Hiding in his cave, digging more than usual

[Kristen623]

Hello, my male beardie is 8 1/2 months old & hasn't been acting himself for about 2 weeks now. Instead of basking on top of his hide rock/cave, he's been inside it during the day. When he's out, he seems to look fine, but I've noticed he's doing a lot of digging & tearing up the paper towels I've been using for subtrate. He is 18 inches long & in a 20 gallon tank. My first thought is, maybe he's unhappy in his tank, too small? Which I will be upgrading to a 40 or 50 soon. Or maybe it's too hot. I did notice his basking side was about 100 (digital thermometer) I adjusted his temps. I have a 75 watt dimmer on basking side, which the temp is now about 95-97. The cool side is about 78. He eats mealworms, Phoenix worms, & butter worms, escarole, butternut squash, and mango. I tried wax worms too, but saw a lot of them in his stool so I stopped feeding them to him about 3 weeks ago. He seems to be going to the bathroom every 2 days now. Any ideas?

 

[Heptane]

I'm no expert on dragons tearing up substrate, but it sounds like your temps are good. The first thing I would suggest is to get a bigger tank. According to my vet, adults over 12" need at least a 40G breeder tank.

 

[Kristen623]

Thanks, I am thinking the same thing. He just looks unhappy. I was relying on a friend to drop off an unused 55 gallon tank, but 2 weeks later no tank. I may have to just go out & buy one myself.

 

[ChiefsDaddy]

Are you sure he is male?

 

[TASTIGER]

I would check and make sure he is actually a he

 

[TASTIGER]

This shoud help you with sexing your dragon
http://www.beardeddragon.org/articles/sexing/

 

[Kristen623]

Thanks, those pictures are so helpful. I checked and he is a he.

 

[TASTIGER]

then it could be hormones

 

[Kristen623]

Yesterday he climbed out of his cage!!! He went on top of his basking rock, stretched up & managed to latch onto the flourescent tube fixture & climbed out. I let him walk around the room for a bit. I think I need a new tank like TODAY!!!!

 

[smegol]

Hi, he could be starting into burmation. My dragon was that old and started doing the same thing in early august, his appetie slowed and only a bowel movement every couple of days. Of course I panicked because of everything I had read about, beardies don't brumate until they are over a year old. I took him to a vet for a check she was even stumped. I fought the brumation for a couple of months (bad idea, but a first time owner). He came around in December to his old self. So that maybe a possiblility.