My bearded dragon Bee is just about 6 months old. The past two weeks she has really slowed down in activity and eating with an increase in napping and hiding. She also hasn’t pooped in a little over a week (her last poop was very very large). Nothing has changed in her diet or any of the temperatures. The only change is that I have put a dehumidifier near her tank for at night when the humidity gets a little higher. I’m nervous there’s something wrong.. I have read that although uncommon, it is still possible that she could be instinctively attempting to go into brumation (it is the winter months in their homeland of Australia), but I don’t know. Is this just a slow down? She’s 15 inches long. HELP any advice is great
Hi there, can you post pics of the tank, including the light placement, as well as full body pic of our girl to show her size + condition ? Some sub-adult beardies can go through a " lazy " spell with the behavior you described. This can last a week or month in some cases with no bad consequences even if they're not adult sized. Still it's best to rule out an outside cause. How do you measure the temps ? I'm wondering if she's too hot. Here is how to post pics :
I was going to suggest to shut the under warmer tank mat off -- she doesnt need it and needs temps at nite to be around 65-70's --- the heat emitter should only be on at nite if tank is falling below 65
Karrie
Hi there, can you post pics of the tank, including the light placement, as well as full body pic of our girl to show her size + condition ? Some sub-adult beardies can go through a " lazy " spell with the behavior you described. This can last a week or month in some cases with no bad consequences even if they're not adult sized. Still it's best to rule out an outside cause. How do you measure the temps ? I'm wondering if she's too hot. Here is how to post pics :
Your tank looks good and so does Bee -- like AHBD suggested she could be going thru a lazy spell - as long as shes eating basking and pooping and its not uncommon for them to go thru long periods of time to poop - she should be good - its when they quit doing all the above is when to get concerned -- shedding will cause a slow down on eating as well - make sure she stays hydrated and just let her do her thing --
Karrie
Yeah, she llooks great and your set up is beautiful. Can she get within 12-14" of the uvb bulb ? Proper uvb exposure very important for activity level. How do you hydrate her ? That's also very important, you can use a syringe or spray bottle to slowly drip water on her snout to give her a drink. Yoou can give her a 10 minute lukewarm soak and do the same thing.
Yeah, she llooks great and your set up is beautiful. Can she get within 12-14" of the uvb bulb ? Proper uvb exposure very important for activity level. How do you hydrate her ? That's also very important, you can use a syringe or spray bottle to slowly drip water on her snout to give her a drink. Yoou can give her a 10 minute lukewarm soak and do the same thing.
Thank you! I appreciate that! Her hide/rock provides the height and platform to get within 10”-16” from uvb bulb. She’s had 3 baths this week and she actually does drink from her water bowl on the cool side.
O.K., maybe one more log to lean up against the hide that she can climb + bask on , just in case the rock hide is too hot or she simply prefers a wood perch rather than rock. They perch on wood a lot in Australia.