Need second opinion - Brumation

[Momomo]

Hi All,

I haven't posted on this forum in a long time, have been occasionally reading it though. I need a second opinion from experienced owners. My BD is just over a year old and has started showing signs of wanting to go into brumation. Consequently, I took him to the vet to make sure he is healthy enough to brumate. The results of blood work and fecal did not come in yet, but the vet right away suggested to NOT let my BD go into full-on brumation. Not because of health concerns (he looks healthy, weighs 480g), but simply because its very hard to get them out of it. The vet said that he can slow down, but I shouldn't let him sleep all day everyday. Has anybody ever interrupted their dragons' brumation period? I feel like its going to screw with his natural cycles and patterns... Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[falcor33]

Hi there, my male dragon Tolkien, went into brumation shortly after he turned one, he was healthy and fine, I don't think there is anything wrong if your dragon wants to brumate, if he's in good health!

Maybe your vet meant try not to let him brumate just yet, to see what the results of the tests are, just in case there might be something wrong...you don't want a sick beardie to brumate, because their immune defences will be low, and more problems could arise.

But it sounds to me like you have a happy healthy bearded dragon, that wants to take a fall nap! My dragons are all slowing down eating-wise right now, all I do is continue to offer food and keep them hydrated. Some days they sleep under their blankies and don't come out, other days they come out just to look around. Every beardie is different.

Please let us know what the results are from the vet when you get them!

 

[Esther19]

My Buster slept for 6 months last year. I woke him for weekly weighing and hydration. He was fine. I think that is longer than is considered normal, however.

 

[falcor33]

wow! :shock: 6 months, and i thought 3-4 months was long...wow...i don't know what i would do, i would be so bored, i miss them too much when they are brumating....

is it regularly 6 months every year that he brumates? or was it just one long brumation in particular?

 

[Momomo]

Hey, thanks for your answers.

Falcor33, no the vet explicitly said not to let him shut down completely even if he is in perfect health because it will be hard to get him out of it. Anyway, I put in a new basking bulb with higher wattage because its getting colder and he actually seems a lot more active, gets out of his hide as soon as lights are on and runs around like a crazy dragon So that attempt at brumation I described in my 1st post was a false alarm.

As for the tests, they showed he's a bit dehydrated and has a very small number of parasites (some kinda protazoan, not pinworms or coccidia). So right now we're working on fixing that. I plan to monitor him and if he really wants to sleep in the winter - I'll let him sleep, since there is no mention that anyone has ever tried to interrupt their beardies' brumation.

 

[falcor33]

ah, ok, i just never heard of someone absolutely against brumation unless there was something potentially wrong with the beardie is all!

yes, always check temperatures and lighting, you never know, i know tolkien likes it extra bright in his cage!

glad things are ok with your beardie, please keep us posted!