Changing enclosure.

[jager]

Hi all! I recently completed making a basking platform for my guy. I put it in his tank yesterday and he has no interest in it at all. The only time he has gone on it is when I have placed him there. Within a few minutes he get off. He has a little bed in there that I threw together for him a while ago (just a lid from a box and a pillow case) he LOVES it. The platform I made is to big to keep the bed near it so I put his bed on the other side. He only wants to lay on his bed which is fine but since its on the cool side, I have to move it.

Since we first got him he has always had a hammock, we have purchased larger ones as he grew. The last one we bought is enormous, way to big for his tank but he needed a basking spot so I had to fix it a bit. Problem with that is there is a gap between the glass and the hammock so he uses that gap as his escape route. I was concerned about him hurting himself, hence the new platform.

Just shortly after I turned his lights on this morning and he decided to move his beard was pretty black. He very rarely ever has a black beard. I picked him up and cuddled for a bit and it returned to normal. I don't want to stress him out so I am going to replace his hammock for now. I am Going to tweak the platform a bit and raise it some more so its closer to his bulb and try to figure out a way to add the bed to it.

My question (after rambling for a bit ) is how long does it generally take for them to get used to a change in environment. I am not keen on his set up and want to improve it, I would like to add some fake plants. I also do not want to remove his favorite spot (his bed). Is adding a bed to his basking platform a good or bad idea, assuming I can pull it off. Is it better to have a solid place for basking, is a "blanket" for him to lay on while basking a bad idea?
Thank you in advance for any suggestions, critiques, advice

This is the new platform.

 

[drzebra]

You changed the poor guy's environment. He probably doesn't know what to make of it. No real solution other than time.

 

[jager]

I know, I feel badly. I have put his hammock back in and moved his bed back to where it was. I still would like to change it up a bit, make it more attractive and natural looking. I am brainstorming to try to figure something out without disrupting him to much.

 

[drzebra]

I wouldn't necessarily feel bad about it, but don't expect the dragon to applaud right away. He'll get used to it and then get mad at you next time you change it.