Excessive digging during the day is more of a sign than at night time as they often dig at night to get comfortable. Other signs are that she may be looking bigger around the middle and towards the last stages she will stop eating. Just in case I would put in a laying box.

 

Ok thanks. Would it make her more lazy? She spends like 2 hours staying in the same spot that she slept in when she wakes up which is in the cool side. And on the night the lights go off about 10 she finds somewhere to sleep way before that. About 7 last night and she just lay there will her eyes half open. I've noticed though that if she sleeps in the warm side she is active pretty much as soon as she wakes.

 

Ok thanks. Would it make her more lazy? She spends like 2 hours staying in the same spot that she slept in when she wakes up which is in the cool side. And on the night the lights go off about 10 she finds somewhere to sleep way before that. About 7 last night and she just lay there will her eyes half open. I've noticed though that if she sleeps in the warm side she is active pretty much as soon as she wakes.

You are describing perfectly normal beardie behaviour. Try and set your lights to come on and off as close to as natural (obviously sunrise at 4.44 am if kept in your bedroom isn't recommended, lol)

Trust me if she is going to pop out eggs the digging will drive you insane!!! It sounds to me its just getting comfy for bed.

 

The only way to know for sure is if you can feel the eggs, which can be difficult if the dragon is large or you're not sure what you're feeling for. If she is digging I would get a good size lay box in with her and assume that she could be gravid. A few days before they lay, they usually - but not always - go off their food.

 

Beardies are natural diggers, they dig for shelter, to cool, to access more humid areas, to hide from the light, etc etc.
Providing a deep natural substrate, such as a bioactive sand/soil mix, will enable your beardie to dig at their own freedom and for their own reasons.
If she is gravid, she will feel much more comfortable laying eggs and there is less chance of her becoming egg bound.

 

Thanks for putting my mind to rest guys. I'm worrying about her all the time. I'm glad that the behaviour is considered normal I thought something was wrong.



Do you use a soil/sand mix. What soil do you use? Also what are the impaction risks?

 

Also I've got another question the only thermostat I have is a pulse proproportional so can only use with my ceramic. But I prefer to have a basking lamp as it seems more natural and I read that bearded dragons are also attracted to bright light not just temperature. The ceramic I've got at the moment is 150w is it worth getting a lower watt ceramic and low watt incandescent bulb and running both together?

 

Thanks for the facebook page ill take a look at that. In regards to the soil/sand mix do you dry the too layer in the oven? How do you get it in the vivarium once dried?

Also didn't know that about impaction.

 

No problem,

Just spread a layer out in a large tub or try for a couple of hours. The more spread out it is, the quicker it will dry.

Sadly, fact turned to myth which become a commonly spouted term with regards impaction. Which resulted in the lino loving hobby we see today.
Thankfully, many are now starting to turn back to natural substrates.

 

Ok ill take a look on the group. I'm not sure I like the sound of not cleaning it though. I don't want her ill or something. Will the bioactive substrate not hold all the parasites in?

 

There is no need to worry about any of that, there are no parasites in the UK that will affect your beardie, so as long as your beardie is healthy when he goes in, there is nothing to be concerned of.

The waste is cleaned by all the custodian bugs much quicker than most people will be able to clean an artifical enclosure.
Join the group, if it's not for you, that's fine. But you may find you end up loving the idea and your beardie could really benefit from it.

 

Yeah sure. I'm gonna take a look at it. Thanks for all the info. I do have one more question lol just don't see the Need to make a new thread. The lights in the vivarium have been on for about an hour and half and the temp in the cool side is only 23 °c. I know that my house temps on the night don't really drop below 20 so it's taking a while to heat up. What can I do to get the ambient temp up faster? Been considering using my ceramic with a heat bulb because the only thermostat I have is a pulse proportional.

 

The cool side is not a worry unless it overheats as long as your basking spot is fine then dont worry.

 

Thanks I won't bother with the ceramic then.

There is no need to worry about any of that, there are no parasites in the UK that will affect your beardie, so as long as your beardie is healthy when he goes in, there is nothing to be concerned of.

The waste is cleaned by all the custodian bugs much quicker than most people will be able to clean an artifical enclosure.
Join the group, if it's not for you, that's fine. But you may find you end up loving the idea and your beardie could really benefit from it.

I liked the group but there isn't anyway I can join. Some nice pics on there though. Looking for some info on the bioactive substrate for a bearded dragon. Is there any tutorials on there?