Why is my young bearded dragon digging, cold, and lying on floor?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
I have a 6 month old bearded dragon who's digging and scratching sand then lying on viv floor under the hammock and she's really cold, she been doing this for 3 days
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on September 29th, 2017
Check the temperature in her enclosure. Ideal would be about 76 F (24C) on the cool side to about 86 F (30C) n the warm side. Her basking spot should range between 90 and 100 F (32-37.7 C). Young beardies should not be kept on sand as it can pose a risk of impaction or obstruction if they inadvertently ingest enough during feeding. Use reptile carpet, slate or paper towels until she is older or feed her outside of the enclosure. If the behavior persists, have her examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet to diagnose infection or injury.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on January 6th, 2018
Hello. It does sound like the female may be getting ready to lay. Keep a close eye on her attitude and appetite. If she hasn’t laid eggs in a few weeks and still isn’t eating normally, I’d be concerned about follicular stasis or retained eggs. These can be life threatening conditions if left untreated. make sure he female has enough substrate to dig in, as well as enough privacy to feel comfortable laying. Double check that the temperature is no cooler than 72F and has a basking temp of 95-100F. If you need any further information, feel free to request a consult. Good luck.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
I have 2 adult bearded dragons and for 3 days the female has been scratching the floor and mounding up the sand in their viv . Both of them have gone off their live food but are eating kale , rocket and grated carrot . Could this be she is getting re
Hello. It does sound like the female may be getting ready to lay. Keep a close eye on her attitude and appetite. If she hasn’t laid eggs in a few weeks and still isn’t eating normally, I’d be concerned about follicular stasis or retained eggs. These can be life threatening conditions if left untreated. make sure he female has enough substrate to dig in, as well as enough privacy to feel comfortable laying. Double check that the temperature is no cooler than 72F and has a basking temp of 95-100F. If you need any further information, feel free to request a consult. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My beardie has a few problems To start off I feed her every day a balance between kale mealworms and the all living things juvenile bearded dragon diet food I get from your store but she will only go to the bathroom about every two weeks or so
Mealworms can be a problem for some beardies, especially juveniles, due the chitinous body. If you can, switch her over to appropriately sized crickets or dubia roaches. Gut load all prey for 24 hours prior to offering and dust with multivitamin and calcium powders to maximize nutritional value. Maintain adequate temperatures as well. Low temps can affect activity, appetite and digestion in reptiles. A temp gradient ranging from about 76 F (cool side) to 86 F (warm side) with a basking spot of 90 F to 100 F is recommended. To stimulate defecation, soak Lizzie in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte. Gently massage her abdomen from front to back during the soak. The soak will also hydrate her and aid in shedding.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
here lately one of my bearded dragons have hiding out in her cage like she hibernating not eating she'll peek her head out every now and then but that's it she won't do much else but lay in her corner
Thanks for reaching out about your bearded dragon. Bearded dragons do not hibernate, so concerns would be around being too cold or being sick. It the environmental temperature is correct, a veterinarian should be visited to aid in the diagnosis and treatment. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I have a tiny bearded dragon baby and is there anything I need to look out for specifically to see if she is unwell
Monitor for lethargy, loss of appetite or loose stool. Dehydration is a common cause of hatchling death. Mist her several times a day. Do not use a water bowl as it presents a risk of drowning. Feed appropriately sized prey. This can include roaches, crickets or silkworm. Fresh, chopped greens and a commercial pelleted diet should also be offered. Offer a calcium supplement daily and a multvitamin 5 days per week. Her enclosure should contain climbing furniture, a basking area, a heat lamp, UVB lightsource and a couple hides (one on the cool side, one on the warm side). Follow this link for more information: http://www.anapsid.org/bearded.html
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My beardie LJ seems kinda depressed. How can I help him?
Confirm proper environmental parameters first. Make sure his enclosure is warm enough. Low temps will make a beardie appear sluggish or lethargic. Soak him in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte. This will warm him up and treat or prevent mild dehydration. If he hasn't defecated recently, you can gently massage his abdomen, from front to back, during the soak to stimulate defecation. Make sure he is getting adequate UVB lighting and vitamin and mineral supplementation. If his behavior persists, have him examined by your veterinarian to diagnose illness or injury.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Our 5 year old Bearded Dragon seems sick. We’ve had him since birth. He’s always loved to eat meal worms crickets and greens. He’s very picky on the greens we’ve never been able to get him to eat any other fruits or veggies. Few months ago he started
Check the temperature in the enclosure. Low temps can affect activity and appetite in reptiles. You can soak him in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for about 20 minutes every few days to prevent or treat mild dehydration. In case he is constipated, you can gently massage the abdomen, front to back, during the soak. You can supplement his diet with Fluker's Repta-Boost ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/flukers-reptaboost-insectavore-and-carnivore-high-amp-boost ). Find it in the local Petco. Continue to offer fresh, chopped greens and prey. Place them in a shallow cup to make it easy for him to eat. Survey the area in and around the cage for any negative stimuli. This may include loud noises, strong vibrations, high traffic or cold drafts. Reduce or eliminate any if found. Consider a tank surround to limit his view in case something he sees is causing him stress or making him angry. If symptoms persist or worsen, he will need to be physically e
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
So my friends leopord gecko stopped eating or is eating little for like 3 or 4 weeks and she has been digging a lot it says it could be of a cold tank but the temp is 80 and we are starting to get worried
Thanks for reaching out about Ruby. The tank needs to be warmed to 95-100 F in the basking area and no place in the tank should drop below 80F at night. UVB spectrum is important as is the proper diet. Anorexia for 3-4 weeks is serious and a veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/ treatment plan. Intestinal parasites, infections, malnutrition and others are possible. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I have a bearded dragon and yesterday he was very sluggish until I fed him and today he's sleeping and when he woke up I fed him crickets but now he is going back to sleep. Could he be going into brumation or is he sick?
Thanks for reaching out about Stitch. If your environmental temperatures are consistent, brumation is not the cause. Bearded dragons need to kept in temperatures of 80-100 degrees during the day, but night temperatures should not drop below 60. A diet limited in crickets can lead to dietary deficiencies such as low protein, low calcium and other minerals lacking. A sick reptile should be examined by a reptile-wavy veterinarian for a diagnosis and treatment plan. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I have a 2 year old bearded dragon and just trying to figure out why he does things. I've taken him out of the cage for an explore but he has gone into the corner and trying to what I think is digging and laying down flat? Is this a bad thing or his
Flattening out, or pancaking, can be a fear response. He may feel uncomfortable or stressed outside of his enclosure for long periods of time. This response is sometimes accompanied by gaping (opening his mouth wide). It can also be an attempt to create more surface area to increase heat absorption. If he is away from a heat source for too long, he may cool off.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My bearded dragon is 6 years old and whenever I pick her up, she makes a wheezing sounds. This also happens when she runs or walks. I don't know the current cage temp. I am worried. What can I do for her?
Confirm correct cage temps and humidity levels. Ideally, a thermometer and hygrometer should be placed at each end of the encosure. Monitor for lethargy, loss of appetite or discharge from the eyes or nose. These can all indicate respiratory infection. Have her examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles to diagnose infection or injury. More information regarding environmental parameters can be found here: http://www.anapsid.org/bearded.html
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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