Can a beardie in brumation look dead?

[sjcksnmnusa]

My Roxi is just 3 1/2 years old and I think she just died. I'm hoping I am wrong and she has gone into brumation. She is unresponsive and limp and not breathing, that I can see but she does not seem totally dead either. She has been shedding and her appetite has been off but she has been eating a little, pooping OK, and moving around her house. She was under her log and gaping a little tonight, hissed at us when we came close to the glass and then about 20 minutes later she twitched and put her head down. She looks lifeless but I felt her tail twitch a little so I am hoping against hope that she is still with us.

She is in a 35 gallon tank with a ceramic heater for cold at night and during the day when needed. She has had sand substrate for the last year and basking rocks and a log for climbing, her temp for basking ranged from 85 to 100, cool area around 80. At night her temps are between 65 and 70. I am home all day and monitor her house all the time so she never got to hot or cold. I use a digital read thermometer.

I don't feel I know enough. I feel I have lost her but need to know for sure what to look for.

 

[Killzone3265]

they can, their whole body slows down during brumation and they will poop and eat less before going into it.
if you really really reallyyyy need to find out, just take her out and move her around, they usually wake up when being moved.
im so sorry if she really is gone :c

 

[snazzyglasses]

Another easy way to tell is to watch for their sides moving in & out as they breathe. When my 4 year old was brumating I swear he only took a breath or two per minute. :shock: (I didn't actually time them, but that's definitely what it seemed like)
I'm so sorry if she's gone Hopefully she's just brumating though!

 

[Esther19]

You might try a warm bath. I'm so sorry you're having to go through this.

 

[kcarello]

Oh my...I would have to pick her up and make sure she was ok....she will go back to sleep if you wake her, and if that isn't the case,,then you will know...This must be so scary...I truly hope she is just sleeping. Please let us know.

 

[sjcksnmnusa]

Thank you all for your help. She is gone. I don't know why but will try to find out. Her breeder said two from the same clutch also died suddenly. I'm so sad but she gave me such joy that I know I will rescue another. I'm in the process of building another viv which will be a new home for a beardie that needs it.

 

[kcarello]

I am so sorry to hear about Roxi! I hope you can find out why she passed.
Hugs,
Kelly

 

[sjcksnmnusa]

Thank you being your caring.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Oh no, I am so sorry that you lost her so suddenly. The only way to determine the cause would be a necropsy. Some guesses would be renal or liver issues, possibly.
My sincere condolences.

Tracie

 

[Esther19]

I'm sorry to hear she crossed over.

 

[Killzone3265]

D: so so sorry to hear shes passed on
im asured that she had a great life with a loving family, and hopes to see you again someday