If you’re a new bearded dragon owner wondering if your baby lizard is sleeping too much, you’ve come to the right place. In short, yes – baby bearded dragons do sleep a lot more than their adult counterparts.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about baby bearded dragon sleeping habits and patterns. You’ll learn exactly how much sleep is normal, what sleep stages they experience, and how their sleep changes as they mature.
Normal Total Sleep Time for Baby Bearded Dragons
Up to 20 Hours Per Day
Baby bearded dragons tend to sleep quite a bit! In fact, during the first few months of life they may sleep up to 20 hours per day. This extended sleep time allows the rapid growth and development that occurs early on.
Their bodies require large amounts of rest in order to support key processes like bone and tissue maturation. Pretty impressive that these little guys can spend nearly the whole day snoozing!
In particular, young bearded dragons seem to cycle between two major activity peaks each day – early morning/late afternoon and late morning/early evening. The length and exact timing of these active periods can vary slightly based on factors like age, nutrition, and environment.
But generally, most daylight hours are reserved for some serious shut-eye.
Changes with Maturity and Growth
As baby dragons grow bigger, their total sleep needs decrease. An adult bearded dragon may only require 8-10 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period. Their activity levels and ability to regulate body temperature also increase over time.
So those frequent napping sessions usually become less frequent and shorter in length.
Monitoring sleep patterns can help gauge a bearded dragon’s health and development. If you notice sudden changes in duration or quality of sleep, it may indicate an underlying issue worth having a veterinarian investigate.
But in most cases, a baby beardie fast asleep just means everything is growing as it should!
Sleep Stages and Sleeping Habits
Light vs Deep Sleep
Just like humans, baby dragons experience two main types of sleep: light sleep and deep sleep (also known as rapid eye movement or REM sleep). During light sleep, their eyes might open briefly and their bodies may twitch.
But in deep REM sleep, their eyes often move quickly under their closed eyelids as they dream, their bodies become still, and it’s more difficult to awaken them.
Baby dragons tend to have a lot more REM sleep than adult dragons to support their rapid growth and development. Research shows that babies may spend up to 80% of total sleep time in REM sleep, while juvenile and adult dragons average 50% or less.
The large amounts of REM promote brain maturation and help babies consolidate new memories and learnings into long-term storage.
Daytime vs Nighttime Sleep
In the wild, bearded dragons are diurnal species, meaning they are active mostly during daylight hours. So it’s no surprise that baby dragons also generally sleep more at night. Studies have shown that baby bearded dragon sleep peaks during nighttime hours between 8 pm – 8 am. In contrast, daytime napping is usually short and intermittent.
However, baby dragon sleep schedules can vary considerably between day and night. One key factor is temperature – baby dragons become much more lethargic and sleepy when temperatures drop below ~75°F. So nighttime sleep may significantly increase depending on the temperature in their habitat.
Their enclosures should always include basking spots up to 110-115°F that allow them to self-regulate optimal body temperature throughout day and night cycles.
Napping Habits
Baby dragons tend to sleep often, with fairly distributed napping throughout the day. Studies observing infant dragons found that individuals took between 5-15 naps per day, with each nap lasting from several minutes to over an hour. After a big meal, food coma naps of 2 hours or more are common!
It’s currently unclear what drives their motivation for napping. Light exposure, food intake, growth factors, comfort, security, and boredom are all possible contributors. But the high variation in habitats, genetics, upbringing, etc. makes definitive patterns hard to find.
Overall total sleep needs also dramatically decrease – from ~16+ hours daily for hatchlings to 6-10 hours for juveniles and adults.
Napping allows needed rest outside nighttime sleep. And the unique polyphasic-style sleeping of multiple daily sleep cycles has potential benefits like improved alertness, reduced sleep inertia, enhanced memory, and increased creativity for young, developing minds!
Ideal Day/Night Cycle for Optimal Sleep
Setting Up Proper Photoperiods
Proper lighting is crucial for establishing a healthy day/night cycle for bearded dragons. In the wild, bearded dragons are exposed to 12-14 hours of bright daylight and 10-12 hours of darkness at night. Replicating this photoperiod in captivity will help promote natural sleep patterns and behaviors.
The enclosure should have bright, unfiltered lighting during the daytime that closely mimics natural sunlight. Compact UVB bulbs that provide UVA and UVB rays are ideal, as they allow for proper vitamin D3 synthesis.
The basking area surface temperature should reach 95-110°F to give dragons a hot spot for warming up. In addition to heat and light, providing enrichment during the day by allowing supervised playtime outside the enclosure is beneficial.
At night, all bright lighting should be turned off to allow true darkness. Using a ceramic heat emitter or nocturnal heat bulb can help maintain ambient temperatures while still keeping the environment dark.
Cooler night time temperatures of 75-85°F allow the bearded dragon’s metabolism to slow down for restful sleep. Maintaining this proper cycle of light and dark is key for bearded dragons to thrive.
