My beardie keeps digging

[Sarah Britten]

Hi,

All of a sudden for the last 2 days my beardie has decided he's going to dig holes in his substrate he's digs one gets to the bottom of the viv has a rest the goes off and digs a hole somewhere else also filling in the one he just dug at the same time. He's also doesn't seem to be eating as much. He's never done this before is this normal, could he be going into brummnation even tho he's so young?? Could there be too much stuff in his viv or could the viv be too small for him now???

Sorry to fire so many questions below is some general info about him

He's about 7 months old the temps in the viv are 80 in the cold 95 in the warm and about 103 in the basking spot. He's pooping fine although their not as big as they usually are but then he's not eating as much he had a bath yesterday so he's had plenty of water he usually gets a bath once a week unless he's shedding when he gets one every other day.

Cheers Sarah

 

[PatsyB]

Are you sure he's a he?

 

[Hdrydr31]

It is the time of the year that many go into brumation but yea 7 months is a bit young he may be like many as well as mine just getting sleepy, slowing down but not fully brumating. They need the fat reserves to get them thru. What size is the viv, the cool side can go down into the 70's as they really do need more of a dip in the temp for night time. Making sure he's well hydrated especially if on substrate that can be ingested which isn't recommended.

 

[Sarah Britten]

The reptile shop that we got him from said he was a he.

But then they also told us that we had bought a an adult beardie set up but I've just measured the viv and its 3ft x2ft x 2ft where as I thought it was a 4ft viv what is the best size viv for beardie???

Yes we always make sure he is well hydrated as I said above we bath him every week but we also spray him when we get him out for a run.

 

[PatsyB]

I have my adults in a 36x18x18 and they are fine. I just don't have a lot of decor just a basking spot, a hide and a hammock. Double check and make sure it's a boy

.

 

[Sarah Britten]

Thanks for the video link I've just got him out and yes I think he's definitely a boy there's 2 bumps there it's not smooth but I will get my partner to have look tonight coz he's wiggles a lot when u pick him up.

 

[Sarah Britten]

He's now dug a whole in the back corner of the viv he's pushed his hide out of the way so the hole is behind it and now looks like he is asleep in the hole???

 

[Hdrydr31]

Sounds like he's wanting to brumate it's hard wired in them to sleep when the season changes. He may just sleep for a day or 2 or not really sleep just slow's down..

 

[Sarah Britten]

Ok I will keep an eye on him are there any things that I need to be wary of while he's doing this? I haven't really read up on brumation as I wasn't expecting him to do it this year

 

[Hdrydr31]

My Izzy started getting slow and not coming out of her hide but just sleepy eyed...Started in beg of dec I started weighing her making notes of how much she's eating, how her poops are that kind of stuff.. This way I can see if she's still gaining weight or is she loosing, As she is only 9 months approz she has some good fat reserves but I don't think she could safely go into brumation. I put her up on her basking spot as she will still eat every day so she needs to bask to digest, and she will still poop which is good as you don't want them to keep that in for too long as it can make them pretty sick. so if he eats he needs to poop. I bath her daily (because she prefers to do her business in the water and not in her tank) I don't mind as it also keeps her nice and hydrated..I have been giving her nice juicy dubia's, supers and she is eating collards/turnip greens/kale/chard..
I am pretty OCD so with being semi new to this i figure if I keep a record when she's older and going into brumation I kinda will know how she will eat etc just another way of getting to know her habits..

offer him his greens daily and bugs if he's looking hungry, if he eats make him bask he will likely go back into his hide when he's ready. Bathe him but keep an eye on him as sometimes they will sleep soo hard they can drown so keep his head up, even if he doesn't lick any water off his nose they will take in some water thru their vent. so a good warm 20 min soak 1-2 times a week.
They will loose some weight but it really shouldn't be significant. They use their fat reserves so if he's not nice and plump it can get dangerous if he gets too skinny. Sadly if they are too skinny and not looking well some don't wake up from brumation so keep an eye on him and if he looks ill take him to a reptile vet to be checked.

 

[Sarah Britten]

Hi,

Thank u for all that info he is fairly plump as he usually eats loads so fingers crossed he will be ok. Is it ok to disturb them to bath them or should I only do it if they have woken up???

 

[Sarah Britten]

This was taken last month so he is a little bit bigger now

 

[Hdrydr31]

Hi,

Thank u for all that info he is fairly plump as he usually eats loads so fingers crossed he will be ok. Is it ok to disturb them to bath them or should I only do it if they have woken up???

Even if they are sleeping you still need to bathe them during the week. As if they are not eating they have to get moisture. In nature they would get it from their burrows in the sand...

 

[Sarah Britten]

No probs and thank u for ur help with this I'm a little less worried about him now I know it's just a natural thing that they do.

 

[Hdrydr31]

No probs and thank u for ur help with this I'm a little less worried about him now I know it's just a natural thing that they do.

Yep me sure don't like when they slow down and get sleepy it is hard wired in them and they will do it no matter how we feel about it lol We can only make sure they are safe while doing so.