Basking

[Justus85]

I have noticed that Rex seems to like going in his hide after eating. This is odd to me because I'd normally assume that he would bask for a little while to digest his meal. Maybe it is because the hide is under his basking log and the temperature down there is kind of like a happy medium. Here I'll include a pic so that you have a better idea of what I'm describing.

 

[crypticdragons]

Have you ever had a fecal sample ran on rex by the vet? I ask because it seems you are forever having problems with him. Maybe there is a deeper cause

 

[Justus85]

O yes, he's had two different fecals. I wouldn't necessarily say this is a huge problem with the basking, just seems odd. Other than his behavior being weird and his extremely picky eating habits he doesn't have any serious issues.

 

[crypticdragons]

what is the temp on the basking site and have you checked the temp inside the hide? maybe he doesn't like the temp at his basking site.

 

[Justus85]

How ironic, as I walked back into the reptile room to gauge his hide temp he was sitting in his basking spot, lol. Hide temp hovers around 90 cuz it has thick bark and the log resting on top of it. Now that I think about it I dont watch him every single minute, it might just be possible that he has already basked a little by the time I check on him.

 

[li]

Not unusual for a young beardie to go under a hide at any time. It is security. If he always does this I would suggest taking out the hide until he is a bit older.

 

[Justus85]

What are the ramifications of having a hide too early?

 

[Red Ink AUS]

What are the ramifications of having a hide too early?

For the specimen = none
For the keeper = annoyance of not seeing them as much

 

[Justus85]

Ok, I can deal with that. Better to know that removing the hide is a suggestion rather than a necessity. I like seeing him but on the same token I want him to be comfortable in his viv.

 

[li]

What are the ramifications of having a hide too early?

For the specimen = none
For the keeper = annoyance of not seeing them as much

Actually ramifications of having a hide to early (not always just with some dragons) can be health issues due to not basking enough. Don't forget dragons, especially young ones like security. Their hide is just that. If they are going into their hide after eating and not basking that can lead to health problems. This isn't something that occurs a lot. But occassionally I do hear of a young one that just prefers the hide.

 

[beardie_love]

Hey Justus, instead of removing the hide as it helps the raised area for a basking site, stuff a towel or something IN the log. That way he won't go in.

I've had the same problem. I have a slate rock leaning on a big black thing, and Baby always went under the rock. So what I did is I stuffed my robe rope (weird item I know lol) into the hide place underneath the rock. Now she basks quite a bit, since she's not given the opportunity to hide.

 

[Justus85]

Ahh thank you for the tip, how much of the day would you advise blocking out the hide?

 

[beardie_love]

I leave it in there all the time.

It has definitely improved her behavior. More active, basks more, and eats more than her having a place to be hidden.

 

[Justus85]

Ya know he does generally stay in there an excessive amount of time now that I think about it. I just didn't think anything about it because everybody has always clamored for hides always being available in care sheets. I swear they could make an associates degree program on bearded dragon handling lol, soo many little quirks and that's not even including the breeder side of things.

 

[Pogie]

Hey Justus,

Pogie has been doing the same thing lately. Right after her meal she makes a B-line for the cool spot UNDER her platform.

 

[li]

Closing it off is a great idea. This way the hide is still there for them to lay on, but not hide in. Very important for basking to occur.

 

[staylor]

I do not have a hide in either viv. Oscar lays under his basking platform and Piggy had a hide for a little while, she never used it, wanted nothing to do with it and her cirx kept hiding from her in it. I got sick of putting it in and out and just gave up on it for her all together. She NEVER leaves her basking site. She is even to the point where I feed her worms on it or she just will not eat. To poop she hangs her butt over the side then gets back on her platform. When I had her temps higher she would not leave it either, she just sat there all day with her mouth open.

These dragons are going to be the death of us one day.