KristenT
Juvie Member
Tazz will be 7 this year. His normal brumation habits are about a good month totally down followed by some up and down for a few weeks until he finally comes out of it. During the up and down period, he will still occasionally eat. This year he's acting different.
We lost power in late September when Hurricane Maria swept through our area. Temps were cold, but not critical cold, and Tazz went down early due to this. He hasn't been up since. I have been able to get him up a few times this past month, but he has little to no interest in his food and has lost weight. I've bumped his ambient temps up just a tad and added some 'day' time to his light cycle. This has only given some minimal results as far as increased alertness and activity. I started giving him Repti-boost critical care this week, and actually got him to eat a few millworms. I know, not the best food source, but at this point I feel like I should give him whatever he'll actually eat. He couldn't care less about the dubia I have, and my usual go to - silkworms - are out at my current supplier.
I think I'm posting more out of mommy worry, because I think he's fine... just getting older and brumation is harder and being out of power threw him for a loop, and yes, I'll have him to the vet soon if something doesn't give... but was just hoping another experienced beardied mom or dad has had some similar experiences of a sudden abnormal brumation as they get older, etc?
He has always liked his basking spot on the cooler side, but I've bumped it up to 93*F now. Ambient warm side is around 87*F, temps going to lows of 71*F at night. Cool side goes as low as 78*F if he goes in his cave.
And baby food has been an epic fail this time around, too.
We lost power in late September when Hurricane Maria swept through our area. Temps were cold, but not critical cold, and Tazz went down early due to this. He hasn't been up since. I have been able to get him up a few times this past month, but he has little to no interest in his food and has lost weight. I've bumped his ambient temps up just a tad and added some 'day' time to his light cycle. This has only given some minimal results as far as increased alertness and activity. I started giving him Repti-boost critical care this week, and actually got him to eat a few millworms. I know, not the best food source, but at this point I feel like I should give him whatever he'll actually eat. He couldn't care less about the dubia I have, and my usual go to - silkworms - are out at my current supplier.
I think I'm posting more out of mommy worry, because I think he's fine... just getting older and brumation is harder and being out of power threw him for a loop, and yes, I'll have him to the vet soon if something doesn't give... but was just hoping another experienced beardied mom or dad has had some similar experiences of a sudden abnormal brumation as they get older, etc?
He has always liked his basking spot on the cooler side, but I've bumped it up to 93*F now. Ambient warm side is around 87*F, temps going to lows of 71*F at night. Cool side goes as low as 78*F if he goes in his cave.
And baby food has been an epic fail this time around, too.