Bearded Dragon Laying In Corner During Day

[Bailey]

My five year old dragon Zeus is laying in his sleeping corner looking tired during the day. It's 5:50, about 2 hours before I turn his lights off.

Is it normal for beardies to hang out like this during the day? I know if my veiled chameleon does it, I need to take her to the vet.

I recently added a hammock so he could get closer to the basking lamp. He was sitting in it for a while but I came back and he was laying in his corner with his eyes kind of squinted.

 

[Bailey]

@Sadie ? U seem very experienced your word would mean the most to me.

 

[Sadie]

@Sadie ? U seem very experienced your word would mean the most to me.

It is that time of year they brumate--- does he have a hide? If not please get him one-- is he eating? What are his basking temps and how are you taking them? UVB? what are you using brand and bulb coil or tube? Where in the tank is it? We need to rule lighting out first and basking temps out first

 

[HoomanSlave]

Since you're doing everything correctly as far as I know, your beardie is probably heading into brumation. If you can tell that he is, provide smaller portions of food, and set his lights to turn off a few hours earlier than usual. If he eats during brumation, encourage him to bask for a bit. The temps should be reduced to room temperature. When he returns from brumation, slowly wean him back on to his regular diet.

 

[Bailey]

It is that time of year they brumate--- does he have a hide? If not please get him one-- is he eating? What are his basking temps and how are you taking them? UVB? what are you using brand and bulb coil or tube? Where in the tank is it? We need to rule lighting out first and basking temps out first

He has this little hide (it sort of looks like a bridge) but when he goes under it his rear legs and tail is exposed. He hasn't used it at all really.

As far as basking temps, they are 85-90 degrees. I use a ReptiBasking Light 100W. He has a hammock right below it so he can get more of the heat though. UVB is a 10.0 T5 ReptiSun the linear one.

I was thinking he was going into brumation as well, but I do not know anything about that other than it is like hibernation but for bearded dragons.

 

[Bailey]

Since you're doing everything correctly as far as I know, your beardie is probably heading into brumation. If you can tell that he is, stop providing food and turn off his lights.

I am not 100% sure though, and I don't want to leave him in there with no lights and him end up getting cold or something you know what I mean?

 

[HoomanSlave]

*I edited the answer, I pressed post reply before I was done. You can do lights for 8-10 hours a day instead of 10-12.

 

[HoomanSlave]

If he is eating less, sleeping more, hiding in darker parts of the cage, and going to bed a few hours earlier with no other signs of illness, he is probably brumating.

 

[Bailey]

If he is eating less, sleeping more, hiding in darker parts of the cage, and going to bed a few hours earlier with no other signs of illness, he is probably brumating.

His appetite doesn't seem any less than when I got him. He will eat as many superworms as I put in front of him lol.

He is hiding under-neathe his hammock behind a plant though, it is kind of hidden and darker than most spots but its still under his basking lamp.

 

[Sadie]

Your dragon is sleeping more because his basking temps are too low 85-90 degrees-- he needs basking temps 95-110 and they need to be taken w/ a digital probe thermometer NO stick ons - the 10.0 linear bulb is a T 5 or a T 8 please look on the bulb itself ---- distance and placement is crucial----------please lay off the super worms they are meant to be fed as treats not a staple feeder and he needs salads every day
http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html ignore the kale thing its a good staple feeder

 

[Bailey]

Your dragon is sleeping more because his basking temps are too low 85-90 degrees-- he needs basking temps 95-110 and they need to be taken w/ a digital probe thermometer NO stick ons - the 10.0 linear bulb is a T 5 or a T 8 please look on the bulb itself ---- distance and placement is crucial----------please lay off the super worms they are meant to be fed as treats not a staple feeder and he needs salads every day
http://www.beautifuldragons.com/Nutrition.html ignore the kale thing its a good staple feeder

It had no T, it just said 5.0 UVB but the box says 10.0 T5

 

[Sadie]

It had no T, it just said 5.0 UVB but the box says 10.0 T5

Ok so the 5.0 is considered a T 8 --- please move it into the tank --- the 5.0 is not strong enough to go thru the screen - how old is the bulb ? If its over 6 months or around there please get the 10.0 T 5 bulb --- it has options of where it can sit --- but that depends on the screen itself --- your fixture is set up for the T 5 bulb and they come w/ a 5.0 bulb --- the UVB needs to be 6-8 inches for the 5.0 bulb directly above him --- hes not getting enough UVB either

 

[Bailey]

Ok so the 5.0 is considered a T 8 --- please move it into the tank --- the 5.0 is not strong enough to go thru the screen - how old is the bulb ? If its over 6 months or around there please get the 10.0 T 5 bulb --- it has options of where it can sit --- but that depends on the screen itself --- your fixture is set up for the T 5 bulb and they come w/ a 5.0 bulb --- the UVB needs to be 6-8 inches for the 5.0 bulb directly above him --- hes not getting enough UVB either

I double checked his basking temperature, it's actually 100 degrees on the dot. So that isn't the issue.

