Advice and tips about winter for beardies?

[paperplanes]

I live in canada and this will be our first winter. Im wondering if theres anything i should prepare for?

 

[sweetiepie9]

There is a wonderful article on brumation on this site, you should read it through. It's by a member, Denise Bushnell, and is very well written.

We have 4 beardies and they all brumated in different ways last winter. Sweetie slept from Sept to Dec, hardly waking up and not losing any weight.

Lonzo slept every 2 days for 2 or 3 days Sept/Oct/Nov, then was up and about.

Rubio was only 1 yrs old, he slept a day here and there.

Leo wasn't with us yet, but he didn't do alot of sleeping at the previous owners.

So each beardie is different. The only thing to make sure is that they poop out all of their last meal, it's very important they have an empty stomach to sleep on, or food can rot and cause some nasty infections. Also that they have a hide or a blankie to hide under so your life can go on without disturbing them. There are alot of topics about brumation that you can search out.

good luck!
Deb

 

[paperplanes]

Would a heat pad help at all? at the bottom of the tank? He doesnt poop on a regular basis so that might be tough.

 

[Gail]

I always keep a extra supply of chemical hand warms just in case the power goes out I can at least keep the reptiles warm.

 

[drgnfly2265]

I always keep a extra supply of chemical hand warms just in case the power goes out I can at least keep the reptiles warm.

Oh, good idea! I got to get some of those.

 

[lovemylittleyoshi]

I didn't even think about brumation. We live in North Dakota so it's about as cold as Canada in the winter. Do they just sleep more than normal during the winter?? This will be our beardies first winter too!!

 

[paperplanes]

check out the article under the 'care sheets and articles' tab up at the top of the site. i found it helpful. but im still worried about the whole process! its definitely going to be a learning experience.

 

[drgnfly2265]

This will be new for me too. When Midna starts it I will probably freak out and think she is sick, lol. I live in Florida so I wonder if she will do it for a long time or if even at all... :?

 

[plato]

In Canada also, his first winter, last year, he slept alot. I took a fecal sample into the vet and came back clear, a good precaution to do. He would wake up every week tp 10 days, and I would bath/soak him for hydration, very important to keep water in them. I cut the heat and lights slowly down from 12 hrs down to about 2-3 hrs per day. Finally woke up 2-3 months later hungry!

But it is very hard on mama/owner nerves the first time!

 

[munchkins9802]

hmmm,... Wonder if Hermes at almost 2 yrs will brumate this year--better go read up on that article--

With his MBD issues and calcium issues is it even *safe* to let him brumate???????????

 

[jeritta]

we are in NC and it typically doesn't get that cold here plus our guys are only 2, 3 and 4 months old now so do you think they will brumate this year? just curious so maybe it doesnt' scare me so much.

 

[plato]

Some don't brumate at all, ever! Hopefully, you will be one of the lucky ones. LOL
I also gave him a blankie to snuggle up to and burrow under, he liked that!
Man, are we slaves or what?

 

[sara24354]

Hand warmers are an excellent idea,I keep them at all times because of power outages. My 2 year old female hasn't totally brumated,I have only had her sleep 2 days strait so far,but she sleeps a little later and goes to sleep earlier.On the other hand my male started brumation about 3 weeks ago.He has slept all but like 2 days since then he gets up when I bathe him,sometimes stays up the rest of the day and then goes back to sleep until I get him up.He's had 1 worm to eat in that time.My female wants to eat all the time though LOLOLOL.She may brumate this year though.

 

[articwolfgirl]

i dont know when mines gonna do it

 

[sweetiepie9]

jeritta, babies shouldn't be allowed to brumate, and normally dont, as they're still growing and need daily food. They might go to sleep a bit earlier and not be as energetic but not brumation. Once they hit a year old, that's a different story. Our dragons (we have 5 adults) all brumate in one way or another, our youngest is now 2, so it's to be expected. Last year he only slept a day here or there, this year he's already slept for 4 days. Had to get him up this am to hydrate, when they sleep we do that weekly.

Deb