The bearded dragon that belongs to the family of reptiles is very sensitive in nature. They need lots of care and maintenance when they are kept inside the captivity.
As we know basking is an important practice for a bearded dragon in order to stay fit and healthy so you have to be aware of the fact that your bearded dragon is basking properly. But there are some situations where you will find that your bearded dragon is not basking and it is not a good indication. So in this article, we will discuss the reasons that why your bearded dragon is not basking and what is making them do this, as you cannot overlook this fact because it is very necessary for you to know about the basking of your bearded dragon.
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Why is my bearded dragon not basking?
There could be many reasons because of which your bearded dragon is not basking and some of the reasons are mentioned as below and you should know about these reasons so that your bearded dragon live a happy and healthy life inside the captivity:-
1. Brumation
One of the major reasons that the bearded dragon does not bask is because of the brumation or the hibernation period. When they avoid basking it is basically an indication of the beginning of the bromating period. This bromating period usually takes place during the winters.
During this period the bearded dragon will go to a safe place and sleep and at this time they do not have the urge for eating or basking, they just sleep during the brumation period. So because of the brumation, you will notice that the bearded dragon will not bask.
2. New to the surroundings
When the bearded dragon is new to the surroundings then you will observe that your bearded dragon will bask less and the reason is that they are not used to its new surroundings.
They will feel scared or unsure about the new place due to which they will take time to get used to their new surroundings and because of this, you will notice a change in their normal behavior. So in such cases, you should allow the bearded dragon to settle down first only after that they will be able to follow their regular health routine.
3. When basking temperatures are not correct
When the basking temperatures inside the captivity for the bearded dragon are not correct then also there are chances that your bearded dragon will not bask or will refuse to bask.
As we know that the bearded dragons need high temperature in order to follow their routine and because of this the tank gets overheated and they shift to the cooler side of the tank. The cooler side of the tank does not have any type of correct temperature that is apt for the basking of the bearded dragon. So because of this reason the bearded dragon is not able to bask properly.
4. Fear from other pets
When there is the presence of other pets in your homes like dogs, cats, etc. the bearded dragon tends to get intimidated and due to that, they get too stressed out. When they are stressed it is observed that bearded dragons do not bask in such situations.
As the larger animals can cause lots of stress to your bearded dragon. They get scared and they stop to bask and this fear leads to the unhealthy practice and your bearded dragon starts getting sick and unfit. So you need to take care of this problem by keeping an eye on your bearded dragon.
5. Loud noise
When your bearded dragon will hear some sort of loud noise or the noise from which it is unfamiliar then there are chances that your bearded dragon will hide in a safe place until or unless it is sure about the noise. They will refuse to bask in such conditions and will only bask if they are in a safe place or they are sure about their surroundings otherwise they will refuse to bask in such conditions. You should keep their tank in the room where there is not much noise or where there is no TV, music system, the barking of pets, etc. which can scare your bearded dragon.
6. Sickness
The bearded dragon also does not bask when they are sick and they do not have energy for anything. In such similar conditions, the bearded dragons do not bask. Such conditions arise due to the problems like lethargic attitude, loss of attitude, diarrhea, weight loss, etc. When you notice that your bearded dragon is having these unusual symptoms then that means that your bearded dragon is sick. When the bearded dragon is they usually do not bask or refuse to bask. In such a condition, you should observe these unusual things in your bearded dragon and if needed go and visit a vet for medical attention.
7. Shedding of skin
As we know that reptiles shed off their skin then it is also the same case for your bearded dragon they also shed their skin. But when they are shedding their skin you will notice some sort of change in the behavior of your bearded dragon. While your bearded dragon is going through this shedding phase they tend to get a bit moody and you will also observe that they are not even basking.
In such a condition you need to be calm with them as when the process of skin shedding will get over they will be back to their regular self.
But usually, at the time of skin shedding, they do not bask and this is normal behavior at this time.
8. Stress and depression
There are many reasons due to which a bearded dragon can get stressed and this stress further leads to depression in them. The reasons like improper food, not good captivity, intimidating pets, sickness, the not right temperature inside the tank, not enough space, etc. all this can lead to lots of stress in your bearded dragon which can cause depression in them, due to this stress and depression your bearded dragon does not bask. So you should be aware of the fact that what is stressing your bearded dragon so much and how can you fix the problem so that they can live a happy and healthy life.
These are the various reason due to which your bearded dragon does not bask and as a responsible owner of the bearded dragon you should be aware of this reason and take care of them so that they live a fit and healthy life inside the captivity.
Conclusion:
The bearded dragon is an amazing animal that needs lots of care, love, and attention from its owners because they are completely dependent on them inside the captivity. You should be aware of the reason that why they are not basking and how can you help them if possible so that they do not get sick or any type of problem. You have to understand them properly in order to build a bonding with them and you will also feel happy to see that your bearded dragon is living happily inside the captivity and they are not having any sort of problem inside it.
