Bearded Dragon Acting Weird During Rainy Season

[Selkie1993]

Hi Everyone!

Here in South Carolina, we are in the rainy season, which means it rains A LOT at least once a day. When we have storms, my beardie Drogon hides and makes a burrow in his cave. However, now I'm noticing that even on sunny days, he doesn't want to come out of his burrow and his appetite has declined. Should I be worried or do you think this is just seasonal behavior? Do bearded dragons estivate?

Thanks!
Selkie

 

[xp29]

If he hides all the time most likely something is off with your setup.
Please post pics of your setup with info such as, what type UVB your using, long tube,coil, mercury vaper bulbs. If it's t8 or t5 on long tube if it on top of the screen on inside the habitat. What type and wattage basking bulb, basking temp at the surface. How your taking the temp.
Also info on his diet, what feeders you offer, what green ect.
The more info you can provide, the better help we can provide.
Their UVB and basking is critical, it has to be spot on to successfully keep them healthy and happy.
Oh and also his age, it could be as simple as he want to go into brumation.

 

[Selkie1993]

Hi there! Here is a pic of the current setup. He's in his cave.

UVB: Reptisun 10.0 24" bulb T8 on top of the screen.
Heat: Exo Terra Intense Basking Spot 100w bulb. Current basking temp is: 91.8 using a probe thermometer

Feeding schedule:
Mixed spring mix with 3-5 dubias or supers every other day. Greens sprinkled with bee pollen and bugs calcium dusted. Multi once a week.
The other days I give him a tsp of BSFL.

He is about 2 years old Regarding his brumation, he usually starts showing signs around September October, so I'm wondering if the weather caused an early brumation response??

Any insight would be helpful thank you!
Selkie

 

[xp29]

It's likely a uvb issue. The t8 is not as strong as a t5. The fine mesh screen blocks a significant amount of uvb and i see can from you pic that it looks to be going though a steel screen as well.
With A t8 he is getting very little uvb. At a minimum i would move it inside his habitat. But honestly i would seriously consider getting a ho t5 10%or 12% bulb, i would put it inside also. If he has been lacking uvb for a while he will appreciate it. The distance for unobstructed t5 is 12 to 15 inches, t8 needs to be even closer.

 

[xp29]

Oh i forgot to mention 91 isn't warm enough for basking either, it needs to be 99 to 103 ish for an adult

 

[Selkie1993]

It's likely a uvb issue. The t8 is not as strong as a t5. The fine mesh screen blocks a significant amount of uvb and i see can from you pic that it looks to be going though a steel screen as well.
With A t8 he is getting very little uvb. At a minimum i would move it inside his habitat. But honestly i would seriously consider getting a ho t5 10%or 12% bulb, i would put it inside also. If he has been lacking uvb for a while he will appreciate it. The distance for unobstructed t5 is 12 to 15 inches, t8 needs to be even closer.

But this came out of nowhere and a uvb might be a slow issue. He only started hiding when these storms have been passing by. I've posted his setup before and the mods seem to agree that his setup is ok?

 

[xp29]

It might be something environmental, but the uvb looks to need attention to me. I'm going to tag Karrieree she is a whiz on lighting
@KarrieRee she can be more helpful than i can i think.

 

[KarrieRee]

It's a coincidence w/the storms- please move your uvb inside the tank or unobstruct it - it needs to be 6-8 inches directly above the basking decor and if the bulb is 6 months please change it out-- I would recommend upgrading to a 24" fixture T 5 - watch his behavior after adjusting the uvb - are you getting your surface basking temps w/ a digital probe thermometer-

 

[Selkie1993]

It's a coincidence w/the storms- please move your uvb inside the tank or unobstruct it - it needs to be 6-8 inches directly above the basking decor and if the bulb is 6 months please change it out-- I would recommend upgrading to a 24" fixture T 5 - watch his behavior after adjusting the uvb - are you getting your surface basking temps w/ a digital probe thermometer-

Hi Karrie!

