Such friendly and cute-reptile characters with shinning spiny appearances always attract the lovers and pet lovers from different ends of the world. As we permeate their everyday existence there is one peculiar feature which seemingly cannot go unnoticed, their sleeping patterns. Picture this: beneath this tough skin is a beast, capable not only of surviving in the Australian outback but also have a very interesting bedtime story.

Bearded Dragon Sleep Patterns

 Being a part of the reptiles family bearded dragons are stimulating and amusing to be around as pets. In addition to basking and activity levels and their cheerful disposition there is one very important aspect of chameleon health – their sleep. Knowing how these fascinating animals rest help us to determine their well-being and contentedness.

Rituals to sleep, feed and the movement of bearded dragon give an image of their organic relationship and ecology. When walking through their sleep they will reveal a new set of challenges to exploring and the importance of sleep combined with the connection to the habitats.

Natural Habitat

Being a typical inhabitant of Australia, bearded dragon can be found in the desert or woodlands. They also get to know day and night temperatures and dryness during the day and humidity at night. This has led to the acquisition of the necessary measures in order to survive drought, which in turn requires the adoption of an energy-saving lifestyle. Thus, it remains apparent that getting a better understanding of their native environment will help us comprehend their sleep behaviours better.

Light and temperature changes in their environments affect their sleep/wake cycles, sleep onset and duration. In the wild they change their sleeping habits with changes in temperature to avoid wastage of energy.

Bearded Dragon Sleep Patterns

Normal bearded dragons sleep for 12 to 14 hours in a day. This extended bedtime is important for their well being and energy levels to boost. However, their sleep patterns are not so set in the concrete and they can easily change. They have other issues that influence their sleep including age and health. It was also found out that Juvenile dragons will more often sleep as compared to adult dragons and for longer durations. They can also develop health complications that affect their sleep or experience other stressors that interferes with the normal sleep patterns. It would be important to know these differences so as to give good care to these interesting reptiles. That’s why by realizing the differing ways sleep changes with age and due to health issues, it is possible to meet their needs and help them maintain their active and rest phases.

Sleep-Wake Cycle

 Bearded dragons are diurnal, which means they are most active during the daytime and they are also found to be a social creature. this diurnality is in good correlation to their Australian origin, as heat of day is conducive for basking behavior of these animals. This is manifested in their sleep-wake pattern where most of their activities are planned during the day while the night is for sleep. Since there are animal-driven tendencies, efforts can be made to encourage healthy living of the individuals by adapting to their inherent tendencies.

Factors Influencing Sleep: Temperature

The following factors show that temperature plays a major role when it comes to bearded dragon sleep cycle. As non avian reptiles, they have a high ability to be sensitive to their surroundings. For their proper sleep, they require a particular temperature, which is between 70 – 90°F ( 21 – 32°C). Averaging and a proper temperature differential with an area to bask at, recreates the natural environment requirements and sleep cycle.

Role of Light

It can therefore be concluded that light is an important factor in controlling sleep in bearded dragons. This means that the imitation of this natural day-night or rather light-dark cycle is very important. Living organisms are aware of day and night, and the feels of the day and night are created when we expose our body to daylight during the day and on the other end of the spectrum, dim the lights during the night. They also benefit from consistent lighting that stabilises their circadian rhythm and enables them to develop a proper sleeping schedule. Besides having proper light in the right manner contributing to their physique, they also need proper lighting to make them have the right behavior at the right angle of psychological outlook.