How can I tell how old my beardie is?

[lovemylittleyoshi]

I bought my beardie when he was a juvenile, however, I am unaware of the exact age. The petstore didn't know for sure and guessed he was about 5-6 months. We really want to know. Is there anyway of detecting his age? Maybe by physical characteristics??

 

[PeppersGirl]

There are no accurate methods for determining age... some are smaller than others, some grow faster, and physical characteristics can change at different ages.

For instance, some beardies will headbob/blackbeard as juvies whilst others (like mine) start only when they mature.
Bit frustrating really

 

[lovemylittleyoshi]

Yes, very frustrating!!! The reason I was asking is because I think my beardie went into brumation. I'm guessing his age is around 7-10 months. I thought this was too young to go into brumation. I've had his fecals tested and the results came back negative for any parasites. He is a happy, active, and healthy beardie. For the last week, he hasn't been eating twice a day like before, only once and not as many roaches. I've noticed a few times during the day he will go into his cave and take a nap for about an hour, then come back out and bask. He has also been going to bed about an hour early every night... until last night. Last night, he ate some pheonix worms for breakfast... had a bowel movement, then went into his cave at 4:30pm and went to bed for the night. I noticed yesterday he didn't really want to be held like he usually does either. By the articles I've read... he's brumating. I'm so paranoid because we lost our first little guy... so I keep going in to check on him and make sure he is breathing!! He is still okay, and if this is brumation, then I don't like it at all!!! I miss him!

 

[PeppersGirl]

Yes brumation is such a pain! Pepper sort of half brumated this year (it's nearly summer here) and the stress they can cause their slaves for no reason is amazing! However like anything else it varies when they'll begin. When Pepper became real sleepy I would let him sleep for maybe 4-5 days, beyond which I missed him too much, and then fed him one day and if he'd take food bath him the following day so he could poo and keep hydrated.
The bigger beardies can go for ages without food if they so choose, it doesn't seem to affect them as much as it does their poor slaves :lol:

 

[lovemylittleyoshi]

hahaa yeah we go through all the suffering!!! I came home today from work and Izzy was on his log basking, and he ate quit a bit and has been basking since. Maybe it's like a semi brumation. Wow, you are lucky it's not winter where you are! You live in Australia, right?? I live in North Dakota, so it's really cold and dark in the winter! It's already around 0 degrees this week, so well below freezing with snow and wind! No wonder he wants to brumate... so do I. hahaha silly beardies!

 

[PeppersGirl]

Wow that's pretty cold! We only get snow once in a blue moon over here (yes I'm in Aust.) Sometimes I reckon their first brumation is a state of confusion, Pepper did that... couldn't decide what to do with himself!!! All the more work for us :roll:

 

[lovemylittleyoshi]

Thanks for your response peppersgirl! You are very helpful.