Thanks for responding. I've messaged you before with my tank specs and It's never been an issue with UVB on top. Even though he has a screen, his basking spot with UVB is right under it, definitely 6-8 inches. Here's a pic of his bulb specs. And yes I use a digital probe thermometer

 

[KarrieRee]

Hi Karrie!

Thanks for responding. I've messaged you before with my tank specs and It's never been an issue with UVB on top. Even though he has a screen, his basking spot with UVB is right under it, definitely 6-8 inches. Here's a pic of his bulb specs. And yes I use a digital probe thermometer

this is what is posted above UVB: Reptisun 10.0 24" bulb T8 on top of the screen. So it does need to be unobstructed --- T 8's are not strong enough to go thru your screen - if I told you it was ok for a T 8 to be on top of screen my apologies it does need to be unobstructed --

 

[Selkie1993]

this is what is posted above UVB: Reptisun 10.0 24" bulb T8 on top of the screen. So it does need to be unobstructed --- T 8's are not strong enough to go thru your screen - if I told you it was ok for a T 8 to be on top of screen my apologies it does need to be unobstructed --

Ok! I will look into this. Do you know if the t5 can sit on top of a screen?? Honestly I'm just not comfortable with a light figure sitting inside my tank like that. Also, can you provide any links to the exact bulbs and/or fixtures?

 

[KarrieRee]

Ok! I will look into this. Do you know if the t5 can sit on top of a screen?? Honestly I'm just not comfortable with a light figure sitting inside my tank like that. Also, can you provide any links to the exact bulbs and/or fixtures?

The T 5 can sit on top of the screen but it must be a wide hole type -- you can take the screen off and place it on top or cut a hole in the screen so there is nothing there blocking the bulb or use these to hang inside
3 M command Velcro fasteners- picture hanging wire –long plastic zip ties
here is some links to fixtures -- check your Pet Smart if you have one for this one they have started carrying it
24 watt 12% bulb Arcadia ProT5 12% UVB Bulb With Hood
24" fixture w/ a 22" Reptisun 10.0 T 5 bulb this fixture comes w/ a 5.0 bulb which is similar to the T 8 one you have now but its more for aquarium use Zoo Med ReptiSun T5 HO Hood

 

[Selkie1993]

The T 5 can sit on top of the screen but it must be a wide hole type -- you can take the screen off and place it on top or cut a hole in the screen so there is nothing there blocking the bulb or use these to hang inside
3 M command Velcro fasteners- picture hanging wire –long plastic zip ties
here is some links to fixtures -- check your Pet Smart if you have one for this one they have started carrying it
24 watt 12% bulb Arcadia ProT5 12% UVB Bulb With Hood
24" fixture w/ a 22" Reptisun 10.0 T 5 bulb this fixture comes w/ a 5.0 bulb which is similar to the T 8 one you have now but its more for aquarium use Zoo Med ReptiSun T5 HO Hood

Im actually reading up on the lighting guide here on BeardedDragon.org and it says a t5 is usually placed on top of the enclosure, and I have a wide mesh, so I think I will do that. I'll check the guide for some buying suggestions since I want to get the right dimensions.

Thank you!!

 

[KarrieRee]

Im actually reading up on the lighting guide here on BeardedDragon.org and it says a t5 is usually placed on top of the enclosure, and I have a wide mesh, so I think I will do that. I'll check the guide for some buying suggestions since I want to get the right dimensions.

Thank you!!

Yes if its a wide screen it can go on top w/ basking decor directly under it 8-10 inches -- you dont want a fixture the same length of the tank -- a 24" is good for a 40 + gallon tank - if its over a 120 gallon tank 4x2x2 you will need a longer fixture

 

[xp29]

I need to apologize, i went back and took another look at your pic. When i first saw it i thought you had the wide hole setting on top of a fine mesh. I see i was wrong, that looks to be plexieglass at the far end, and i mistook it for screen. My apologies.