Brumation question.

[getgab92]

Hello! Okay so my Riley had been "asleep" for about 3 days now. He was barely eating and not pooping as often and he would just lay around his cage not necessarily in his basking spot. I assumed it was due to a winner slow down but he is only 8 months old and didn't expect him to sleep. He will wake up if a light comes in our he hears a loud noise but he just closes his eyes again after. I'm not sure what to do with him. I guess my question is how do I care for him without disturbing his sleep?

 

[StreetMoggy]

I would just stick to your daily routine, lights on in the morning, maybe cut back his food if you find he isn't eating as much, but always give him the option. Make sure he has a hide spot so he can get away from the light if he wants to.
and lights out at the end of the day. Pretty simple. Don't worry about disturbing him, if he is ready to go into deep burmation, he won't be disturbed by anything and will sleep through the apocalypse.
I would still give hime 2 baths a week. keeping them hydrated is still important during this time. If he gets grumpy don't feel bad, he will get over it. Some might sleep through the bath, and some will wake up a bit from the warmth and have a snack.
hope this helps

 

[getgab92]

Okay yeah he has just been asleep for 3 days. Waking up only for lights on and loud noises. He hasn't had a bath since then because I didn't wanna move him. So just don't worry about it and do it anyway?

 

[TheReptile838]

Bearded Dragons under a year old shouldn't brumate as they still need protein to grow. When they are over a year old they can brumate.

 

[getgab92]

Oh okay.

 

[bobbycarp]

Sounds like our experience. Ours is a big box pet store purchase and many of us see things we feel are wrong with care at some stores(food competition, food larger then they could ever eat, not enough food per dragon, etc..). So, that considered, what if we are mistaken guessing age based on size at purchase which leads to them possibly being undersized for their true age many months later? I put a pitch dark hide in our tank with a piece of towel to crawl under. If I didn't wake him up for baths he would have been crashed for almost a month now. After baths, and he was cranky being woke up, he would stay in the lights for a day or two, not eat, and go back to sleep in the cool dark hide. After the latest bath he was awake longer, bright eyed, and looking at me like I was food. I offered regular food and he chowed voraciously. Same for every offer of food after(now four consecutive feedings). I think ours went into brumation and has probably come out of it. I could be wrong but all signs sure seem like ours brumated at a perceived age of 8 months

 

[StreetMoggy]

Although typically beardies don't burmate until they are a year old, mother nature's rules are never set in stone.
you should always offer food during burmation period, some beardies are out cold for months, and some just sleep a little bit extra.
My guy will be 10 years old this year (he's a grouchy old man), and last year he slept like a log, this year it's down for a few days, up and head bobbin for a few, each year is a little different.
Don't worry about your beardie going into early burmation, it happens more often than people think.
But please do keep up with bathing, as keeping their fluid level up is important.

If you end up having concerns talk to your local vet.

 

[bobbycarp]

Thanks