Acting slightly sluggish, can brumation start this early?

[jkatzenfutter]

*edit* i know that this post may seem similar to other posts, but when i read through some of the other posts, my situation seemed a little different. i would totally appreciate some ideas. thanks guys!

hi, i've posted a couple times before when my bearded dragon, pat, had parasites. she's 12 months old now and everything has been fine, up until recently. it doesnt seem like it could be parasites again because she has an interest in food and has been pooping about every other day. i know that as they get older, they dont eat many crickets anymore, but she's stopped eating her greens as well. I'll take her out and put her in her feeding tank, she'll eat about 5-10 and then i'll hand feed her the rest.

The reason that i'm concerned is because i commute to college, and since school has started this semester, it's been hard to keep an eye on her and to see what she is doing during the prime hours of the day. on the days that i come home in the middle of the day, she's either in the same spot as i saw her that morning, or 'basking' by laying on the ground next to her basking log. could this be brumation? she didn't do it last winter.

Her temps get up to 95-98 in the hot spot and 80-85 in the cool spots and i use a reptisun 10 uvb light that i change every 6 months.

 

[jkatzenfutter]

so i just read a lot about brumation and part of me is thinking that this is the start of brumation, but i'm not sure. i raised her temps and she's been pooping more, but i'm still worried. does anyone have an idea what could be going on?

 

[beardie parents]

As babies, they won't brumate. It's a good idea to get a checkup, or at least a fecal done so you can be sure there are no more parasite issues. Also, check her weight weekly to make sure she doesn't loose much weight. Did you read the new updated article on brumation that is linked on the home page? That will help you alot.

 

[jkatzenfutter]

is a year old beardie still considered a baby? i did read the new article and it was really helpful. thanks for the post!

 

[jkatzenfutter]

i was really really tired when i first made this thread...pat isn't 12 months, she's 14 months old lol

 

[jharris08]

yea if she is 14 months she can possibly be going into brumation. My first breeding pair brumated at about 13 to 14 months. they slowed way down and would only eat about once every 10 days or so. this lasted for about 3 months and then they were wired with energy when they came out of it. Still keep an eye on her to make sure it might not be health issue of some sort, but with the temps outside falling and the photoperiod shortening...its probably brumation

 

[jkatzenfutter]

yea if she is 14 months she can possibly be going into brumation. My first breeding pair brumated at about 13 to 14 months. they slowed way down and would only eat about once every 10 days or so. this lasted for about 3 months and then they were wired with energy when they came out of it. Still keep an eye on her to make sure it might not be health issue of some sort, but with the temps outside falling and the photoperiod shortening...its probably brumation

oh ok, thanks. yeah i've been keeping an eye on her and she does want to eat but only at certain hours of the day and not that much. she's been pooping every day that she eats too, so i'm not as worried anymore. thanks again