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

[Razaiel]

Back to this topic again (and what a Godsend!)

What's the longest dragons should brumate for?

Just dug out 2 of my rankins beginning this week - female had been down since 1st October so reckoned I ought to try and wake her up a bit (5 months seems a long time).

Lights been going back on plus brand new UV tube - I've been getting her out and putting her in the cooler part but where she can see the light so hopefully will start to come out properly.

Is it 1 or 2 weeks to wait before starting to feed? I was wondering if I can start off giving them just one or two locusts then sticking them on the basking rock to make sure they digest properly (and making sure they stay there awhile).

[Antw23uk]

Yep time to wake up now ... a bit behind to be honest!

Slowly but surely bring up the temps. Make sure they dont have anywhere to hide so they either have the option of cool end or warm/ basking end ... but no hiding places.

Give them a nice soak to help hydrate them (I still shudder when giving that advice but its the one time i do recommend bathing them) and aim to offer them food about 7-10 days later. During this time bring the temps up slowly, no need to rush, if it takes you two weeks it takes you two weeks! Judge feeding by your dragons, only you can tell when they will be ready but your right in offering a little at a time to start.

Personally i DONT see the point in moving them to cool end or basking ends .... if they have legs they can decide themselves and if there body is telling them to bask then they will go there, if not, leave them

[rick01]

Can't go past Ant's reply - I would say that my experience with the real (Australian) versions only has them brumating for around 3 months, after that they soon get restless. Once they start moving around I then do as Ant has suggested - slowly increase the temps and feed once they're at a reasonable basking temp.

Rick

[Razaiel]

Thank you both. Yes I felt the 5 months was too long - she's only lost 3g though - the female who went down last (and has only brumated 2 months) seems to have lost 6g!! I started increasing temps a couple of weeks ago and just put on the full set of lights beginning of this week. I had to get them out of their hide and put them among the foliage in the cool end (so it wasn't too much of a shock to their system). They've been having baths and looking a lot more alert so will probably commence a few small locusts or waxies this weekend in the morning so they have plenty of time to digest them. Hope I'm doing everything right!

Had to laugh at them having their legs - and I agree - I don't normally shift lizards around (they're lazy enough!) but wanted to jump-start the waking up process a bit as the female had been under for so long. She is actually the one looking most alert yesterday

[robbo1985]

i have just moved my BD to a new home on 16th feb, he wanst happy with the move and he wouldnt eat much at all, only the odd few crick to start with, after about 2 weeks he was eating around 8 -11 cricks one day then not eating for a few, the past 3 - 4 days he has had nothing till this morning when he eaten 11 cricks. he hasnt been moving about much also, i changed his uv tube as it was due to be changed 3 days ago.

he hasnt had many poo's since the the 16th feb, hes only had around 3.
and over this time he has been losing his color, i have not been able to get any zoo med's reptile vitamins down him as he turns his nose up at veg and cricks that is dusted.

also for the past few days hes just been very lazy and now he is starting to sleep behind is rock at the hot end,

any advise would be grate.

also sometime his poo's are quite runny

also BD is around 12 - 13 months old

Regards
Robert

[robbo1985]

also he is very active in the morning and lazy in afternoone

[Amzee]

Yeah, I am certain after reading this topic that's what my beardie is doing, he's now a year old and has barely eaten for a few weeks, i found this great page with some useful tips about brumation, and its got a good schedule which im gonna give a try, he tends to just lie in the corner, opening his eyes and maybe moving into a better position...hope it helps (if it hasn't been posted already)

Exclusive Dragons - Bearded Dragon Brumation

[rick01]

Given that you are now moving into spring I wouldn't expect your beardies to be entering brumation Robbo, it's more liklely that he's upset with the move and is not settling yet. He may also need to be checked for internal parasites as these will produce similar symptoms.
Amzee - if your guy has been doing this since maybe December then it probably is brumation, but if it's only just started you need to at least get a fecal float done to check for parasites.

Rick

[virginbudge]

is it just beardies or rankins as well

[Wrench]

A very interesting and informative post. I think research should be done before attempting to mimic the winter months so that your bearded dragon gets the best possible care. If you research around the subject you will have a better understanding of it. My bd was a year old in feb and is still abit sleepy and over the last few days hasnt had much food but he is starting to get back into the swing of things and take a bit more food on. Thanks for the post.