Brumation Question: Effect on Growth?

[BeardieSUSU]

To keep this very brief, does brumation affect growth rate with bearded dragons? My bearded dragon recently went into brumation (at first it was just little naps, but now she's always asleep) and hasn't lost any weight thank gooddness, but I've noticed she hasn't really grown much. Obviously this makes sense, because they aren't eating a lot during brumation. But since she was only like 5 months when she went into brumation, will this affect her overall growth? She's a good 13 or 14 inches, and is 6 months old. Will her growth be stunted since they grow a lot around 6 months?

 

[diamc]

A beardie only 5 to 6 mo old can certainly slow down & also eat less during the winter months. But, she shouldn't be wanting to "always sleep" at such a young age and most are starting to wake up now.

Would you be able to answer some questions about your setup, etc to help us rule things out? White size tank is she in or what are the dimensions? What are the temps and what type of thermometer are you using, digital strip, round gauge (dial), digital with probe end or temp gun?

What brand & type of UVB do you have? How old is this particular bulb? Is the basking light a white or colored bulb?

How often have you been bathing her and offering oral fluids? When did she last have a bowel movement? Was it normal and not runny or extra smelly? What substrate is on the bottom of the tank?

How was her appetite and activity level before she slowed down a month ago? When did she last eat and what did she have?

 

[BeardieSUSU]

Yeah, I understand how it's really weird for a young beardie to be acting like this, but I don't have any reason to believe she is sick. Also, not sure if this affects anything but I am in CO and its very much still winter here. Anyway I don't believe its her environment, I had help from my friend (whos a breeder) in setting it up. 55 gallon tank, "cold" side doesn't drop below 75 (or really doesnt drop below 80), warm side is in the 90's, but there are basking areas that are warmer than that. Reptisun UV recently changed. She's been eating squash and phoenix worms, last bowel movement was a few days ago and was normal. I give her a bath a couple times a week, shes living on reptile carpet. Hasn't lost any weight, eyes don't seem droopy or anything. Literally the only problem is that she's spending an abnormal amount of time under her rock and sleeping a lot. Not like a constant state of hibernation, but enough sleep to seem like brumation

 

[BeardieSUSU]

Would getting rid of her rock help? Whenever I lift the rock up, she seems alert and healthy. She's taking a liking it to it, but I'm worried that she spends too much time hidden. If she doesn't get the UV, that can lead to health problems. She never had this problem before last month or so, so I don't think it's too hot or anything.

 

[kingofnobbys]

Keep her enclosure warm (NOT LESS THAN 24oC)
and
Keep her UV lights and heat / basking lamp on 15 - 16 hr per day (simulate summer in the interior of Australia near Alice Springs in summer)

Best for a beardie younger than 12 months old NOT to be allowed to brumate.

 

[BeardieSUSU]

Thank you! That's what I was wondering. I figured it probably wasn't healthy, that's why I was kind of forcing her to stay active and kept feeding her/bathing her, etc. I think I'll probably take out the rock she sleeps under, just to make it a little easier. I'll check her temps again, and make my timer around 15 hours. She's been less active for a month, but hasn't been into "brumation" mode until about last week. Thank you for the suggestions.

 

[diamc]

It's good that the warm side is in the 90's and the cool side is about 80. What is the actual basking SURFACE temp and what type of thermometer are you using to check them?

Good that you changed the UVB bulb lately. What brand & type of UVB do you have and how close can she get to it when she's in her basking spot?

If you could post some pictures of her in her tank, that would be helpful. Here's the link to help you do that. https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/

 

[kingofnobbys]

Would getting rid of her rock help? Whenever I lift the rock up, she seems alert and healthy. She's taking a liking it to it, but I'm worried that she spends too much time hidden. If she doesn't get the UV, that can lead to health problems. She never had this problem before last month or so, so I don't think it's too hot or anything.

Don't deprive her of her hide .... it's where she'll feel most secure, and she will still want to have a nap in the afternoon when the lights are on a long day setup , all mine do , ie they go down for a nap for a hour or 2 in the afternoon and come back out about diner time looking for their salad/greens + silkworms and next feed of crickets.

Rex has never brumated (she's now 3.5 years old). Nor have George and Mildred , and Wriggles never brumated in her last 2 winters after we rescued her.

It wont harm the juvenile beardie to bromate in it's 1st 12 months, however it's not adviseable as they wont be eating or growing while in brumation and they wont have the required reserves in their bodies to sustain them....

 

[BeardieSUSU]

Thank you! I think I found a nice compromise when it comes to the hide. When she was smaller I had a jungle gym/branch structure she would play on. She's now too big to really rest on top of it, but it provides shade underneath where she likes to nap. It gives her the sense of security, but it's still open enough to where she won't be in hiding all the time. She still has an appetite, so I think I'll just keep her normal schedule and just keep the lights on longer.