What do I do???

[doommig]

So my beardie has been like this since May. She's always cooped up in her cave every day, and if I let her I'm sure she would stay there if I never took her out physically and eat . also she is eating much LESS. I went to the vet to figure out these odd behaviors and it turns out she had parasites and was impacted. Both of which are solved now and shouldn't be a problem. But why is she still hiding??? I don't know why. I've been taking her outside to get natural sunlight for maximize uvb so she won't get mbd. The vet told me if she keeps up with this behavior that I should go back and they will do blood work. So what should I do???
40 gallon tank
Basking temp: 101 degrees UVB TYPE : reptisun 10.0 tube with reflector. About 8-9 inches away from basking spot on top of fine mesh. So she is getting to Bask and uvb at the same time.
Gradients: hot side- 83 degrees cool side- 80 degrees.
Humidity 55
Bearded dragon length: 12 inches and is 7 months old
On a side note is her basking branch too small for her now? Is it too hard for her to get to?

 

[AHBD]

How long have you actually had her. ? I do want to reassure you that she looks very healthy, I'm pretty sure if you measure her she's longer than 12" and that this is most likely a phase and not a serious health problem. Keep the cat away from her area, although I doubt that's the problem.

 

[doommig]

How long have you actually had her. ? I do want to reassure you that she looks very healthy, I'm pretty sure if you measure her she's longer than 12" and that this is most likely a phase and not a serious health problem. Keep the cat away from her area, although I doubt that's the problem.

All her life I've had her, since December 25th, thank you that's reassuring I've thought that I've been doing things wrong and she's unhealthy.

 

[xp29]

I feel for you, it can be down right frustrating. I have been having similar issues with my male. The vet gives me the all clear but he prefers the cool hides. I got the vet to give me some critical care and i have a wire enclosure on my patio that i can safety leave him unattended in. So i been putting him out in the morning sun for a couple hours and now that he knows what it is he eats the critical care fairly well. He seems much happier but when i bring him in he will bask for 5 minutes to 20ish minutes then back in the hides. The one good thing is that he will come get in his uvb but he mostly avoids basking. (Temp is 100.5 to 101.5 with a digital probe)
Just hang there and if eating becomes an issue try the critical care. (It smells good enough i have thought about trying it lol)

 

[KarrieRee]

I feel for you, it can be down right frustrating. I have been having similar issues with my male. The vet gives me the all clear but he prefers the cool hides. I got the vet to give me some critical care and i have a wire enclosure on my patio that i can safety leave him unattended in. So i been putting him out in the morning sun for a couple hours and now that he knows what it is he eats the critical care fairly well. He seems much happier but when i bring him in he will bask for 5 minutes to 20ish minutes then back in the hides. The one good thing is that he will come get in his uvb but he mostly avoids basking. (Temp is 100.5 to 101.5 with a digital probe)
Just hang there and if eating becomes an issue try the critical care. (It smells good enough i have thought about trying it lol)

@xp29- have your tried lowering the basking temp to 95 or 97- that is a thought she is not liking the 100 to 101-- its hard to say but a thought

 

[KarrieRee]

There's a cat but I don't let her in when ciri is basking. No birds, no window to see them.

Ok just try to rule out other possibilities -- no colored bulbs? I would get the UVB adjusted and go from there --- we want to get those things spot on surface basking temps and the UVB --- once those are in place then there is something else going on - blood work test wont tell you why shes not basking - and you ruled out parasites correct?

 

[doommig]

I feel for you, it can be down right frustrating. I have been having similar issues with my male. The vet gives me the all clear but he prefers the cool hides. I got the vet to give me some critical care and i have a wire enclosure on my patio that i can safety leave him unattended in. So i been putting him out in the morning sun for a couple hours and now that he knows what it is he eats the critical care fairly well. He seems much happier but when i bring him in he will bask for 5 minutes to 20ish minutes then back in the hides. The one good thing is that he will come get in his uvb but he mostly avoids basking. (Temp is 100.5 to 101.5 with a digital probe)
Just hang there and if eating becomes an issue try the critical care. (It smells good enough i

Ok just try to rule out other possibilities -- no colored bulbs? I would get the UVB adjusted and go from there --- we want to get those things spot on surface basking temps and the UVB --- once those are in place then there is something else going on - blood work test wont tell you why shes not basking - and you ruled out parasites correct?

Correct,I will try what everyones telling me.

 

[xp29]

This started when runny poop so i took him to vet. Cocidia was elevated but not enough to call it an infection. He gave me meds anyway for a few weeks all was good then he started this, so back to the vet and got the all clear. The vet actually complimented me both time on what good shape he is in.
I asked for the critical care and he obliged. His uvb is zoomed t5 10.0 was new mid April. You actually advised me to move it farther away from him. At one point he could and did get within 3 or 4 inches of it. Now about 6 or 7 is as close as he can get.
I will try lowering basking temp. It was in the 93 to 94 range so i warmed it up a little to 100 -103.
Personly i kindda think he is bored and protesting. He goes outside 7 days a week now from 5:15 to 7:15. He seems much more engaged.

