Hi!
Sorry I am late to the chat. I wanted to see if you had an update?
My dragon Salazar had a brumation for about 6 weeks, nice deep sleep, once in a while wake up and eat a couple dubias and a bite of greens, sit in the sun for a little bit, and then go back to hide under his half log.
After he woke up, he acted almost exactly like you said. He was sooooo
thirsty. (I bathed him once a week, and he'd usually lap up a little water or just soak in the warm water.) He would drink so much I swear probably 15 minutes total everyday sometimes 2x a day for 2 weeks. He wouldn't eat, and he still doesn't. 6 months later. Still doesn't except he'd eat anywhere from 3-11 superworms. Nothing else, refused any greens, and we'd just have a big old pile for him to choose from because we thought he was having a hard time seeing, and he'd tilt his head and look at them, look like he would eat them, and then just do his little bob and waddle somewhere else. We have been so broke from me not being able to get a job until next week, and boyfriends work hours got cut down a lot due to slow business.
Salazar had developed a fungal infection because of so many baths (I feel like a really terrible owner, for many reasons, and this being on the the big ones
.....). He was at the vet yesterday because I finally found one in the nearby city, and not having to drive 2 hours for the next closest one who charges $94 just for an exam. He went through everything on Salazar who was NOT happy to be handled by a stranger and was puffing a lot, and kept bobbing at him. He said he looks completely healthy, had a healthy weight, fat pads nice and plump, skin was not showing signs of dehydration, and the fungal infection thank God is NOT yellow fungus. It came from the baths/humidity, and it will take 2-3 sheds to completely get rid of it and I will have to continue to apply antifungal cream for spots that appear, and that the cream will cause hyperpigmentation and take a few sheds to completely rid of that. Otherwise fecal is fine, he is bright and alert, active, let's me know when he wants to get out of the tank and scratches at the glass and he gets out ad waddles around and explores with me, and then goes back to the tank and is content for the rest of the day.
The vet had told me that they were seeing A LOT of beardies and even other reptiles exhibiting strange behavior and not seeming to completely wake up from brumating, and while being healthy otherwise, just not wanting to eat much or anything at all, no lost weight, no infections/injuries/medical problems, nice and active,
hydrated, etc. He said it has been taking many months for these guys to get out of a funk and they aren't sure what is up this year.
He told me to try and get outside with him and sit outside in the sun for an hour or 2 when it starts to finally get above 70 and get him stimulated from that. I also changed my UVB just in case. Heat in the tank hanging out at about 105, and cool side 84. Still trying to work on lowering overall humidity and finding a decent humidifier for a reasonable price. Have been opening windows to try and dry things out. He is eating carnivore care right now to try and get him nutrients.
Anyway, just wanted to see if your dragon had finally started eating again, anything you found out, etc. I would really love if he would start eating food again and having his veggies. I am going to go and get some dubias again and not have superworms around I just don't like how tough their shell is, and the vet found a pincer/leg wedged into Salazars gums and had to rip it out since it was superficial. And even with the liquid food now, I am still seeing a couple superworm pieces come out which makes me worry about how it can really hang out i the guts.
Best of luck