How can I help my BD recover from Brumation.

[Mrjaws]

Mrjaws has been sleeping now for 44 days. Can anyone tell me what I need to do when he begins to wake up. This is what I've done so far:

Increased basking light from 8 hrs to 10 hrs. The temp avg is 104F.
Low temp is 83f.


Night temp Avg 77

He has not pooped in 44days. But is maintaining his weight prior to Brumation.

He woke up for a few days and I gave him 5-8 supers.

I have given him a soak about every week for hydration

Please advise what I need to do when he wakes up. I.E. feeding, handling, interaction,and anything else
That I need to do. Thanking you in advance.

Mrjaws

 

[AHBD]

A nice long sleep and he hasn't lost weight, that's great. You can just let him come around at his own pace. Now that you've fed him though, you can increase to at least 12 hours of light and give him water to encourage a poo. A 10 minute warm bath may do the trick, and if it's warm outside take him out but not in a glass tank [ they over heat very quickly ] Time out in the sun can rejuvenate him. For next time , don't feed him until he wakes up + is basking regularly.

He may stay awake, then back to sleep a bit, but giving more hours of light should hep him to get back to normal activity, even if it takes a couple of weeks.

 

[Mrjaws]

Thanks. The weather here will be sunny with hi's in lower 90's for the next week. Is 30 min a day OK. Also do I need to increase soaks to 3X a week?

 

[AHBD]

If he doesn't poo within a week, then increase the baths to 2-3X a week but it's not too concerning unless more than 2 weeks goes by. You can also offer baby food squash and/or unsweetened applesauce with about 1/4 tsp. of veg. oil.

 

[Mrjaws]

I heard Mrjaws scratching this am. Took him out of his hide and gave him a 30 min soak rubbing his tummy the whole time. No poop. I then took him out in the sunshine for about an hour. Then back to his house and put him on his rocks. The temp was 99F. Turned on his UVB. He has been there since. Still no poop. I have refrained from feeding him, but was able to get him to drink some. I have checked on him about every 45 min and he seems very alert , no beard display.

 

[AHBD]

Don't worry too much about an immediate poo....it can take a little while once they come out of brumation. It's good that you got him out in the sun, but just watch what his own preference is in the tank, he may still want to go back to sleep/rest off+ on. There's no danger unless he looks sick/loses weight noticeably. No need for long baths , 10 minutes is fine and although some people recommend rubbing the tummy it's best not to do so. We do not know how much pressure hurts or causes discomfort being as large as we are. Just like some people may give a back rub that hurts, the belly rub is even more risky as far as causing pain. When they need to go, they will eventually go.

 

[Mrjaws]

Thank you. After our adventure in the sun, Mrjaws decided to go back into his hide. I will leave him alone today and let him decide what to do. I appreciate you sharing your knowledge and experience with me.

 

[Mrjaws]

To: AHBD
I took Mrjaws out for his soak this AM and there was a HPOP (huge pile of poop) and plenty of unrated.
I was never so glad to see so much ..... . He has been basking on his rocks for most of the day. I turned on his UVB light and he is sitting in his tree directly under it. Other than the direct sunlight for a short time every other day, this is the first time he has been under UVB since going into Brumation.
He doesn't seem to want to interact with me so am leaving him alone and am not feeding him until he regains his energy.

Thank you