I want to let my bearded dragon have some time to run around in the living room, but it seems too cold. I can keep the house between 68-70 and usually do. But when I have taken him out to explore, he heads for the nearest enclosed spot, does a little butt wiggle, and goes to sleep. When I take him out to hold him, he snuggles down into my sweatshirt and naps. Is he cold? I know 70 is below the "cold side" of a cage.
Do I need to run the heater before letting him roam? I doubt I could get it above 75, and even that's a pretty uncomfortable temp for the humans to live in. I'll do it if I have to, but I'd rather not.
I agree, he's bunkering down because he's cold as it's their instinct. They can roam around at normal room temps but need a warm up spot like Kingofnobbys said. Try putting a clamp lamp somewhere in the room with a basking light in it (halogen flood light will work). They learn to return to the light to bask when they need to warm back up. I have these set up in my house. Give him some spots where he can get back up to 100-105.
We have a basking spot set up beside our patio door for ours. When he is outside his house he spends 90% of his time looking outside the patio doors into the garden and the remaining 10% running around the house.