If you have a bearded dragon, you probably enjoy watching it to see how it behaves. If you have seen it sleeping in the corner, you may wonder why. There are actually a number of reasons that this can happen, and it is important for you to understand them so that you can recognize when your bearded dragon is upset or stressed.
Your bearded dragon might sleep in the corner because it doesn’t have another hiding spot, or it could be feeling lethargic. It might have parasites, or it could be going through brumation. If you have introduced a new pet recently, this could be frightening. Take a look at seven reasons your bearded dragon is sleeping in the corner.
Seven Reasons Why Bearded Dragons Sleep in the Corner
1. It Doesn’t Have a Hiding Place
When you set up your bearded dragon’s habitat, you need to make sure you provide plenty of hiding places for it. If it doesn’t have anywhere to hide, it will start to feel uncomfortable. You might notice it moving around the tank as it looks for a way out. Finally, your bearded dragon will go to a corner and sleep.
Bearded dragons are nocturnal, so they will usually sleep a lot during the day. Normally, it would find a spot under a plant where it can sleep, but you will see it sleeping in the corner if there is no hiding place. This can lead to stress for your beardie. Make sure that you have at least one hiding spot in the tank, and two is even better.
2. It Feels Lethargic
Another reason that your bearded dragon might sleep in the corner is that it is feeling lethargic. This can happen as a result of stress or illness. If you have a hiding spot in the tank, but your bearded dragon is sleeping in the corner, you will want to investigate further.
Check for other signs such as any symptoms of illness or an injury. If your lizard is sick, it may need to see a vet. When they feel lethargic, they may not eat, which can be dangerous. You shouldn’t see your bearded dragon acting lethargic for more than a few days, and if it lasts more than a week, it indicates that something is wrong.
3. It Is in the Brumation Cycle
The brumation cycle occurs when your bearded dragon attempts to regulate its body temperature by slowing its metabolism. The normal time for this is late fall through winter. As the metabolic rate drops, they become very inactive and sleep. You may even have trouble waking them.
When it is brumating, your lizard may not eat at all, or it could only eat every few days. If it is brumating, you will see the following signs:
- Hiding and sleeping all the time
- No eating
- No interest in anything
4. It’s Cold
Bearded dragons are cold blooded, and they need warm temperatures to survive. If it gets too cold in your lizard’s tank, it may lay in the corner and sleep. It is important that you provide heat for your lizard if it is cold out so that the temperature doesn’t drop too low. If it doesn’t have a place to go to warm up, it will become stressed out. If it continues for too long, it may lose the ability to regulate its body temperature, and it could die.
5. It Has Parasites
If you determine that your bearded dragon is in distress, one cause may be parasites. If you check your lizard and discover parasites, you need to treat it as soon as possible. It can be fatal if you don’t. Eventually, the lizard will stop eating and act restless and potentially aggressive.
The best way to check this is by examining your bearded dragon at regular intervals. Learn how to identify parasites and keep the tank clean.
6. It Doesn’t Like the Other Pets
If you have added other pets to the tank, your bearded dragon might be stressed out and stay in the corner. Most bearded dragons prefer to be alone, and it can be stressful for them to be around other animals. They may be stressed out because they think the other animal will attack.
Another problem is when your tank is overcrowded. This can lead to aggression in non-aggressive animals. There is also an increased chance of parasites and more. Even if you have two bearded dragons sharing one tank, make sure they have enough space to go off on their own, and each one should have a hiding spot.
7. It Doesn’t Have the Right Amount of Light
Your bearded dragon needs the right amount of light in its tank. If there is too much light, it might not feel comfortable sleeping. It may finally give up in the corner, as far away from the light as possible. If there isn’t enough light, the lizard will have trouble metabolizing calcium, which is necessary for appetite regulation and the production of vitamin D. Make sure that you have lights that are designed for reptiles. Your bearded dragon should have full-spectrum light between 12 and 14 hours each day in the spring and summer, then reduce it to eight hours a day in the fall and winter. It should be directly above the tank.
Final Words
If your bearded dragon is hiding in the corner of the tank, go through the different causes above and see if you can make it less stressed.
