Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, long story short, I went out and bought my dragon a 150 gallon breeder cage, but she is staying at the far end of her home away from the heat on the cool side, and I mean it's really cold! Why is she doing this? I'm worry because she may get too cold. Should I be worry? This is my first dragon and lately she's been eating a lot less due to winter according to this breeder. However she eating less is not my main concern. What I'm worry about is she seeking out cold temperature and sleeping there. She does this every night now since winter is getting closer and it's getting colder. She is even spending time laying on the cold end during the day and rarely bask. Is she seeking out cooler temperature because in the wild this would be the time for them to brumate? Should I tried to put a lower wattage on the cool end where she sleep so the temperature stays around 75-80 degree instead of 120 degree like the basking spot?

How old is she? I think 120 is too hot. Is their access to a cooler basking spot? How cool is the cool end? A picture would be helpful. Have you had a fecal done recently? Are you in the Northern Hemisphere?

Right now I have 8 brumating dragons. Some I have not seen since August. 7 of them are female. I have 15 males awake of them about 50% already completed their brumation and are awaiting the females for breeding season.

So it could be brumation but sometimes sick reptiles seek cool temps. too so it's best to be sure.

Your dragons buried themselves in like that. I've never seen that before.

Yup, that's pretty much how all of mine that brumate do it. A few leave a little opening at the top where I can see them but most completely close the entrance.

The cool end is very cold. It's about 60 degree, room temperature, because I have a very large enclosure...I mean large so there is plenty of room for her to even run if she wants to do it. Anyway, yes, I have fecal done on her. I don't think she is sick because she was eating yesterday, just not a lot like the way she used to eat. I think she is close to being one year old or maybe already one year old. I do not know the exact age, but she wasn't fully grown when I first bought her. I think she was around 6 or 7 inch when I first got her in July. She is now over 20 inches and still growing. The breeder said she'll slow down during winter which seem to be true. I don't know. I'm just worried as all.

Well, I found her basking today and she is still there. I guess I jumped on the band wagon when she did that. It literally scared to death. I just don't want anything bad to happen to her. She ate a little after basking.

60 on the cool side during the day? That seems way too cool. I dont think I would like it getting that cool even at night.

Yeah, but the enclosure is about 5 1/2 long, so there is every temperature gradient even the room temp. That's why it's so cold at the far end because is pretty far from the heat lamps.

I'd recheck your ambient (air) temp on the hot side. It should be high 80's to 90. I'm doubtful that it can be warm enough if it can get to 60 at a distance of only 5.5' I figure at least the first foot or so should be close to 90, so to be 60 at 4.5' away, your house would have to be incredibly cold.

We haven't turned on the heater yet. That's probably why. We only turn on one of those gas fire place and it's not in the reptile room. I will check the temperatures in the cage.

Anyway, update.... She's been sleeping closer to the heat lamps, just barely under them and even bask during day. She ate a little yesterday like 15 large crickets.

asap. 60 is too cold, and if she is staying on the cool side, not basking you may have pushed her into brumation. I wouldnt want the cool side of the tank during the day to be any lower than around 80. I think your temps are your problem.
chris

I think low 70's is best on the cool side. 80 doesn't give a lot of temp. range with a hot side of 88-90.

Do you mean basking area? I always had good luck with 110-115 basking areas, but I know some use a bit cooler, 95-105. I dont think 88 is hot enough. If you have a basking area of 110, 80 on the cool side is a 30 degree temp gradiant.

I use a basking spot of 105-110 with an ambient (air) temp. of 88-90. It's important to understand the difference and control both. 88-90 is about the average daytime temp. for much of a beardies natural range. As Robyn has pointed out many times in nature at these temps. the basking spot temp. gets much higher, but in my opinion beardies don't choose to bask there. So I go with 105-110 where they will bask.

My analogy is a 90 degree summer day. You can burn your bare feet on a road because it is much hotter. The 90 degree the weatherman reports is the ambient and the road temp. would be the basking spot temp.

The cool side, in my opinion should be as low as reasonably possible. In the heat of the day in the wild reptiles hide under rocks etc. where it is cooler because the shaded ground stays quite cool. Closer to 70 if you lift a shaded rock and temp. gun it on a hot day. Therefore, I choose to have my cool side with a hide as close to 70 when possible. Even in winter it ends up being 72-73.

I don't think 80 is a problem just less desirable. In the summer with all my enclosures my house is at 80 ambient so the cool sides cannot get lower than 80.

I do agree 60 is too low. I think it encourages brumation.

sounds like she was just getting used to her new home.
-----
PHLdyPayne