Why is my dragon hiding?

[VinceG123]

recently my bearded dragon has been hiding under his basking log. He doesn't stay there all day but he does stay there for quite a while. Nothing has changed in his enclosure or in his habits such as eating or behavior and all his temps are correct. When I came to give him some salad, he was under his log, then came out to eat some salad eagerly and without hesitation but then went right back under his log? Is this normal?

 

[BeardedHippy]

well mine do that kind of thing all the time,so I'm saying yes. just when you think you have them all figured out, they do something out of the norm. He will be back to his regular routine in time no doubt and if he's eating, he needs to bask at some point. Who knows why they do some of the things they do? lol

 

[VinceG123]

well mine do that kind of thing all the time,so I'm saying yes. just when you think you have them all figured out, they do something out of the norm. He will be back to his regular routine in time no doubt and if he's eating, he needs to bask at some point. Who knows why they do some of the things they do? lol

I think I was just being paranoid. I owned a dragon before this one and it got sick and died so I’m trying much harder to make this new dragon happy and healthy. But he is back to his old routine of hanging out on his log and basking so everything seems all right.

 

[Hdrydr31]

You say your temps are fine what are they? They can be funny critters but maybe the temps were too hot for him?

 

[JasperMoon]

I have one thing to add... just make sure he is pooping... the only time Jasper has ever hidden (he went into his cave and just seemed to be sleeping in there, totally not normal for him) was when he got constipated. I know Jasper's normal bowel emptying schedule so when I noticed he hadn't gone the night before nor all day long, and then hid in his cave, I thought he might be constipated. I put him in a warm bath and within about 5 minutes he pooped more than I'd ever seen him poop. Just goes to show that the better you know your dragon, the better off you are with knowing if something is amiss.

 

[VinceG123]

I have one thing to add... just make sure he is pooping... the only time Jasper has ever hidden (he went into his cave and just seemed to be sleeping in there, totally not normal for him) was when he got constipated. I know Jasper's normal bowel emptying schedule so when I noticed he hadn't gone the night before nor all day long, and then hid in his cave, I thought he might be constipated. I put him in a warm bath and within about 5 minutes he pooped more than I'd ever seen him poop. Just goes to show that the better you know your dragon, the better off you are with knowing if something is amiss.

That’s exactly what I did. I gave him a good bath but it took him a while to go poop because he does not like water one bit. But he did his business and everything looked normal and nothing different or odd with his poop. He’s back to normal now and is doing great.

 

[VinceG123]

You say your temps are fine what are they? They can be funny critters but maybe the temps were too hot for him?

100 degrees basking area with an 80-85 degree cool side

 

[JasperMoon]

That’s exactly what I did. I gave him a good bath but it took him a while to go poop because he does not like water one bit. But he did his business and everything looked normal and nothing different or odd with his poop. He’s back to normal now and is doing great.

Awesome. Yeah mine don’t like baths either.

 

[VinceG123]

Awesome. Yeah mine don’t like baths either.

Is there a way to get them used to it or is that just how it’s gonna be from now on?

 

[PatsyB]

@VinceG123 your basking spot needs to be around 107degrees. Little ones need lots of warmth. 100 degrees is perfect for a 2 year old dragon.