Why Is My Bearded Dragon Sleeping So Much?

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why is my bearded dragon sleeping so much

Most bearded dragons are found in the Australian desert. In their natural habitat, bearded dragons like basking in the desert warmth.

Therefore, bearded dragons are naturally used to variations in temperatures that originate from living in a wild desert.

The sleeping patterns of bearded dragons can be influenced by lighting and heating.

However, you may realize that your bearded friend is acting strange and even sleeping all day. Multiple reasons may make your bearded dragon sleep so much. In this post, we have provided you with details and reasons why your beardie may be sleeping so much or all day.

 

Here are the reasons why your bearded dragons may be sleeping so much

 

Your bearded friend may be preparing to brumate

 

If you keep bearded dragons in your home, they may start to brumate if they are more than a year and a half.

Brumation is a natural process in the life cycle of bearded dragons. In their natural habitat, they may undergo this process by lowering their activities significantly to survive during the colder winter seasons.

Brumation is entirely normal, and when you see this in their cage, you should not try to stop it unless they are sick. During brumation, you may see the following behaviors in your bearded friends:

  • They may start to refuse food or eat less
  • Your beardie may hide a lot
  • Ignore bright light
  • Not bask

Brumation may often start from November, or you may notice your beardies doing it in June to around mid or end of September.

 

Your bearded dragons’ tank is cold

 

Bearded dragons are reptiles, and like other reptiles, they require warmth in powering their normal body functions such as basking, digestion of food, maintaining a healthy gut flora, and being resistant to infections.

See also  How Do You Calm An Aggressive Bearded Dragon?

When your beardies tank is cold, it will not perform its normal body functions.

Since the coldness of its surrounding has affected its normal body functions to a slower rate, the sleepiness in your beardie may be triggered, and therefore you may see them sleeping so much.

 

It is dark out

 

Most lizards are nocturnal. However, bearded dragons prefer to sleep at night in the dark.

You may notice your bearded sleeping so much during a rainy day since it is dark outside.

Additionally, wrong lighting set up in your bearded dragons’ tank may lead to them sleeping so much. It is normal to see your bearded friend sleep so much during stormy days.

 

Lack of food

 

If your bearded dragon has not been fed well or they have not eaten enough, you may see them sleeping so much.

In their natural habitat, bearded dragons may work their way into brumation when food scarcity occurs.

Therefore, when they realize there is food scarcity in their tank or your beardie has not eaten enough, their bodies may snooze for survival, and therefore you may see them sleeping so much.

 

Wrong feeding diet

 

Bearded dragons need to feed on a balanced diet to stay active and healthy. Generally, beardies are omnivores, and they need both leafy greens and bugs as part of their diet. When grown, your beardies need 80% fruit and vegetable and 20% protein, and while you should feed them 20% fruit and vegetables and 80% protein. When your feeding program is unbalanced, you may notice your beardie sleeping so much.

 

Their sleep circle is off

 

Another reason that may make your bearded friend sleep so much is a shift in their sleep pattern. Bearded dragons generally sleep at night. However, their sleep patterns may shift depending on the season.

 

Stress

 

Multiple factors may stress your bearded friend and make them sleep so much. Factors such as too much noise, poor tank or housing condition, and many more may result in your beardie sleeping a lot because of low activity levels.

See also  Why is my bearded dragon scratching at the glass?

 

When they are anxious about their new home

 

Relocation may make your bearded dragon be anxious about the new surrounding and then sleep a lot. You may see this, especially if you have just brought them home and are in a new environment. The so much sleeping may be due to the relocation anxiety that they are experiencing and low activity levels.

 

Your bearded dragon may be ill

 

You may also see your bearded friends sleeping so much when they are sick. While they sleep a lot, you may see the following should they be sick: – swollen joints, weight loss, refusing to drink water or eat, discoloring or shading of skin, running nose, weeping eyes, or even loose excrement.

 

How to help your bearded dragon when sleeping so much

 

Since multiple factors can make your bearded friend sleep so much, here are some of the ways you can use to neutralize the above factors.

 

  • Brumation is natural. During this process, your beardie might not wake up at all for weeks, or you might see them wake up, and they are slow and sluggish. You ensure their housing temperatures are at 80°F warm and 70°F cold. You should also keep the lights on for around 9 to 10 hours a day.

 

  • Cold tank. You can increase the temperatures in their tank using halogen flood lamps, white basking bulbs, ceramic heat emitting lights, and mercury vapor (for bigger tanks). The recommended temperatures of your beardies should be between 92-100°F when hot and 75-85°F when cold.

 

  • If it is a lack of food, you should provide an ample and well-balanced diet for them.

 

  • Change of pattern in their sleeping circle. You should try and replicate their natural habitat light pattern as much as possible. During summer, you should provide them with 8 to 10 hours of darkness, while during winter, their darkness hours should be around 10 to 12 hours.

 

  • In case of stress, you should try and eliminate the factors that stress them, such as getting rid of and providing clean and ample tank space. Additionally, you can give them a nice warm bath to help them relax.
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  • Relocation anxiety. Avoid handling them too much. You can also help them settle in the new surroundings and your presence by talking to them in a kind and gentle tone.

 

  • When you see signs like swollen joints, weight loss, skin shading or discoloring, refusing food, weepy eyes, runny nose, or loose excrement, you should visit your reptile vet.

 

How Do I Establish a Nightly Routine for My Bearded Dragon?

 

Beardies sleep at night, and to ensure they do not sleep so much; you should establish a nightly routine for them. Here, two factors, i.e., a personal schedule and adequate dark time, will ensure a good nighttime routine.

 

In a personal schedule, you should put your beardie two hours to sleep before you do if you have 8 hours of sleep time. Additionally, you should feed your bearded friend and give them ample time to digest food before putting them to bed.

 

With adequate dark time, you should provide them with shades and reduce brightness in their rooms to rest well at night in the dark. You can use blackout curtains to provide them with the necessary darkness they may need to rest.

 

Conclusion

 

Bearded dragons are excellent pets to have in your homes. When active, they will keep you entertained. With the above information, you may understand why your beardie is sleeping so much and the causes, plus ways to take care of them. Proper understanding and care are essential for your beardie to be active and healthy.

Want to know why your bearded dragon is scratching at the glass? The answer might surprise you! Find out more in our next article.

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