{"id":528,"date":"2021-07-20T19:50:03","date_gmt":"2021-07-20T19:50:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beingreptiles.com\/?p=528"},"modified":"2022-11-01T13:14:56","modified_gmt":"2022-11-01T13:14:56","slug":"bearded-dragon-laying-flat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beingreptiles.com\/bearded-dragon-laying-flat\/","title":{"rendered":"Bearded Dragon Laying Flat: Causes and Fixes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Bearded dragons are one of the best pets to have, but they have quirks. Bearded dragons like to lay flat on their stomachs for a few hours at a time. This makes them look like pancakes or sometimes even an aeroplane. This might be worrying but only if it lasts longer than an hour or two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When bearded dragons lay flat, they are trying to get more heat from the ground or other surface they’re laying on through “thermal conductivity”, where heat travels through different materials to the dragon’s body. Raise its ambient temperature. <\/strong>Your pet might be scared or sick.<\/strong> It would be best if you were observant as far as your pet’s behavior is concerned. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why do bearded dragons flatten out?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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Some of the reasons why your bearded dragon is laying flat include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. To increase the body temperature<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A bearded dragon in a pancake shape is most likely trying to increase its body temperature by exposing the maximum surface area possible for heat absorption from the sun or other sources like rocks and sand in an enclosure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bearded dragons are exothermic; therefore, they rely on external sources for body heat—methods such as laying flat increase their body temperature.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For bearded dragons that live in areas where there are seasons where daylight hours change dramatically throughout the year (such as the northern and southern hemispheres), they will flatten out during daylight hours when there is less natural light available. Bearded dragons living close to the equator require more heat than bearded dragons living in colder climates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s also worth noting that if your bearded dragon is overweight <\/a>or obese, it could struggle to regulate its body temperature properly, which might mean that they are more inclined to laying down on heated surfaces. It’s thus important to ensure that bearded dragons have a healthy, varied diet to help them maintain their weight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your beardie often lies flat in the mornings, it may be too cold. It would be best if you tried to increase the ambient temperature in their enclosure and ensure they have access to basking areas with UVB light where they can bask for at least 12 hours each day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What can I do?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your bearded dragon starts flattening out often for no apparent reason, ensure they get enough heat from heating lamps or basking rocks. Ensure the ambient temperatures for the bearded dragon is 95-100°F, the cooling spot is 75-80°F and the night temperatures 70-75°F. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If this isn’t sufficient, a checkup by a veterinarian because it might be time to reevaluate their enclosure conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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READ NEXT: Why Does My Bearded Dragon Close One Eye?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. The Bearded dragon is sick<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bearded dragons often flatten out when they are sick<\/strong>. If your bearded dragon lays flat on its stomach and turns its head to one side, it is a sign of illness that needs attention as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other signs of sickness in bearded dragons you should look out for include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n