I'll fix the UVB, but if that doesn't work i'll follow brumation procedures.

As far as food goes, I think my guy will be fine eating superworms as a staple for now, he's underweight because he ate pellets for five years instead of bugs. He also eats salad.

 

[Sadie]

I double checked his basking temperature, it's actually 100 degrees on the dot. So that isn't the issue.

I'll fix the UVB, but if that doesn't work i'll follow brumation procedures.

As far as food goes, I think my guy will be fine eating superworms as a staple for now, he's underweight because he ate pellets for five years instead of bugs. He also eats salad.

Good hes eating salads -- I would get him on a staple feeder of dubia roaches crickets or silk worms --- they are better nutritional wise and you want him healthy not fattening up -- you can hang the fixture w/ these 3 M command Velcro fasteners- picture hanging wire – long plastic zip ties-- fishing line --- potted plant wire hangers --- TAK TY cable and hook ties they look like velcro straps you can try walmart they work great -- please keep me posted on his behavior after you move the UVB you should notice a difference right away --- appetite and less sleeping --- if the behavior does not change then yes hes is brumating and he would need a hide that he can crawly completely in ---- please get a weight on him now and you will need to keep track of it --- you can cut the photo period down so his lights are on 8-10 hrs per day -- he needs to stay hydrated thru this so I would check on him every couple of weeks if he does not come out -- and he should NOT brumate for more than 3 months if he is there is a issue --

 

[Bailey]

Ok so the 5.0 is considered a T 8 --- please move it into the tank --- the 5.0 is not strong enough to go thru the screen - how old is the bulb ? If its over 6 months or around there please get the 10.0 T 5 bulb --- it has options of where it can sit --- but that depends on the screen itself --- your fixture is set up for the T 5 bulb and they come w/ a 5.0 bulb --- the UVB needs to be 6-8 inches for the 5.0 bulb directly above him --- hes not getting enough UVB either

Good hes eating salads -- I would get him on a staple feeder of dubia roaches crickets or silk worms --- they are better nutritional wise and you want him healthy not fattening up -- you can hang the fixture w/ these 3 M command Velcro fasteners- picture hanging wire – long plastic zip ties-- fishing line --- potted plant wire hangers --- TAK TY cable and hook ties they look like velcro straps you can try walmart they work great -- please keep me posted on his behavior after you move the UVB you should notice a difference right away --- appetite and less sleeping --- if the behavior does not change then yes hes is brumating and he would need a hide that he can crawly completely in ---- please get a weight on him now and you will need to keep track of it --- you can cut the photo period down so his lights are on 8-10 hrs per day -- he needs to stay hydrated thru this so I would check on him every couple of weeks if he does not come out -- and he should NOT brumate for more than 3 months if he is there is a issue --

Im unable to hand the uvb light because the enclosure opens from the top and slides. the cord will get caught and it will be very hard to access his enclosure. Any tips?

 

[Sadie]

Im unable to hand the uvb light because the enclosure opens from the top and slides. the cord will get caught and it will be very hard to access his enclosure. Any tips?

Please remove the screen or you can cut it --- or set it on half ways-3/4 on ---- w/ the UVB on the part thats unobstructed - what does the screen look like ? Wide holed or a fine mesh like a screen door --- then that will tell me if you have options for the T 5 bulb

 

[Bailey]

Please remove the screen or you can cut it --- or set it on half ways-3/4 on ---- w/ the UVB on the part thats unobstructed - what does the screen look like ? Wide holed or a fine mesh like a screen door --- then that will tell me if you have options for the T 5 bulb

The the enclosure has a top that slides off and on, you just pull it to slide it off and you can access the enclosure from the top (my boy is pretty comfortable with me, this does not stress him out).

If the UVB is hanging from the top, it will stop it from sliding open as it cannot be lifted.

 

[Sadie]

The the enclosure has a top that slides off and on, you just pull it to slide it off and you can access the enclosure from the top (my boy is pretty comfortable with me, this does not stress him out).

If the UVB is hanging from the top, it will stop it from sliding open as it cannot be lifted.

Post a pic of the screen from the top please so I can see it

 

[HoomanSlave]

Superworms are high in phosphorus and addictive-if you feed them as a staple, there's a good chance your beardie will refuse other insects in the future. It's like letting a kid eat McDonald's for every meal. Instead of using superworms to put weight on him, feed plenty of healthy feeders such as dubias or crickets.

 

[Bailey]

Superworms are high in phosphorus and addictive-if you feed them as a staple, there's a good chance your beardie will refuse other insects in the future. It's like letting a kid eat McDonald's for every meal. Instead of using superworms to put weight on him, feed plenty of healthy feeders such as dubias or crickets.

thanks