Is this brumation?

[AliKat]

First post so HI!

Last year Tony acted like he was going to brumate off and on for weeks then he dug in his substrate for a few days. Then he went into his hide and slept for 4 months.

This year he stopped eating, stopped pooping and is sleeping most of the day but he's not going into either hide. He's sleeping on the cool side, but in his soft bed under a ceramic heat emitter. It's 82-83F average on that side. (Also, he no longer has loose substrate but he has a dig box but he hasn't dug in it recently)

He had parasites a couple of months ago and he refused to let me give his meds so I took him to the vet tech and they were able to check on his health every 2 weeks through 3 wks ago. They say he'd good. Not dehydrated, not losing weight, and looks fine. Since he's a bit overweight, he could afford to lose some, but he's not.

So everything about this is saying to me that he's brumating but he's lying in the heat. Until today I was still getting him out daily but he usually scrunches up into my neck and is snuggly. He doesn't want to roam. So today I decided to let him sleep like if he was brumating instead of getting him out

Very long story short - if he's sleeping under the heat, does that mean it's not brumation?

 

[xp29]

First post so HI!

Last year Tony acted like he was going to brumate off and on for weeks then he dug in his substrate for a few days. Then he went into his hide and slept for 4 months.

This year he stopped eating, stopped pooping and is sleeping most of the day but he's not going into either hide. He's sleeping on the cool side, but in his soft bed under a ceramic heat emitter. It's 82-83F average on that side. (Also, he no longer has loose substrate but he has a dig box but he hasn't dug in it recently)

He had parasites a couple of months ago and he refused to let me give his meds so I took him to the vet tech and they were able to check on his health every 2 weeks through 3 wks ago. They say he'd good. Not dehydrated, not losing weight, and looks fine. Since he's a bit overweight, he could afford to lose some, but he's not.

So everything about this is saying to me that he's brumating but he's lying in the heat. Until today I was still getting him out daily but he usually scrunches up into my neck and is snuggly. He doesn't want to roam. So today I decided to let him sleep like if he was brumating instead of getting him out

Very long story short - if he's sleeping under the heat, does that mean it's not brumation?

First, welcome to the forum
Second, not all beardies will use a hide. Some of mine refused them completely.
It does sound like he wants to brumate. Shorten his light cycle and give him a few days.
If your worried about him getting hungry if it isn't brumation just leave a salad daily.

 

[AliKat]

First, welcome to the forum
Second, notcall beardies will use a hide. Some of mine refused them completely.
It does sound like he wants to brumate. Shorten his light cycle and give him a few days.
If your worried about him getting hungry if it isn't brumation just leave a salad daily.

Thanks! It seems nicer here than Facebook and Reddit. They are scary lol

I have a UVB, basking light and 3 ceramic emitter lamps. His enclosure ended up in the way of a draft from the AC so I have the extra heat lamps to keep his temps right. The hot side is about 102-105F and cool side is low 80s. I try not to let it get below 80 even at night. Should I drop the temps overall? I like the UVB on all the time in daytime even during brumation. But I can limit hours and reduce heat. How much should I reduce the light time and temp do you think? I thought about turning off his lights at 5:30pm since that's when it gets dark here now. That would be 2.5 hrs less a day.

I hate brumation!!! I miss him so much. Thanks for your help

 

[KarrieRee]

Thanks! It seems nicer here than Facebook and Reddit. They are scary lol

I have a UVB, basking light and 3 ceramic emitter lamps. His enclosure ended up in the way of a draft from the AC so I have the extra heat lamps to keep his temps right. The hot side is about 102-105F and cool side is low 80s. I try not to let it get below 80 even at night. Should I drop the temps overall? I like the UVB on all the time in daytime even during brumation. But I can limit hours and reduce heat. How much should I reduce the light time and temp do you think? I thought about turning off his lights at 5:30pm since that's when it gets dark here now. That would be 2.5 hrs less a day.

I hate brumation!!! I miss him so much. Thanks for your help

Please keep his night time temps ambient 65-75 -- dragons like cool and dark - for surface basking temps 95-100 taken w/ a digital probe thermometer -cool side is good temp- I would not let him brumate more than 3 months -- the UVB and his lights can be left on during normal photo periods -- it keeps them time wise - its up to you tho if you want to turn them off some people do especially if they are zonked out- I would tho offer water and get a weight on him every couple of weeks - you can weigh on a kitchen scale in grams- what kind of UVB are you using? How old is the bulb and where do you have it placed at? Screens block 30% of the UVB rays - as far as FB and Reddit those people can be brutal -- you have come to the right place for help - everyone on here is pretty friendly and quick to help - we do have a vet tech mod on this forum for medical questions - she is very helpful

 

[xp29]

I agree with @KarrieRee. Let the night time temperatures drop to the mid to low 70's
And yes shutting the lights down at darkthirty is ok.
Also if your beardie does go into full brumation I'd shut the uvb buld down completely. Those bulbs are consumable and it's life is wasted running for a beardie in brumation. I've had Sinatra's uvb off since early September.

 

[AliKat]

Thanks so much! Mostly for being so nice. For a year I have dealt with Reddit and FB people. When you dont know something or do something wrong t's just like if you talk about religion or politics and you get attacked. On those forums, some people think they know everything and they attack people about everything from substrate to hammock material to food. So many times I have seen a person post that they just rescued a beardie who wasn't being fed and had no lights. And the forum people basically give them a list of everything they are doing wrong and scorn them for the horrible condition of the beadie. They just saved that beardie!!!! They are asking for help!! Ugh it's so frustrating.

Aaanywsy I think Tony does everything oddly. If I read something online that all beardies do - Tony doesn't do it. And vice versa. He is the pickiest eater. When I bathe him, he acts like i am putting him in acid and he's about to drown in 2 inches water. He is such a drama king!!! Of course he does brumation weird. But I love my little drama king dearly. I never thought I'd love a lizard so much. So I ask alot of question so I can give him his best life.

 

[xp29]

Thanks so much! Mostly for being so nice. For a year I have dealt with Reddit and FB people. When you dont know something or do something wrong t's just like if you talk about religion or politics and you get attacked. On those forums, some people think they know everything and they attack people about everything from substrate to hammock material to food. So many times I have seen a person post that they just rescued a beardie who wasn't being fed and had no lights. And the forum people basically give them a list of everything they are doing wrong and scorn them for the horrible condition of the beadie. They just saved that beardie!!!! They are asking for help!! Ugh it's so frustrating.

Aaanywsy I think Tony does everything oddly. If I read something online that all beardies do - Tony doesn't do it. And vice versa. He is the pickiest eater. When I bathe him, he acts like i am putting him in acid and he's about to drown in 2 inches water. He is such a drama king!!! Of course he does brumation weird. But I love my little drama king dearly. I never thought I'd love a lizard so much. So I ask alot of question so I can give him his best life.

Well on this forum you will be hard pressed to find judgment, we all love beardies and we love people that love beardies.
You can ask as many questions as you need, or you can just join in on general chat or to offer advice yourself if you know how to help someone. Also if you ask and your questions isn't answered in a way you understand, keep asking till it is. At the end of the day we all just want beardies and their keepers to have the best life possible together.