Newbie Brumation Question

[ArtClassBeardie]

Bowser has decided to go into brumation ... I think. She is almost, or just about one year old.
This past Tuesday (10/29), she started scratching around in her cave, buried herself under her blanket, and has been sleeping since then.
Usually, when she goes into her cave, she doesn't go under her blanket and is more awake. She is zonked out now.
Three questions:
1. I need to weigh her as it's been a little while. Is it okay to take her out? Should I turn the lights off or make it dimmer in the room before I take her out?
2. I fed her Dubia Roaches the day she decided to go into brumation. Should I put her in a bath to get her to poop before any more time goes by?
3. Should I change the lighting in any way? Do I still need to keep her basking light and UVB light on?

Thank you!

 

[xp29]

Bowser has decided to go into brumation ... I think. She is almost, or just about one year old.
This past Tuesday (10/29), she started scratching around in her cave, buried herself under her blanket, and has been sleeping since then.
Usually, when she goes into her cave, she doesn't go under her blanket and is more awake. She is zonked out now.
Three questions:
1. I need to weigh her as it's been a little while. Is it okay to take her out? Should I turn the lights off or make it dimmer in the room before I take her out?
2. I fed her Dubia Roaches the day she decided to go into brumation. Should I put her in a bath to get her to poop before any more time goes by?
3. Should I change the lighting in any way? Do I still need to keep her basking light and UVB light on?

Thank you!

Getting a weight helps track for any illness or decline during brumation. It can be handy.
Pooping would be better yes, their system should be empty so food doesn't rot in their gut.
Run both lights until you are certain it is brumation at the point shut off the uvb as not to waist the life of the bulb. If the room is comfortable for you during the day it is warm enough for her without the basking light (during brumation only) if it drops below 70ish at night I would run a heat emitter during the night. Also reset the timer to mimic the shorter daylights hours during winter/brumation.

 

[ArtClassBeardie]

Thank you. I did pull her out to weigh her yesterday. She is 371 grams.

Will it stress her out to pull her out again to soak her so she'll poop? She usually gets a soak every other day, she very rarely will poop in her enclosure, so I have to do that usually to get her to poop.

 

[KarrieRee]

Thank you. I did pull her out to weigh her yesterday. She is 371 grams.

Will it stress her out to pull her out again to soak her so she'll poop? She usually gets a soak every other day, she very rarely will poop in her enclosure, so I have to do that usually to get her to poop.

She will be fine -- when you get her out again to weigh her then offer the bath she may or may not go

 

[ArtClassBeardie]

She will be fine -- when you get her out again to weigh her then offer the bath she may or may not go

Okay, so many sources say it's dangerous for them to brumate for very long with food in their stomachs so I'm worried.

 

[KarrieRee]

Okay, so many sources say it's dangerous for them to brumate for very long with food in their stomachs so I'm worried.

That is a myth

 

[ArtClassBeardie]

Whew! She woke up this morning and it's business as usual. I guess she just decided to take a 5 day nap.

 

[xp29]

Whew! She woke up this morning and it's business as usual. I guess she just decided to take a 5 day nap.

Wow she has all grown up already!! She is gorgeous

 

[ArtClassBeardie]

She has gotten big. My students are psyched as they can pick her up this year. I'll have to post some of the pics of Bowser and her students soon.

 

[xp29]

She has gotten big. My students are psyched as they can pick her up this year. I'll have to post some of the pics of Bowser and her students soon.

Oh for sure

 

[AHBD]

Wow she has all grown up already!! She is gorgeous

Whew! She woke up this morning and it's business as usual. I guess she just decided to take a 5 day nap.

I thought she would probably come back out on her own, she may do a half in, half out with some days in her cave and other days business as usual.