time.

 

[moimac]

Like PK1988 said they may be trying to get closer to the heat are the branches positioned under the heat? if so it may need to be closer but obviously not close enough for them to touch.also you could put a piece of Perspex say a 1/4 of the height of the enclouser around the sides so the can't reach the wire

For some reason i can't upload pictures so I can't actually show you the enclosure and what is going on, they def have access to light and heat.
Do they need a constant heat source? It's 32 degrees up here and the house retains much of that heat, didn't think they would need a light on all day as well in summer.

 

[longqi]

One thing you may consider is changing the wire
I take it you are using galvanised now?
Bunnings etc sell plastic mesh and plastic coated wire mesh
No rough bits etc

 

[moimac]

One thing you may consider is changing the wire
I take it you are using galvanised now?
Bunnings etc sell plastic mesh and plastic coated wire mesh
No rough bits etc

We look at all of those but the gal mesh won out. I think we might end up increasing the height of the perspex so they can't climb it, airflow is essential to the climate. Thanks for the reply.

Cheers,

 

[Dutchy88]

For some reason i can't upload pictures so I can't actually show you the enclosure and what is going on, they def have access to light and heat.
Do they need a constant heat source? It's 32 degrees up here and the house retains much of that heat, didn't think they would need a light on all day as well in summer.

Its tricky for you being in the tropics but you need a basking temp of atleast 35 for juvenile but saying that you've also got the problem of the ampient air temps of 32 so there is no real cool side for them are they trying to escape the heat ie hiding ect

 

[moimac]

They have a very large flat stone to hide under, nice and shady and cooler. I am going to fashion a better hide for them this weekend. I did consider they were cooling their bellies with the breeze as they are next to a window