How to Stop Glass Surfing in Bearded Dragons?
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How to Stop Glass Surfing in Bearded Dragons?

If you own a bearded dragon, you may have spotted your pet practicing what is known as “glass surfing.” This is a concerning behavior, and you may be asking why your pet is engaging in it. ‘How to stop Glass Surfing in Bearded Dragons?’ This post will explain what glass surfing is and provide you with some advice on how to quit it.

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What is Glass Surfing in Bearded Dragons?

Glass surfing is a behavior that many reptiles, especially bearded dragons, exhibit. The animal exhibits this behavior by continuously racing or rubbing against the walls of its habitat, typically focusing on the glass parts of the enclosure. The phrase “glass surfing” refers to this behavior, which seems to be the bearded dragon attempting to surf over the glass.

A bearded dragon may display glass-surfing behavior for a variety of reasons. Boredom is one of the most prevalent causes. Bearded dragons are intellectual creatures who require excitement and enrichment to stay healthy and happy. If they don’t have enough to do or explore in their enclosure, they may turn to glass surfing to pass the time.

Stress is another major cause of glass surfing. Stress may be caused by a multitude of circumstances, including loud noises, bright lights, and being handled too frequently. When a bearded dragon is anxious, it may indulge in glass surfing as a coping mechanism.

Glass surfing behavior in bearded dragons can also be triggered by reflections. They may confuse their reflection in the glass for another bearded dragon and attempt to engage with it, resulting in glass surfing behavior.

Glass surfing can also be caused by poor illumination. Bearded dragons require UV illumination to stay healthy and active, and if the lighting in their habitat is insufficient, they may indulge in glass surfing. Finally, insufficient enclosure size might result in glass surfing.

If a bearded dragon’s enclosure is too tiny, it will feel cramped and confined, which can lead to tension and boredom, which can be expressed as glass surfing behavior. It is critical to determine the reason for glass surfing in your bearded dragon and take appropriate action.

Glass surfing may be avoided by providing appropriate stimulation and enrichment, avoiding stressors, covering the glass, evaluating lighting settings, and giving adequate space. If the behavior persists despite your efforts to stop it, you should see a veterinarian to rule out any underlying health concerns.

Why Do Bearded Dragons Glass Surf?

There are many reasons why bearded dragons glass surf, but some of the most common ones include:

  1. Boredom: Bearded dragons are clever creatures who require mental stimulation. When placed in a cage with nothing to do, they might grow bored, which can lead to glass surfing.
  1. Stress: When exposed to loud noises, bright lights, or unexpected movements, bearded dragons might become nervous. They can also become anxious if their habitat is too tiny or if they share an enclosure with aggressive tank mates.
  1. Reflections: Bearded dragons are territorial creatures, and their reflection might be perceived as a threat. They may try to attack their reflection in the glass if they perceive it, resulting in glass surfing.
  1. Incorrect Lighting: Bearded dragons require certain lighting conditions to grow. They can grow agitated if they do not get enough UVB or heat, which can lead to glass surfing.
  1. Inadequate Enclosure: Bearded dragons require a certain style of cage to survive. Bearded dragons can grow agitated and glass surf if their habitat is too tiny or lacks the proper environmental conditions.

How to stop Glass Surfing in Bearded Dragons?

Now that we have explored some of the reasons why bearded dragons glass surf let us take a look at some tips to stop it.

  1. Provide Adequate Stimulation: As previously said, boredom is a typical motivation for bearded dragons to glass surf. To avoid this, give your pet plenty of stimulation. You may accomplish this by giving them toys, concealing food around the cage, or altering their habitat regularly.
  1. Reduce Stressors: If your bearded dragon is agitated because of outside circumstances, you may lessen stressors by providing a quiet, dark, and peaceful environment. You may also relocate their enclosure to a more peaceful location in your home or limit the number of visitors to their cage.
  1. Cover the Glass: You may cover the sides of your bearded dragon’s cage with a non-reflective material if they are glass surfing owing to their reflection. This reduces the reflection and keeps your pet from attacking its reflection.
  1. Check Lighting Conditions: Bearded dragons require certain lighting conditions to grow. They can grow agitated if they do not get enough UVB or heat, which can lead to glass surfing. Make certain that your pet’s enclosure has adequate illumination.
  1. Provide Adequate Space: Bearded dragons require a certain style of cage to survive. Bearded dragons can grow agitated and glass surf if their habitat is too tiny or lacks the proper environmental conditions. Make sure your pet’s cage is the appropriate size and includes all of the required elements, including hiding spaces, basking areas, and climbing structures.

Why should we stop Glass Surfing in Bearded Dragons?

While glass surfing in bearded dragons is neither a sickness nor a symptom of illness, it can be an indication that something is wrong in the animal’s surroundings. To protect the health and well-being of bearded dragons, it is critical to curb their glass surfing behavior.

For starters, glass surfing may hurt bearded dragons physically. Running or rubbing against the cage walls repeatedly can result in damage to the animal’s nose, face, and limbs. These injuries can get infected, resulting in more serious health issues.

Furthermore, glass surfing might suggest that the bearded dragon is stressed or bored, which can have a bad influence on its general health. Chronic stress can compromise the immune system, leaving the animal more vulnerable to diseases and infections. Boredom can cause sadness and lethargy, affecting the animal’s physical condition.

Finally, glass surfing may indicate that the bearded dragon’s confinement is insufficient to meet its demands. If the cage is too tiny or does not give adequate excitement or enrichment, the animal may resort to glass surfing as a coping mechanism. Inadequate living circumstances in bearded dragons can cause a variety of health issues, ranging from respiratory infections to metabolic bone disease.

To summarise, preventing glass surfing behavior in bearded dragons is critical for their physical and emotional well-being. You may assist your pet to live a happy and healthy life in its enclosure by recognizing the root of the behavior and taking action to resolve it.

Conclusion

Glass surfing is a prevalent behavior in bearded dragons that can be induced by a variety of circumstances. Boredom, stress, reflections, poor lighting, and insufficient enclosures are all possible causes of your pet’s glass surfing.

To avoid glass surfing, it is critical to determine the reason and take appropriate action. Glass surfing may be avoided by providing appropriate stimulation, lowering stressors, covering the glass, regulating lighting settings, and giving adequate distance.

It is critical to understand that glass surfing in bearded dragons is neither a sickness nor an indication of illness. If the behavior persists despite your efforts to prevent it, you should see a veterinarian to rule out any underlying health concerns.

To summarise, you can keep your bearded dragon happy and healthy in its cage by recognizing the reasons for glass surfing and adopting the required precautions.

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