 

[KarrieRee]

This started when runny poop so i took him to vet. Cocidia was elevated but not enough to call it an infection. He gave me meds anyway for a few weeks all was good then he started this, so back to the vet and got the all clear. The vet actually complimented me both time on what good shape he is in.
I asked for the critical care and he obliged. His uvb is zoomed t5 10.0 was new mid April. You actually advised me to move it farther away from him. At one point he could and did get within 3 or 4 inches of it. Now about 6 or 7 is as close as he can get.
I will try lowering basking temp. It was in the 93 to 94 range so i warmed it up a little to 100 -103.
Personly i kindda think he is bored and protesting. He goes outside 7 days a week now from 5:15 to 7:15. He seems much more engaged.

What distance is he basking at for the UVB? Yes 93-94 is not hot enough to start digestion

 

[xp29]

He can get as close as 6 inches or as far as 15 inches from it. Its a 34 inch bulb so i gave him a hude range. He adjust his distance pretty good on his on. I see him all over in the uvb he just seem to no like the basking. I bought a new hood and light I'm going to switch it out tonight (basking not uvb). I had to use 2 bulbs to raise the temp. I can't remember if he started avoiding basking before or after. So I've already bought them , just as well try it. Worse that can happen is i now have 2 extra domes and bulbs lol

 

[KarrieRee]

He can get as close as 6 inches or as far as 15 inches from it. Its a 34 inch bulb so i gave him a hude range. He adjust his distance pretty good on his on. I see him all over in the uvb he just seem to no like the basking. I bought a new hood and light I'm going to switch it out tonight (basking not uvb). I had to use 2 bulbs to raise the temp. I can't remember if he started avoiding basking before or after. So I've already bought them , just as well try it. Worse that can happen is i now have 2 extra domes and bulbs lol

You will eventually use those domes I had to replace 3 of mine this summer- they were really old- I always keep extra bulbs on hand - especially in the winter- it's good he's got the different places for uvb -

 

[xp29]

Yeah my garage has a whole corner, i call it the reptile corner lol. Habitats, fixtures, old decore .... well you know you have beardies

 

[doommig]

Ok so something is going on w/ the lighting in the tank -- for a T 5 on fine mesh it should be in the tank directly above her 12-15 inches -- please adjust -- as far as the basking bulb examples for a clear bright white bulb are Flukers -- Exo Terra Intense -- Zoo Med Repti basking -- or Arcadia Halogens --

Ok so I've finally finished my new setup and wanted your opinion on it. I've did what you asked the best I could. So the uvb is inside the tank, and is sitting above the basking spot 12-13 inches right above it. I used fishing line ,but I made sure i put it to the sides as to not allow it to melt. Had to remove the branch cause there was just no way for me to work with it, whilst keeping the threshold of 12 inches under uvb tube. So how does it look. Oh ya also I took out the cave, like ambd said to, and she went to where the hammock is as you can see in the pic lol. The closest she can get to uvb is 7 inches where cave is.

 

[KarrieRee]

Ok so I've finally finished my new setup and wanted your opinion on it. I've did what you asked the best I could. So the uvb is inside the tank, and is sitting above the basking spot 12-13 inches right above it. I used fishing line ,but I made sure i put it to the sides as to not allow it to melt. Had to remove the branch cause there was just no way for me to work with it, whilst keeping the threshold of 12 inches under uvb tube. So how does it look. Oh ya also I took out the cave, like ambd said to, and she went to where the hammock is as you can see in the pic lol. The closest she can get to uvb is 7 inches where cave is.

Ok the hammock under the UVB does not look like its directly under it-- did she sit on the hammock or go under it? That little decor piece in the center of the tank is cute -- if you placed that under the UVB center of tank what is the distance to the top of the decor from UVB?

 

[doommig]

Ok the hammock under the UVB does not look like its directly under it-- did she sit on the hammock or go under it? That little decor piece in the center of the tank is cute -- if you placed that under the UVB center of tank what is the distance to the top of the decor from UVB?

Wait, from the basking spot (decor accessory in the middle) is about 13 inches from the uvb light across, I thought that was what you meant by 12 -15 inches from uvb light. It is, to me, impossible to make the basking spot be 12 -15 inches directly under the uvb light, because I can't just put the heat light over the uvb tube because it will obviously block the heat light. Could you please explain to me what you mean, because I'm very confused. Thank you

 

[KarrieRee]

Wait, from the basking spot (decor accessory in the middle) is about 13 inches from the uvb light across, I thought that was what you meant by 12 -15 inches from uvb light. It is, to me, impossible to make the basking spot be 12 -15 inches directly under the uvb light, because I can't just put the heat light over the uvb tube because it will obviously block the heat light. Could you please explain to me what you mean, because I'm very confused. Thank you

So if you take the middle piece of decor and place it under the UVB what is the distance to the UVB? The distance from that UVB can be anywhere 12-15 inches it does not haft to be by the basking light - as of right now its 7 inches on the cave side correct? So if the distance in the middle of the tank is 12-15 inches thats good w/ that little piece of decor you have would work --- and at this point shes not basking on the cave at all correct?