Brumation at 5 months?

[SaNToX76]

Ok so before changing climate from sunnier south jersey to miserable n gloomy RI, Lyx was very active and very hungry for a good majority of the time usually consuming anywhere from 20-40 crickets in a sitting twice a day. As of lately, I've noticed alot of changes in behavior and activity that can only lead me to believe its a case of really young brumation.

- Started digging around under cage furniture trying to borrow into the tile...
- Slowed eating habbits now completely refuses anything other than dubias
- Sleeps often and very early : Does wake up in the mornings but is very lazy and falls back asleep by 6
- Hasn't execreted anything in a couple of days...Although I am concerned where exactly the couple of dubias I've fed her have gone
- No stress marks...I thought maybe impaction somehow but by now im sure I would have woken up to a darkened dragon with stress marks along her pearl white stomach. luckily no.
- No weight loss...If parasites where a factor im sure I would be seeing a decrease in weight/fat deposits but no...still has a thick tail and a "pudgy" belly.

My concerns are since she is so young , slightly over 5 months, the lack of protein and calcium may stunt her growth? Also...
She does this odd thing with her beard flap that looks like shes vomiting in her mouth and swallowing it back down...Like puffs up slightly and bobs upwards a few times...almost like a withheld hard burp.

Any ideas, comments, view points would be greatly appreciated... (Yes, yes I know...atleast one of you is thinking I should get a fecal done but remember...its not going to the bathroom.)

 

[rywiz79]

Oh cool. Im glad you posted this. My beardie is a few months older and he started doing the exact thing. It started in early september. I would retype everything you put but that would be redundant. My beardie didnt have a dm for 3 days. I keep wakeing him up to eat his super worms but all he will eat is 4/5 a day. He eventualy did his thing and went back to bed. Im no expert but Im sure you little monster is going to be ok.

 

[nesta's mommy]

Ok so before changing climate from sunnier south jersey to miserable n gloomy RI, )

gotta love that rhode island weather huh?

 

[protiemama]

Since you are not alone, Bogie is 6 months same thing, and several others have posted the same probs, I think this may be normal. None of our experts have replied yet though. Hey, Denise, Tracie, Dianne, ANYONE? Do they ever brumate this early? What's up?

Sandy H

 

[maxattack]

Since you are not alone, Bogie is 6 months same thing, and several others have posted the same probs, I think this may be normal. None of our experts have replied yet though. Hey, Denise, Tracie, Dianne, ANYONE? Do they ever brumate this early? What's up?

Sandy H

Yep, Buttercup is doing the same thing. I have cups of worms on top of her viv that I am afraid are going to turn into something nastier than worms if she doesn't get to eating! All she wants to do is hide in her cave. Come play with me Buttercup!

 

[SaNToX76]

Well thanks for the replies so I know im not talking to air...As for those of you that did post your BD's ages thats smart, its not that I find brumation odd, just that mine is so young and I was told not to expect it until its NEXT winter. Its obviously that time of year since were all experiencing such simular stories. For any more of you that read this and agree please post your BD's age.
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Nestas Mommy,

Since you happen to be in the same area, do you happen to know anything about who I could contact about multiple BD's being abused at a pet store? Although its the cheapest and only close by place that sells bulk crickets I'd rather have them shut down or atleast fined...Regal Reptiles on Washington Street in Providence, RI has A dozen or more adult bearded dragons cramped in small spaces, with poor lighting, unsanitary conditions, everything I could think of NOT to do was being done. Some were so sick and poorly nutritioned that they were black... I hate going there...

 

[nesta's mommy]

Well thanks for the replies so I know im not talking to air...As for those of you that did post your BD's ages thats smart, its not that I find brumation odd, just that mine is so young and I was told not to expect it until its NEXT winter. Its obviously that time of year since were all experiencing such simular stories. For any more of you that read this and agree please post your BD's age.
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Nestas Mommy,

Since you happen to be in the same area, do you happen to know anything about who I could contact about multiple BD's being abused at a pet store? Although its the cheapest and only close by place that sells bulk crickets I'd rather have them shut down or atleast fined...Regal Reptiles on Washington Street in Providence, RI has A dozen or more adult bearded dragons cramped in small spaces, with poor lighting, unsanitary conditions, everything I could think of NOT to do was being done. Some were so sick and poorly nutritioned that they were black... I hate going there...

haha yes we are in the same area! i do have some numbers that you could definitely call. pm me and we'll definitely talk about it where are you in ri?

 

[rywiz79]

I posted earlier about my little guy. He is 7 mo old. As the days go by he just gets sleepier and sleepier. He keeps burying himself under his shelf paper on the bottom of his cage. So I just put an old shirt in there and let him burry himself in that. Happy sleeping to all of you guys little monster.

 

[Rockymountain]

Roxanne turned 9 months old today and this week she pretty much hasn't eaten much of her veggies. Today she eat crickets but she has been digging for a couple days now and I noticed today that she was in the far corner of her viv and didn't move at all. As a matter of fact she is still there tonight. I've never been through brumation but I think from all I've read this is what is going on.

 

[diamc]

Hi all, it's completely normal for them to slow down in their appetite and activity level, even if they are under a yr old, but 5 mo seems like it's too young and that is concerning. From what I've read on this thread, all of them are trying to escape the heat and going to sleep sooner. Before brumation or semi-brumation is even considered for any of them, please make sure that all of you recheck your temperatures. With the change of seasons, I always have to adjust the bulb wattages. Also, make sure that all of you are using either a temperature gun or a digital thermometer with a long wire & probe end and that you're laying the probe so that it is resting on the basking area, wait about 45 min for the temp to stop rising before you decide the final basking temp.

