Brumation - Who, What, Why, When and Where?!

[rick01]

You reduce heat and light level over a few weeks, make sure he's had a good clean out and switch everything off for a couple of months and cover the viv then reverse the procedure as he starts waking. The lack of UV wont hurt as he slows his metabolism right down during that period.

Rick

[Chef]

Wow what a read.. Great thread guys and girls got all the info i need now..

[Dorkins]

Originally Posted by rick01

You reduce heat and light level over a few weeks, make sure he's had a good clean out and switch everything off for a couple of months and cover the viv then reverse the procedure as he starts waking. The lack of UV wont hurt as he slows his metabolism right down during that period.

Rick

sorry to keep labouring the point but like everybody else just need to get it right, we have a 5 year old beardy and this is the first time he has gone into brumation, he started about 6 weeks ago weighing around 600grms, he has emptied his gut and not fed, during this time we have not reduced heat or light (36deg. and 12 hours) he has lost about 100grms, (I assume due to metabolic rate still being relatively high because of temps) having read all previous posts and with thanks for all this info. should we now reduce his light and temps? or leave him to continue as he is.
Truly grateful for all the help given by contributers on this forum

[daviey boy]

ok this post has made me feel a lil better so thanks brat ,, as i was thinking about a trip to the vet !! my beardie is 19 months old and over the last month has become less an less interested in his food he is not taking any veg at all but manages to eat a large locust or 2 a day an takes a little water with it, the last couple of days he has taken to not even moving from the floor inbetween the cool an hot end, he is pooing was every couple of days but this is now his 3rd day without pooing.. he doesnt even make it to his hammock which he normally loves , i still have his temps at between 95 an 105 hot end basking spot an 80 cool end , ive only had him for 3 months so still learning should i be reducing these temps an what is a safe first drop of temp ? i have a 150 watt bulb for heat and a uv light which are both on for a bout 10 - 11 hours aday at night with no lioght or heat his temps hit about 60 or just under also he has always been kept on a rubber mat in his viv so i followed suit but a couple of weeks ago i noticed he was scratching at the side of the tank in the corner day after day ?/ i think he may have been trying to dig to berry himself ??? should i introduce some kiln sand or substrate any help will be greatly apprieciated, thanks once again the above thread has made me feel a lil better as its seems he is begginning to bruminate ..

[rick01]

Daviey - It's really too late for you to start lowering temps now as normally you'd be waking him again mid~late Feb. so for this year at least just leave the temps alone. Do get a fecal float done as internal parasites can also cause loss of appetite (although with your current weather brumation is the more likely cause). I'm not buying into a debate on substrate other than to say that I keep all mine on a mix of sand and sandstone giving them a variety of surfaces to exercise on.

Dorkins - if he's lost that sort of weight I'd get him checked over by a vet. Even with the combination of little food and high temps I feel that 100 gms is a large loss.

Rick

[thetomahawkkid58]

how long can the brumation period last ?, our max has been in his cave for over three months , only coming out once or twice..........he still looks very very healthy.......and he's got two lovely ladies waiting on him.

[rick01]

Over here it seems to bearound 3 months. With the weather you're getting I'm not surprised that he doesn't want to wake yet! If you are concerned you could start to wake him by slowly increasing the temps and then putting lights on for a few hours each day - do this over a period of weeks and he should brighten up OK.

Rick

[thetomahawkkid58]

many thanks, it has been very cold over the last few weeks

[Dorkins]

Originally Posted by Dorkins

sorry to keep labouring the point but like everybody else just need to get it right, we have a 5 year old beardy and this is the first time he has gone into brumation, he started about 6 weeks ago weighing around 600grms, he has emptied his gut and not fed, during this time we have not reduced heat or light (36deg. and 12 hours) he has lost about 100grms, (I assume due to metabolic rate still being relatively high because of temps) having read all previous posts and with thanks for all this info. should we now reduce his light and temps? or leave him to continue as he is.
Truly grateful for all the help given by contributers on this forum

Like many readers of this particular thread, I have had my mind put at rest by the excellent posts and advice posted here but I think a word of caution would not go amiss, I have quoted my own post to make this point, our beardy was going through all the typical signs of brumation or so we thought but then I was becoming a little concerned, there was something that just did not look right, an emergency, 11pm visit to the vet (specialist) proved I was right to have concerns, it turned out that our beardy had a mass on his liver, he didn't make it. A lot of readers here are really concerned about brumation and are now a lot happier because of the posts here and I really do not want to cause worry again but do satisfy youself it is brumation if your gut instincts tell you something does not look right, then get the beardy checked out, in our case it would not have made any difference, I am certain he went into brumation, like all creatures that are predated on they will hide any illness until they can no longer conceal it so please be vigilant evn when they are supposed to be sleeping!

[rick01]

This is a very valid point and illustrates why you need to know your beardie and its habits well. Maintaining a weight chart as a health guide is a good starting point as any sudden large loss (or gain) is a fair indicator that there may be a problem needing veterinary attention.

Rick