Ensuring Correct Temperatures
Bearded dragons are cold-blooded reptiles, so the surrounding temperatures have a significant impact on their sleep cycles. Proper heating is essential both day and night.
During the day, the basking area should reach 95-110°F. The ambient air temperature on the cooler end of the tank should be around 80-90°F. At night, the temperature can be allowed to drop to 75-85°F. Using under tank heating pads, ceramic heat emitters, and thermometers are key for monitoring temperatures.
Daytime basking area | 95-110°F |
Daytime ambient temperature | 80-90°F |
Nighttime ambient temperature | 75-85°F |
Ensuring the habitat does not get too hot or cold is crucial. Temperatures over 110°F can lead to heat stroke. Meanwhile, temperatures below 75°F can inhibit digestion and immune function. By carefully regulating the environment, bearded dragons will feel comfortable and secure, leading to quality sleep.
Providing a thermal gradient in the tank also allows dragons to self-regulate by moving between warmer and cooler areas as needed. The temperature, along with photoperiods, are key external factors that signal circadian rhythms and sleep-wake cycles for optimal health.
Signs of Sleep Deprivation or Excessive Sleepiness
Lethargy and Lack of Appetite
One of the most common signs of a sleep-deprived or excessively sleepy bearded dragon is lethargy and lack of appetite. Reptiles need adequate amounts of sleep and rest to function properly. Without sufficient sleep over an extended time, baby dragons can become extremely lethargic and unwilling to eat or drink as usual.
According to veterinarian Dr. Sue Cotter of Stahl Exotic Animal Veterinary Services, “Anorexia in bearded dragons can be an early symptom of illness or inadequate husbandry.” Lack of appetite and energy could signify improper lighting, heating, overcrowding with other pets, stress or something more medically concerning like parasite infection.
Difficulty Shedding
Bearded dragons shed their skin regularly as they grow. Healthy dragons shed easily and quickly, but those lacking proper rest can struggle with shedding. The process requires energy and body coordination to rub against surfaces and pull skin off.
As monitored by the nonprofit Bearded Dragon forum, dragons with sleep abnormalities may fail to shed properly. Old skin gets stuck on body parts like the toes, tail and head knobs causing discomfort. Other related factors could be dehydration, poor diet or illness.
Changes in Behavior
Abnormal sleep-wake cycles can markedly alter a bearded dragon’s behavior. Typical signs include:
- Unusual aggression like repeatedly gaping mouth at owners
- Withdrawn and avoiding interaction
- Strange repetitive motions like head bobbing for no reason
- Randomly waking up at odd night hours and acting restless
Such conduct suggests something is wrong internally whether medical or environmental stress. Without change, the physical and mental health may deteriorate further over time.
Health Issue | Related Sleep Sign |
---|---|
Parasites | Fatigue & reduced appetite |
Respiratory infection | Lethargy & odd night waking |
Inadequate habitat | Agitation & repetition |
Tips for Helping Your Bearded Dragon Sleep Well
Comfortable and Secure Habitat
Creating a comfortable habitat is key to your bearded dragon getting good rest. The enclosure should maintain a temperature between 75-85°F on the cool side and 88-100°F on the warm side. Use substrates like reptile carpeting or paper towels that retain heat and allow your dragon to burrow.
Include hiding spots so it feels secure, as well as branches, rocks and logs for climbing. Make sure the habitat is escape-proof with a fitted screen lid.
Proper Nutrition and Hydration
A well-fed, hydrated bearded dragon will sleep more soundly. Feed juveniles and younger dragons 2-3 times per day with insects like crickets, worms and roaches. Offer chopped up vegetables like squash, sweet potato, kale and carrots. Mist the vegetables with water so they intake fluids too.
Adult bearded dragons only need live feedings 2-3 times weekly. Always provide fresh water in a bowl that’s shallow enough to prevent accidental drowning.
Supplements and Lighting
Correct lighting and supplements support your bearded dragon’s sleep cycles. Use linear UVB fluorescent bulbs that span 2⁄3 the enclosure’s length and are within 12 inches of basking spots. This mimics sunlight needed to regulate circadian rhythms.
Replace bulbs every 6 months when UVB output declines. Dust feeder insects with calcium and vitamin D3 supplements 2 to 3 times weekly for bone/muscle health and metabolic function related to sleep. Turn off overhead lights and use a ceramic heat emitter bulb to maintain ideal temperatures at night.
Conclusion
Getting the right amount of quality sleep is crucial for your baby bearded dragon’s health and development. By understanding their unique sleep needs and patterns, you can create an optimal environment that allows them to thrive.
Monitor your baby dragon closely, especially in the first few months, and contact an exotic vet if you have any concerns over sleep abnormalities. With the proper habitat setup and care regimen, your baby’s sleeping habits should regulate naturally over time.