Brumation?

[Sierra1167]

Hello all. I am reposting this in general hoping to get some replies. It was originally posted in behavior.

Okay. I have read the article on brumation and on another reptile site, but want to get first hand opinions. Ray is my mostly blind beardie rescue. He is approx two years old. His set up is:

4'x12"x12" tank with screen lid
Flooring is non adhesive shelf liner and slate tile
100 watt household bulb for heat
10.0 Reptisun linear uvb bulb (3 months old)
Temps are about 75 cool/95 basking
Digital therm w/probe
Diet is about 5-10 supers a day along with a varied veggie diet of mustard greens,kale,collards with occassional fruits such as banana,strawberries,apple,grapes,and mango.
He is about 22 inches long...weight unknown as I don't have a scale

The problems started on Monday morning. He was blackbearding and trying to get out of his tank. He refused supers, so I just put his salad in his tank before I left for work. I held him a bit and he calmed down a little, but went back at it when I put him back in. While at work I texted my bf to check on him and he told me that Ray had escaped his tank and was sitting on top of it. (I had previously cut a hole in the top where his basking light is because the basking temps were too low.) I was worried that he had burnt himself on the bulb during his escape, but there are no signs of burns or other injuries. Since then, he has had a poop,two baths, 20 mins outside in the sun(thinking the uvb was blocked by the screen and he hadn't been in the sun for awhile), and cuddling. He has refused all food. Last night he went to the cool side way before lights out, dug at the flooring a bit ,and then went to sleep. Thinking brumation, I laid a blanket over him and let him be. As of noon today, he is still sleeping where I left him. His poop has been well formed and regular, so no real sign of parasites. Is this brumation? Could it be his uvb needs to be either inside his tank or unblocked by screen? Both? He still has a little bit of a blackbeard.

Sorry so long a post, but wanted to make sure I gave all the info needed to advise. Thanks!

 

[SlizardGirl]

I think it is brumation. Sunshine's eating slows down a bunch. She usually gets a hyper burst of energy a week or so before she slows down. About the not eating, he should eat something. At least every other day try to give him something. I suggest that if he doesnt have a taste for the usual food, then try something new. Mealworms perhaps? Maybe some squash? Mix a meal, Sunshine used to be picky and all she would eat was strawberries and grapes. do this and expiriment, find a favorite food. just try to get him to eat. brumation does not mean they do not eat, it just means they sleep more than a cat on a snowy morning, and eat only half as much. but still continue weekly baths. cuddle and continue to do what you are doing,

oh and do not worry too much about the light bulb escape. i was taking sunshine out of her tank and she (as usual) flailed around, but she flailed and hit the lamp. she freaked out, but she quickly became calm. it should not burn him if it is a quick touch. Beardies are tough cookies!

 

[Sierra1167]

Thanks for the reply! He slept from 9pm on Thurs until 2pm Sat. He ate some greens yesterday and today and some supers. He pooped today, so he may take another long sleep. I put a upside down shoebox with a hole on the end with a blankie inside, so he has a comfy hide. This is a first for me, so it's nice to get some feedback. The babies(almost 6 months old) are slowing down their eating too.

 

[SlizardGirl]

ok, then that is good, they love the blankies, especially fleece! and it is good to hear that they are eating well.