New beardie Mom, could my 10 month old beardie be going through brumation?

[eapoe2b]

Hi. I'm new to the forum and new to being a beardie mom. I have had Mystery since end of June. We got her when she was about 4 months old. Everything has been great and a learning curve. She just had a vet visit on Dec 2nd, and was told she is good and healthy. I switched her lights for winter because it was no longer reaching her basking temperature. for the past 3 days now, she has been wanting to hid in darker areas. She bumps the terrarium to get out and when i take her out she runs off to look for a less lit area. Hasn't been eating much if at all. I still offer her food daily, she has her water and I offer her water. I give her an electrolyte bath about one a week. When she is out and about she still runs around, but will settle on a dark place. So i put her in her cushion with heated blanket and she is chilling there. Her terrarium: basking is usually 110. warm area is around 88-90, cooler area is about 78. Can someone let me know if I am doing everything right, or do I need to change somethings that I am doing. Attached is her terrarium set up (just bought a new stick for her to sit in, so doesnt show), and where she is chilling right now. Also she isn't napping, she is just laying there in the dark. Took her out a bit ago and offered dubia roaches. she at one and no longer was interested.

 

[KarrieRee]

Hi. I'm new to the forum and new to being a beardie mom. I have had Mystery since end of June. We got her when she was about 4 months old. Everything has been great and a learning curve. She just had a vet visit on Dec 2nd, and was told she is good and healthy. I switched her lights for winter because it was no longer reaching her basking temperature. for the past 3 days now, she has been wanting to hid in darker areas. She bumps the terrarium to get out and when i take her out she runs off to look for a less lit area. Hasn't been eating much if at all. I still offer her food daily, she has her water and I offer her water. I give her an electrolyte bath about one a week. When she is out and about she still runs around, but will settle on a dark place. So i put her in her cushion with heated blanket and she is chilling there. Her terrarium: basking is usually 110. warm area is around 88-90, cooler area is about 78. Can someone let me know if I am doing everything right, or do I need to change somethings that I am doing. Attached is her terrarium set up (just bought a new stick for her to sit in, so doesnt show), and where she is chilling right now. Also she isn't napping, she is just laying there in the dark. Took her out a bit ago and offered dubia roaches. she at one and no longer was interested.

Yes she is going thru a slow phase lazy phase most of them are right now - its brumation season and she has slowed down due to the season -- I would lower her surface basking temps to 95-100 she may not like that hot of a temp -- see what kind of a response you get out of her --

 

[AHBD]

Your beardie sure looks cozy. He may sleep for a bit but it's very unlike;y that he'll go through a real brumation, or not a long one anyway. Just a few tips about that and also his enclosure. first of all it should be cool a beardie to truly brumate.

Something else to add is that he needs some real climbing logs [ I know you said you have a branch, that's good ] and some nice flat rocks for filing his nails and providing him things he would realistically have in the wild. If you have nice rocks like that laying around your area you can get a few and wash them in very hot water with a bit of dawn dish soap and vinegar, then rinse very well with hot water. Otherwise you can get some pavers at Lowe's/Home Depot.

 

[eapoe2b]

Your beardie sure looks cozy. He may sleep for a bit but it's very unlike;y that he'll go through a real brumation, or not a long one anyway. Just a few tips about that and also his enclosure. first of all it should be cool a beardie to truly brumate.

Something else to add is that he needs some real climbing logs [ I know you said you have a branch, that's good ] and some nice flat rocks for filing his nails and providing him things he would realistically have in the wild. If you have nice rocks like that laying around your area you can get a few and wash them in very hot water with a bit of dawn dish soap and vinegar, then rinse very well with hot water. Otherwise you can get some pavers at Lowe's/Home Depot.

Hi. Thanks for the suggestion. I do have some rocks already that I provide her, they're not showing on the tank. I'd probably get a few bigger ones that we have inside our house already. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[eapoe2b]

Yes she is going thru a slow phase lazy phase most of them are right now - its brumation season and she has slowed down due to the season -- I would lower her surface basking temps to 95-100 she may not like that hot of a temp -- see what kind of a response you get out of her --

Thank you. Since they are going through a lazy phase but not full on brumation, what should be an average eating habit for her? I offer her food at least 4 times a day and give her water and electrolyte baths once a week and vitamins etc. But she barely eats right now and I know they don't eat too much but since she is only 10 months I don't want her to lose weight. When should I start concerning myself? This is my first brumation and it is driving me crazy to not know.

 

[KarrieRee]

Thank you. Since they are going through a lazy phase but not full on brumation, what should be an average eating habit for her? I offer her food at least 4 times a day and give her water and electrolyte baths once a week and vitamins etc. But she barely eats right now and I know they don't eat too much but since she is only 10 months I don't want her to lose weight. When should I start concerning myself? This is my first brumation and it is driving me crazy to not know.

