Sleepy beardie all the time

[Anarchy88]

My beardie Sushi is a year old and she's eating less and pooping less. She eats like every other day. This has been going on like 3 weeks now. She started sleeping a lot after a major shed. She's always had such a voracious appetite. I took her to the vet and she doesn't have parasites. The vet said she is healthy and she should be basking as normal. (I don't think she knows much about bearded dragon behavior lol) She's sleeping almost all day everyday inside her cave and I'm worried because she isn't getting enough basking time. She pops her head out into the basking light every now and then. When she isn't sleeping I put her in the sunroom window but as soon as she goes back in the tank she goes to sleep. Is she starting to go through brumation? I thought brumation only happen during the winter. Any ideas guys? I'd be grateful for any advice.

She's in a 80 gallon tank
Cool side is 85 degrees
Hot side is 100-105
I'm using Powersun Uv all in one 160 watts

 

[Skybug]

Whats the enclosure look like? It might be ur lighting, when was the last time it was changed?

 

[Skybug]

Most of us recommend a bar light uvb bulb, that might be issue here, all in one bulbs are very touchy , they can offer to much uvb in a concentrated spot vs being spread all throughout the enclosure.

 

[Anarchy88]

Whats the enclosure look like? It might be ur lighting, when was the last time it was changed?

I just got a new bulb like 4 months ago. This is her enclosure. See how she's peeking out in the third picture

 

[Anarchy88]

Most of us recommend a bar light uvb bulb, that might be issue here, all in one bulbs are very touchy , they can offer to much uvb in a concentrated spot vs being spread all throughout the enclosure.

Which bar light uvb do you recommend? Sorry I'm totally lost when it comes to lighting lol

 

[Sadie]

I just got a new bulb like 4 months ago. This is her enclosure. See how she's peeking out in the third picture

How far is the MVB to the basking decor piece -- for a PS 160 watt it should be 14-16 inches thru a screen - it could be shes not getting enough UVB and like mentioned I would recommend getting another UVB for your tank - a 24" fixture w/ a Reptisun 10.0 T 5 or Arcadia 12% bulb --- the screen blocks a lot of UVB rays so to make sure shes getting enough UVB I would look at getting another UVB just to make sure shes getting what she needs --- Zoo Med or Sunblaster or a Arcadia Pro T 5 are all good fixtures --- your tank is beautiful --- also the digital thermometer in there is a probe? If not I recommend getting one of those as well -- what your getting w/ the gauges in the tank now are all ambient temps and you want the actual basking temp where she sits for basking -- start there I see her peeking out mine do that too but mine are basking so not sure why shes not -- lack of UVB is going to effect appetite they will not eat if they are not able to absorb / synthesize the calcium shes getting --- also basking temps they need to be correct 95-100 -- this is going to effect the pooping as well -- is she losing weight?

 

[Anarchy88]

How far is the MVB to the basking decor piece -- for a PS 160 watt it should be 14-16 inches thru a screen - it could be shes not getting enough UVB and like mentioned I would recommend getting another UVB for your tank - a 24" fixture w/ a Reptisun 10.0 T 5 or Arcadia 12% bulb --- the screen blocks a lot of UVB rays so to make sure shes getting enough UVB I would look at getting another UVB just to make sure shes getting what she needs --- Zoo Med or Sunblaster or a Arcadia Pro T 5 are all good fixtures --- your tank is beautiful --- also the digital thermometer in there is a probe? If not I recommend getting one of those as well -- what your getting w/ the gauges in the tank now are all ambient temps and you want the actual basking temp where she sits for basking -- start there I see her peeking out mine do that too but mine are basking so not sure why shes not -- lack of UVB is going to effect appetite they will not eat if they are not able to absorb / synthesize the calcium shes getting --- also basking temps they need to be correct 95-100 -- this is going to effect the pooping as well -- is she losing weight?

Thank you so much for the information Sadie. And thank you for the compliment. I worked really hard on her tank lol. I'm going to get one of those uvb bulbs you mentioned. I don't think the thermometer has a probe but I can get one. It's only been about 2 or 3 weeks now where she started sleeping all the time. She was basking fine before that. She hasn't lost any weight. I weigh her every week. She weighs 368 grams now. She would eat her breakfast some days and then go right to sleep. When she is up I hurry and put her in the bath so she can poop.

 

[Sadie]

Thank you so much for the information Sadie. And thank you for the compliment. I worked really hard on her tank lol. I'm going to get one of those uvb bulbs you mentioned. I don't think the thermometer has a probe but I can get one. It's only been about 2 or 3 weeks now where she started sleeping all the time. She was basking fine before that. She hasn't lost any weight. I weigh her every week. She weighs 368 grams now. She would eat her breakfast some days and then go right to sleep. When she is up I hurry and put her in the bath so she can poop.

Well lets see what she does when you get the new UVB --- when you get it post back on here so I can help you get it set up - depending on the screen will depend where the UVB needs to be placed and the distance as well --- its a guessing game as to why the behavior --- we always start w/ the UVB and basking temps to get them ruled out -- and since you had a fecal done already we can rule that out too -- so is she pooping? How often are you bathing? You dont need to bath her every day -- too many baths will dry their scales out--- dragons can take days or weeks or even a month before they poop - babies usually poop every day as they get older they poop less -- and when they do poop and its been awhile its usually a blow out! Keep an eye on the weight --- you dont want her losing weight if she is there is a underlying issue --

 

[Anarchy88]

Well lets see what she does when you get the new UVB --- when you get it post back on here so I can help you get it set up - depending on the screen will depend where the UVB needs to be placed and the distance as well --- its a guessing game as to why the behavior --- we always start w/ the UVB and basking temps to get them ruled out -- and since you had a fecal done already we can rule that out too -- so is she pooping? How often are you bathing? You dont need to bath her every day -- too many baths will dry their scales out--- dragons can take days or weeks or even a month before they poop - babies usually poop every day as they get older they poop less -- and when they do poop and its been awhile its usually a blow out! Keep an eye on the weight --- you dont want her losing weight if she is there is a underlying issue --

Ok thanks so much. I'm looking at the uvb bulbs and fixtures now online. Yes she is pooping. I actually trained her to poop on a disposable tray in the sunroom window lol. So she doesn't poop in her tank at at all. I only put her in the bath about 2 times a week sometimes 3.

 

[Sadie]

Ok thanks so much. I'm looking at the uvb bulbs and fixtures now online. Yes she is pooping. I actually trained her to poop on a disposable tray in the sunroom window lol. So she doesn't poop in her tank at at all. I only put her in the bath about 2 times a week sometimes 3.

Ok I would cut it down to once a week-- I don't bath mine unless they poop on themselves or there femoral pores are looking / plugged-- if they have real dry crackly shed then I spray them and take a soft baby toothbrush after them

 

[Skybug]

Along with the uvb, im thinking its too hot for her, definitely get a probe thermometer like sadie recommended.