She's not coming out...

[PDXoilman]

Hey everyone. We are new Bearded Dragon owners. Truly the coolest pet ever! Miss Drago has had a very constant routine since day one. She always comes out around 7am and goes to bed around 8pm. For 6 months. The last few weeks, her routine has changed a LOT, and now, she's not coming out at all. I know she's not bruminating, because we can see her. She's awake, just not coming out from under her rocks. I checked and she's not stuck. I'm just worried with her not eating. (Today is the second day not coming out)

She's 6 months old...

Is she ok? Should we be worried? Is this natural?

 

[Hdrydr31]

Hey everyone. We are new Bearded Dragon owners. Truly the coolest pet ever! Miss Drago has had a very constant routine since day one. She always comes out around 7am and goes to bed around 8pm. For 6 months. The last few weeks, her routine has changed a LOT, and now, she's not coming out at all. I know she's not bruminating, because we can see her. She's awake, just not coming out from under her rocks. I checked and she's not stuck. I'm just worried with her not eating. (Today is the second day not coming out)

She's 6 months old...

Is she ok? Should we be worried? Is this natural?

Welcome to the forum! Few things: how old is she you said for the last 6 months so is she around that age? How old are your lights? what type of lights do you have? what are your temps basking/warm/cool sides? Are you in the states? How is her weight? is she loosing or gaining quickly?
It may just be her wanting to just quite down a bit some will do this off and on with really no reason other than driving us crazy... Several of our members dragons will do the same thing. just make sure she's staying hydrated, give her baths so she and dribble water on her nose to encourage drinking. As long as she's not showing signs of distress I would let her be..continue to offer salads daily and her bugs in case she comes out wanting to eat.

 

[PDXoilman]

Welcome to the forum! Few things: how old is she you said for the last 6 months so is she around that age? How old are your lights? what type of lights do you have? what are your temps basking/warm/cool sides? Are you in the states? How is her weight? is she loosing or gaining quickly?
It may just be her wanting to just quite down a bit some will do this off and on with really no reason other than driving us crazy... Several of our members dragons will do the same thing. just make sure she's staying hydrated, give her baths so she and dribble water on her nose to encourage drinking. As long as she's not showing signs of distress I would let her be..continue to offer salads daily and her bugs in case she comes out wanting to eat.

She is 6 months old. She has fresh salad offered every day. We feed her crickets in a different tank. Her weight seems fine. Lights are all good. She has good basking and cool areas. Should I take her out to bath her even if she's not coming out on her own? Should I TAKE her out to feed and bath her? Or just let her do her thing? My son is just nervous that she's not coming out. She has a "Cave" we made in her tank and that's where she sleeps. We can see her in there awake... just not coming out. She did one day last week... and is now on doing a 2 day stint. YEs, I'm in Arizona. She has a UV light and a heat lamp. (and thank you!)

 

[Elders]

Just a note; if your UVB bulbs been there a while; the output diminishes; if it is not fairly new perhaps think about changing it out for a new one and see if she comes out? Do you use a tube or normal UVB bulb?

 

[Hdrydr31]

I would check the bulbs, monitor her weight, take her out 1-2 times a week and bathe her dribbling water on her nose so she drinks, offer food and let her do what she wants to do if she want's to partially or fully brummate nothing we can do to stop it and it doesn't matter what time of year it is even though it's typically fall time... Try a different bug option. You say your temps are good what are they?

 

[PatsyB]

Yes, what are you using for UVB?

 

[PDXoilman]

She came out on her own on Friday, and ate. (It's Sunday now) We took her out today to feed her. She was pretty lethargic, and only ate the crickets who came RIGHT in front of her. I hand fed her several. She's soaking now. Awake, but definitely a little slow moving and "lethargic"

UV light is a Zoo Med light from Petco.

Temp in basking area is 99 degrees.

 

[Elders]

Zoo med power sun? 5.0 or 10.0? If 5.0 Id switch to a 10 and also they degrade after about 6 months usage.

Also I did a bit of research regarding your symptoms; there's a varying range of explanations out there. I saw a post on another forum almost exactly like this one; not sure if it was yours as well but;

People are stating that sometimes bearded dragons will just not want to come out when they get into a certain mood; they will hide in their hides and regulate themselves.

(Apologies if already mentioned)

You are dusting your feeders every day right? with calcium supplements ?

 

[PDXoilman]

I was taught to feed the crickets calcium and that's enough.. is it not? I'll change asap. I'll also get her a new bulb tomorrow. I'll be getting a tube one that runs the length of her tank.

Thank you!

 

[Hdrydr31]

I was taught to feed the crickets calcium and that's enough.. is it not? I'll change asap. I'll also get her a new bulb tomorrow. I'll be getting a tube one that runs the length of her tank.

Thank you!

Yea you want to dust the bugs with calcium. If you click on the link under some of our comments on general care we have posted information on supplements and how often..

 

[PatsyB]

You want to dust the crickets but you also want to "gut load" your crickets. Meaning you want to feed them nutritious things like the greens you feed your beardies so they aren't empty calories for your beardie.

Elders had asked what type of UVB are you using. It really does make a difference. ZooMed as a Powersun bulb that is a UVB and heat in one. They also have a ReptiSun 10.0 bulb that is a compact bulb and they also have a ReptiSun 10.0 bulb that is a T8 or T5 tube bulb. The T8 and T5 are the best ones to use, with the T5 being the best of the two. Compact bulbs are only good for short periods of time.

 

[PDXoilman]

OK - We are dusting now... I should have been clear. We did dust before... but not EVERY time. Doing that now. I just bought a strip UV light.50UVB T8. She's a LITTLE more active today. Ate better. I have noticed also that she's not eating greens every day any more. We supply fresh greens every day. Usually Collard Greens. She at them REALLY good until about a week ago. I've tried Dandelion greens and Escarole.. other things I'm finding that are on the liss I've found online. IS she just picky? I haven't seen her eat her greens in about a week.

 

[Hdrydr31]

OK - We are dusting now... I should have been clear. We did dust before... but not EVERY time. Doing that now. I just bought a strip UV light.50UVB T8. She's a LITTLE more active today. Ate better. I have noticed also that she's not eating greens every day any more. We supply fresh greens every day. Usually Collard Greens. She at them REALLY good until about a week ago. I've tried Dandelion greens and Escarole.. other things I'm finding that are on the liss I've found online. IS she just picky? I haven't seen her eat her greens in about a week.

Yes they can be very picky at times just keep offering I like to try to stick with say 2-3 greens typically collard, dandilion, mustard or turnip greens then 2 veggies and a fruit. I go off food lists that we have in our general care link below some of our comments in the food section of the thread.
I also put bee pollen on their salads it is a great supplement and appetite stimulant.
If you don't see a big change in her the tube style UVB T5 HO 10.0 is really good as it will penetrate wire mesh really well..