Male Beardie Brumating :S

[laranicheallaigh]

Hello I am very confused about my 2 year old male beardie Sid. Ive always thought he was male and ive had him sexerd and had this 'confirmed',but recently he has been showing signs of brumation..very lathargic,not really eating but not having lost any wieght...hes also digging an awful lot too. This has been going on for about a fortnight, im getting my EMA very soon so im going to take him to vet just to give him the once over. Are these signs indications of he being a she? Hes never laid any eggs or anything so im just very confused. Any ideas are appreciated thank you

[kaosfusion]

Hi - I have Gennaro who I also thought was a male showing the same signs, he hasn't eaten in two weeks, very lethagic and seeks his hidy holes all the time even when I put him under his spot lamp.

My guy was born April 2008, I believe, but last winter he didn't do this. He is weighing in at 300gm and this is staying constant.

I am happy to leave him too it but for how long? And if he is going to do this do I need to leave his Heat lamp running all the same, seems a bit of wasted energy if he isn't going to use it.

Thanks for any advice.

[kaosfusion]

Also today because it is quite sunny I took him out and have him basking in the window....is this also alright or should I live him alone?

[sparky_bubble06@hotmail.c]

our male is doin the same but the females arent yet. i think he has gone into brumatation earlier than the girls as he has been separated from the group now for the winter. its normal to slow eating and sleep more this time of yr

and he is defo a he - hes our main stud!!

[Cheese]

Hey guys. Right first off both males and females brumate. Its there slowing down for the winter months. There is s sticky on this in lizard section. Our beardie has been like this for few weeks now. So just leave them too it. They will become more grumpy, tired and eat less and it natural for them to do this. They will be like this till around feb/march.

[Antw23uk]

Guys i strongly advise you to read the 'sticky' on brumation. Seriously ..... both sexes brumate. Brumation has absolutly no bearing on sex.

After reading the information and if your beardie does have all the symptons of brumating then depending on age/ weight and parasite check fecal results you should be able to cool them down over a couple of weeks and then turn everything off for a few months.

My beardie went 'down' over two weeks ago. So she hasnt eaten for three weeks (or is it four! ) and hasnt had any lighting or heating since October 29th. Im not planning to change that until Jan/ Feb 2010.

[Paul B]

My 6 year old male went down 8 weeks ago. same as yours digging and pacing until he found a comfortable spot and simply went to sleep. he is in a cave so i keep the UV on a timer and turn the basking lamp off. Drip some water on his nose once a week and sometimes he will lap it others just give you a **ck off look with one eye open.

[Antw23uk]

Originally Posted by Paul B

My 6 year old male went down 8 weeks ago. same as yours digging and pacing until he found a comfortable spot and simply went to sleep. he is in a cave so i keep the UV on a timer and turn the basking lamp off. Drip some water on his nose once a week and sometimes he will lap it others just give you a **ck off look with one eye open.

You mean he actually opens one eye Blimey

Bug is out of it, totally out for the count. From memory i will here her move around a bit early Jan when she wakes for a little drink before going back to sleep. I also remembers its at random times of the night which wakes up me as she staggers over to her water bowl bumping into things and then staggering back

I'm evil ... ha-haa i love her really but i do lie there having a chuckle to myself ... after panicking wondering what the hell the noise is and where its coming from

[kaosfusion]

Cool, I know that males do it too but I also read that it doesn't always happen - I think its great that they can tell 'its cold outside'.

I was just worried because I wasn't prepared for him to just 'decide' to go and take an extended lazy period, as a consquence I worry - 'that he didn't eat enough, that he needs a blanky, that the TV is too loud, that he isn't getting enough fluids, that is couldn't possibly be healthy to sit in that cave all day....etc etc just a worried Italian mummy.

So I'll see if he wants some water now and then return him to his cave for further reflection and contemplation time and see him in Jan/Feb 2010.....he will miss his Christmas present!

[Antw23uk]

Make sure he has had a big poo before you turn it all off and no food for a week ... having food in his gut can be fatal as it will sit there rotting away undigested.