Is this behavior change normal?

[Bretter0725]

Hello all,

My beardie is about 5-6 months old and he used to bask/thermoregulate all day, have a healthy appetite (2x a day, once at 10am and again at 5pm) and was generally perky. All of sudden his color has been slightly darker than usual and he avoids his lights at about 2pm until 9am the next day. The weird thing is he seems totally happy in the mornings! He eats about 10-20 crickets, basks head up and hyperactively digs under his log for an hour. Then around 2pm he climbs to his hammock (which is on the cooler side) and gets so dark, doesn't move and gets all lethargic (wont open eyes). Typically Ill have to pick him up and put him in has basking spot the next day at around 9am cause it worries me he hasnt basked since 2pm the previous day. And I cant get him to eat a second time at 5pm. When I put the crickets in they just go uneaten and crawl on him so I take them back out. Its just so odd he'll be okay in the mornings then poop out so quickly at 2pm, its almost like he just gets completely drained of energy. He's too young too not be basking or thermoregulating for more than half the day. All this weird behavior has been going on and off for about 2 weeks. Also his poo schedule has been off, he poops every other day though they are solid with a white urate.

basking temp: 105.5 F (zoo med heating lamp)
cool side: 80-85 F
We just bought a new UVB and it should be arriving soon (our old one is about 5 months old). Im hoping this is the issue but anyone have any other ideas for loss of energy?

 

[CooperDragon]

I think you'll find that they go through phases like this. Brumation would be an extreme version of what you're seeing but since he's active and eating in the mornings I think he's probably fine. It's good that you're removing the extra crickets after meal time. I would keep the lights on the same schedule and offer food normally but if he wants to sleep earlier that's OK. They usually tend to come out of these phases and get pretty active again after a while.

 

[Drache613]

Moved by Moderator from General to Health

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I agree, they definitely go phases of inactivity or decreased appetite this time of year when it
gets colder.
He is still eating so that is a plus! At his age, as long as his weight is good it's ok for him to
be a little lazy right now. It's a phase that most tend to go through.
Which UVB light are you using, a fluorescent tube bulb, or a compact/coil light?

Feel free to post pictures of him, along with your tank setup for us to see.

Tracie