Giving frequent baths and gently rubbing the right side from armpit to vent area will help with a bowel movement as well as using very warm babyfood applesauce diluted with a little water or pedialyte. Put drops on their nose for them to lick off, once they get a taste they should really like it. Another suggestion that helps with the pooping process after you have done the bath & applesauce, is to use a sock filled with rice with a knot on the end. Heat in microwave for about 15 to 20 seconds and test the temp by the side of your cheek. Wrap the rice sock up in a washcloth or dishtowel then wrap that up with your beardie in a big fluffy towel. These 3 steps almost always assure a poop by morning. Taking a poo sample to have tested will help put your mind at ease. It is very important to make sure they don't have food left in their bellies to prevent it rotting if they are in even a semi-brumation state. If a beardie is dehydrated it will also cause him to become lethargic and to want to avoid the heat in the basking area so be sure they are well hydrated.

Another thought about a 9 mo old not wanting to eat, sleeping a lot & digging other times, is the possibility of fertile or infertile eggs, so an xray would be a good idea, especially if the beard and/or tail are darkened in color.

Also make sure your fluorescent bulb is not over 5 or 6 months old and that it is 6 to 8 inches from your beardie. If using a MVB, if a 100 watt, it needs to be a minimum of 12" away and if a 160 watt, it needs to be a minimum of 18" away. Beardies under 1 to 1 1/2 yrs old need to have their food dusted with calcium 5 days a wk, 1 feeding a day and with vitamins the other 2 days of the wk, 1 feeding a day. You can even mix a small amt of calcium or vitamins in water and offer it that way.

It isn't a good idea to withhold live food when a beardie is under a yr old to try to get them to eat their veggies as they still need lots of protein. Just keep offering the fresh greens daily from the beautifuldragons site.

Hope these suggestions help.

 

[protiemama]

Diane- I have been on my temps like a hawk lately. They are perfect, it took a lot of work w/t the weather change. Bogie's bulb is a repti-sun 10.0 and not even 5 months old. Every day once it heats up I set him on his outside log in the sun and out of the wind. He basks and explores for 3 or more hours. (I'm working on his viv right there) Once inside he may eat a few supers and then (too soon) he climbs up to his hammock and crashes. He is cool when I find him. He gets his baths and poops in perportion to the amount he is eating.(once a week) He won't touch anything that isn't dusted. He even licks the calcium dust from his bowl. I have the proper kind and use it faithfully. You know I follow the advice you and the others here give. He hasn't shed in a month. He is still about 18- 19" but he now weighs 376grams! :dontknow: I am baffled but less worried since we have so much company.

Sandy H
I didn't mean to sound snippy,its late and I am a bit tired. Just trying to add to the info. My tone was harsh, my intentions, not so much.

 

[Koche]

My beardie is a little over 6 months (17" and plump) and has been displaying "semi-brumation" behavior for a couple of weeks. I live in New Hampshire. Once the last tropical system went past and the temps dropped, I noticed the change. Koche has been eating some greens everyday, but only eats his crickets every other day. I decided to order some silkworms and phoenix worms to see if he'll be more receptive (still waiting on delivery). He's had 2 days where he slept most of the day. Otherwise he seems to be on an every other day cycle, sleepy then more alert. On the sleepy days he spends his time on the cool side of the tank happily burrowed in the sand under his shelter. (he never hung out over there before this) I take him out and let him bask on the window sill for about an hour every day that it's sunny. He loves it. (unfortunately too cold for outside time anymore) I give him a bath every third day and offer him water from an eye dropper everyday to make sure he's hydrated. He poops at least every other day. It's funny, he likes to poop on my hardwood floor or in the tub. Hardly ever in his enclosure. I have also been slowly decreasing the amount of time his lights are on since mid-August. I've gone from 14 hours down to 11 hours following the "Hours of daylight by latitude" chart. Although, I think I will stop when I get to 10 hours. All temps are good, bulbs are good, and just did a complete cleaning/disinfecting of habitat. All I need to do now is have a fecal sample tested. It's certainly a relief to hear the same story of beardies the same age. Obviously we humans have more of a problem adjusting than our dragons. It's a balancing act trying to keep them alert enough to eat without annoying them too much. Next year it should be easier. Just make sure they bellies are empty, let them sleep, and bathe them once a week. (that's if they decide to fully brumate)

 

[jajabinx89]

Yeha my guy is around 9 months old and the past couple weeks all he wants to do is hide in his cave all day. He'll come out if I put phoenix worms right in front of his nose, but that's only sometimes. Welll i was worried about him digesting his food so I used his teddy bear to plug up the entrance to the cave haha. I mean since I've done that his behavior has returned back to normal.. do you think it was still semi-brumation? Should I unplug the cave and let him do what he wants (I guess that would be the best option) Oh and also, what happens if he crashes one day with a belly full of worms.. I can't just let them sit in his stomach so is it okay to take him out for baths and what not? How do I know when he's gone into full brumation? Sorry I'm sure everyone jjust answered all of this in the posts above me... I'm just trying to clarify what I'm supposed to do since I've never dealt with brumation before (if this is even brumation at all!) Thanks so much for your patience and help!

 

[diamc]

In case some of you haven't read this, here's an article on Brumation that one of the other mods wrote. There is a lot of useful info in it and might help clear some things up. http://www.beardeddragon.org/articles/brumation/

 

[Rockymountain]

1. How long does brumation last?

2. Should I pretty much leave her alone while in brumation except to bath once a week?

3. Should I continue to let the uvb and heat go on it's timer while she is in brumation?

Thanks
Patty