in cave too much

[RetroRed]

This is my first year owning a bearded dragon and my first winter with him. Recently he's started going into his cave all day instead of being out and basking like he usually is. I figured he was probably brumating. But instead of sleeping, which I think is what they usually do during brumation, he's just sitting in there awake and alert, I'm not sure if thats normal. He doesn't become aggressive when I take him out of his cave and he eat all his veggies and eats his live meals normally, but sometimes he won't eat any live meals the entire day, only his veggies. He's not pooping as much as he was before he started this strange behavior. I have him in a 40 gallon tank, with a 100watt basking bulb on the rightside as well his uvb bulb. The left side of the tank is the cool side. The basking bulb is over his basking rock which is also his cave. Any thoughts on if this behavior is normal? Should I take him to a vet or maybe lower the temperature in his tank? Usually I take him and put him on his rock to bask but after maybe 30 minutes he'll go back into his cave. Thank you

 

[CooperDragon]

They seem to have different levels of brumation from all out sleep for months to just slowing down for a few weeks. Keep a close eye on his weight as that should remain relatively stable if he's just slowing down a bit. That would correspond with decreased appetite and pooping.

What are the temperatures across your tank? Which UVB light are you using and how far is it from the basking area?

 

[RetroRed]

They seem to have different levels of brumation from all out sleep for months to just slowing down for a few weeks. Keep a close eye on his weight as that should remain relatively stable if he's just slowing down a bit. That would correspond with decreased appetite and pooping.

What are the temperatures across your tank? Which UVB light are you using and how far is it from the basking area?

The temperature in his tank is about 90°F, his bulbs are about 12 inches from his basking rock. And he uses 10.0 compact uvb bulb. His weight is fine and despite sometimes not eating, he always its loads of crickets and mealworm afterwards.
I'm just worried that if he's brumating, shouldn't he be sleeping? He just sits in there wide awake

 

[RetroRed]

Temperature on the cool side of his tank is about 80°F. I'm not sure exactly how old he is, but he's about 11 inches long so I'm estimating around 7 months old

 

[CooperDragon]

12'' is about right for a basking light. The compact needs to be closer. I suggest replacing it with a more powerful bulb. A T5 Tube would be perfect at 12'' above the basking area. I'd also double check the temps using an IR temp gun like this https://www.amazon.com/Nubee-Temperature-Non-contact-Infrared-Thermometer/dp/B00CVHIJDK

This would be a good choice for UVB https://www.amazon.com/Sunblaster-NanoTech-Fixture-Reflector-SunBlaster/dp/B018WLSDMK
With this bulb http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-ReptiSun-10-0-Lamp/dp/B00AQU8HAO/