Behavior question

[Astrael]

Now, I know beardie behavior. It's straightforward. They make it clear when they don't want to be near each other. Black bearding, headbobbing, etc.

But I don't know what to make of these two. Still not 100% on gender, they're too young to tell for sure, but they still look female (Don't mind me if I use he though, force of habit). There's nothing clear cut aggressive to me. They give each other space, they eat seperately, there's no marks or wounds. They mostly ignore each other when wandering around.

But there is something odd, and I'm not sure if it's something I should worry about. When we were at the pet store, certain aspects of their personalities seemed clear. The darker one like to climb. (Sorry, still don't have names) The light one likes to dig. So, There's textured backgrounds and such for the climber but we didn't know what to do for the other one. Then John found a way so the water dish was on an angle. Ever since then, the lighter one began staying there.

This is where I'm confused. I wanna say it's cute, but knowing how different lizards are, I want to be sure it's not actually aggressive. The first time the lighter one went under the water dish, the other one came out of the warm hut (next to it) and just stared at the hole for a minute. Then he went back into the warm hut. Then just earlier I checked on them, and put the lighter one towards the warm side, cause he seemed a bit cold to me and I'm worried since he just shed today. When he went under the water dish, again, the other one came out a bit and just stared at where the other one went. He had his neck stretched forward, and his arms were a bit back, so it didn't look like he intended to lunge or bite. He just stared for a minute and seemed to sniff a bit, then went to the one side of the warm hut and back to sleep.

As I said, I don't think it's aggressive. The darker one just seemed curious (he's into everything, no fear of our hands at all. Even pushed his nose against my finger today when I reached in there). And it's not like the other one won't go into the warm hut or anything. He just seems to feel most comfortable when squished into tight spots. So, to people who've had more then 3 days experience, does it sound like aggression? Or am I just too worried?

 

[Khrysty]

If they are both able to go into the warm hut, and neither of them seems afraid to, then you've got nothing to worry about--it's just their different personalities coming out. But be careful, I have two gravid females together who got along great prior to breeding season, but now one of them has set up camp on the warm side and won't let the other near it! We had to set up a heater on the top floor so the other one could have a warm side too..

 

[EchoPet]

How many hides do you have? If possible, see if you can squeeze in another hide on the warm side and another on the cool side. That way, if the lighter one is being bullied, he can have a warm hide and a cool hide of his own and so can the darker one. Just keep an eye on them, make sure the darker one isn't preventing the lighter one from getting to resources - food, water, shelter. If the lighter one starts showing symptoms of stress (lack of appetite, lack of energy, poor color, etc) I'd separate them.

 

[Astrael]

Well, we'd redecorated because of a design oversight. In the morning, the light would go straight into the warm hut (It's on the other side of the room, so no direct sunlight, but it still would probably annoy them). So, it's turned a little different, and technically the water dish makes another hide there. There's 4 fully enclosed hides, and 2 partial (as in the half log, and a rock with holes.)

However, since moved things, there's more room under the water dish, and the darker one now goes and hides with the other one. He seems to be going into a shed now. They lay there side by side. The darker one almost seems like a guard. He comes out to investigate any sounds or movement in the tank. Other one just stays put. (Much more cautious, but not very scared of being held or hand fed, I think they were handled often.)

I can't tell if the lighter one is hungry yet today, but the other one was. He sleeps much later, and seems to prefer eating around 4 AM. There is a dish of roaches in there at all times, but they won't eat from it. They will take them from fingers though, without hesitation. The lighter one didn't eat yesterday, probably cause he shed. He has eaten since we got him though. If he doesn't eat by tomorrow, I'm gonna separate them just in case.

 

[EchoPet]

You could also try feeding them separately in a little feeding tub. Some geckos don't like eating in different surroundings than their home, but I've gotten most geckos I've worked with to eat in a tub. When we have more than one baby at the pet store where I work, I always take them out to feed them to make sure each is getting a chance to eat their fill without one stealing all the food and so forth. So far only one of my adults at home has ever been finicky about eating in a tub.

 

[Astrael]

I think I need to apologize. I was entirely too paranoid. I just ran out to try KFC's grilled chicken (tasty, and still greasy), and while I was gone John checked on them, and the lighter one was in the cold spot. He climbed onto John's hand, and John offered a roach, he wouldn't eat while on his hand. But, as soon as he was down in the warm hut, he ate a roach. I also inspected the roach dish after he told me, and the largest roach was also gone (possibly 2 more), so he may have snacked while heading to the cool spot.

Thank you all for your advice and all. Again, sorry for being paranoid. Definitely saw too much into it. Seems like they're actually quite comfortable with each other. But I'll stay cautious regardless. Love them too much to let them suffer. May try feeding them in a separate tub, I'd have to have a hide for them though. They seem to prefer just poking their heads out long enough to grab and then go back into the hide.

 

[EchoPet]

No need to apologize. I think it's better to worry than to just not care. Glad to hear that the lighter one is getting to eat and share the hides afterall.

As long as you can watch and make sure they're both eating (without making it stressful for them of course), I wouldn't worry about it. Just keep an eye, make sure one isn't getting skinny or anything like that. A tub can come in handy, but isn't necessary if they're doing fine on their own. I use it at work because I can't just sit there for 30 minutes slowly feeding and watching - if I do, my boss gets on my case.

 

[Astrael]

Well, it's easy for me to tell how much they eat since they seem to prefer being hand fed. And, at 3:30 am the lighter one ate another 2 roaches. Making it a grand total of 5 roaches that I know for sure. The other ate a little more, but is slightly larger. Both their tails seem to be getting a bit thicker.

And both John and I are in quite poor health (thus the excessive worrying), so we have a lot of time (not as pleasant as it seems, when spent in pain). Their tank is set lower so we can just sit there and watch them, or clean poo, etc. Having something to care for really keeps your spirits up when you're not healthy. Plus, they get the added benefits of having their every need met quickly. They've really cheered John up, who's been suffering from chronic kidney stones (on top of several other problems). They've had him laughing, which is a nice change. Me too for that matter. I'd honestly say most people, if not all, with a chronic condition should have some type of pet.

And, at least we're here all day and would notice quickly if they started to get aggressive. I'm also hoping it helps that we've offered them outlets for their unique personalities. Since they like doing different things, it might actually make them more compatible. Oh, and I'm going to post some pics of them, if anyone is interested. They're nothing extraordinary, but they're lively and adorable.

 

[Khrysty]

of course we're interested in pics! We love to see the little guys:main_yes:

 

[Astrael]

Here's the thread with the pics. More to come as John feels up to it. (I can't take pictures for my life, but John has been taught a bit about photography. He grandpa had pictures put in National Geographic. We do have a decent camera, and a photo album for just our reptiles.

http://www.geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=41503

They didn't seem to mind the camera much either. Which is good. I want to have lots of pics of all our buddies.