10 month old dragons usually dont brumate unless they are of really good weight- over 300 grams- they do however slow down on the eating this time of year along w/ the pooping -- that is all normal - the bathing once a week is not necessary-- how much is the dragon eating? I would offer her insects every day since she is under a year old salads as well -- if she eats thats good - rinse the salads before serving and offer her water on her nose about every 10 days to see if she licks the water -how does she normally drink water? If she doesnt eat every day dont worry about it - dragons will do their thing -- it looks like the lighting in the tank is all good - make sure your UVB is not expired- they should be changed out every 10-11 months for a T 5 -

 

[matojack]

My beardie is 7 months old and has already reached adulthood according to our vet. She is 435 grams and 18” long. She eats only a few bites of greens which so much less than when she was little. Also, our vet said to feed her 10-20 small feeders 3x per week now. She was in her hide for two days this week and seemed lethargic but came out and gobbled up some worms. Now she’s been basking for the last two days and should poop soon.

 

[KarrieRee]

My beardie is 7 months old and has already reached adulthood according to our vet. She is 435 grams and 18” long. She eats only a few bites of greens which so much less than when she was little. Also, our vet said to feed her 10-20 small feeders 3x per week now. She was in her hide for two days this week and seemed lethargic but came out and gobbled up some worms. Now she’s been basking for the last two days and should poop soon.

Please post a pic of your dragon on another thread of your own- something is off here -- we dont want to get the dragons mixed up when answering -- thank you

 

[matojack]

Please post a pic of your dragon on another thread of your own- something is off here -- we dont want to get the dragons mixed up when answering -- thank you

I was replying to the original poster because I had the same concerns. Everything seems normal was my point. I’m a new beardie owner as well, so I thought the poster would like to know.

 

[KarrieRee]

I was replying to the original poster because I had the same concerns. Everything seems normal was my point. I’m a new beardie owner as well, so I thought the poster would like to know.

A 10 month old dragon should be eating bigger feeders than small-- and at one yr of age she will be eating less insects -- salads should be fed every day -- please post on a thread of your own so we can help you

 

[eapoe2b]

10 month old dragons usually dont brumate unless they are of really good weight- over 300 grams- they do however slow down on the eating this time of year along w/ the pooping -- that is all normal - the bathing once a week is not necessary-- how much is the dragon eating? I would offer her insects every day since she is under a year old salads as well -- if she eats thats good - rinse the salads before serving and offer her water on her nose about every 10 days to see if she licks the water -how does she normally drink water? If she doesnt eat every day dont worry about it - dragons will do their thing -- it looks like the lighting in the tank is all good - make sure your UVB is not expired- they should be changed out every 10-11 months for a T 5 -

Ive been looking around and because I am not 100% sure how old she is, I guess 10 months, because I got her in June and she was small but she could be, based on length and weight, closer to 12 months old. She went to the vet like 2 weeks ago and she weighed 370g and besides having coccidia, we have medication for it, she was perfectly fine and healthy. She hasn't been eating much. I do offer all of those things but she barely eats it and wants to be in the dark cozied up. She does hydrate, i give her drops. So I don't need to give her water everyday right now? food, she had 2 big dubia roaches like 3 days ago and the following day she had some vegetables, yesterday she didn't eat anything, she hasnt today either.

 

[KarrieRee]

Ive been looking around and because I am not 100% sure how old she is, I guess 10 months, because I got her in June and she was small but she could be, based on length and weight, closer to 12 months old. She went to the vet like 2 weeks ago and she weighed 370g and besides having coccidia, we have medication for it, she was perfectly fine and healthy. She hasn't been eating much. I do offer all of those things but she barely eats it and wants to be in the dark cozied up. She does hydrate, i give her drops. So I don't need to give her water everyday right now? food, she had 2 big dubia roaches like 3 days ago and the following day she had some vegetables, yesterday she didn't eat anything, she hasnt today either.

The meds will dry her out so keep her hydrated --the meds will also affect her appetite as well -- its good she is eating -- I would get her on a probiotic for the stomach - the medication can cause upset stomach
Pro-Biotics I used the Reptophilus when Blaze was on two antibiotics - Tracie has this website I posted and she is a vet tech mod on the board - what kind of UVB are you using? Coil or long tube fixture?

 

[eapoe2b]

The meds will dry her out so keep her hydrated --the meds will also affect her appetite as well -- its good she is eating -- I would get her on a probiotic for the stomach - the medication can cause upset stomach
Pro-Biotics I used the Reptophilus when Blaze was on two antibiotics - Tracie has this website I posted and she is a vet tech mod on the board - what kind of UVB are you using? Coil or long tube fixture?

I am keeping her hydrated. Do electrolycte baths that have prebiotics and probiotics help or still should get the Reptophilus? Mine is a long tube UVB

 

[KarrieRee]

I am keeping her hydrated. Do electrolycte baths that have prebiotics and probiotics help or still should get the Reptophilus? Mine is a long tube UVB

Not sure about the electrolyte baths but we can ask Tracie @Drache613 -- where is the uvb ? Brand and bulb please