Allowing a sick beardie to try and brumate would be very dangerous. Any illness they have would have the opportunity to get MUCH worse, because a beardie slows down it's entire system in order to brumate, and it's body won't be able to fight parasites or an infection with a system that's running at less than %100. http://www.beardeddragon.org/articles/brumation/ <--This article describes brumation very well, I'm sure if you give it a read you'll have a better understanding of what to look for with brumation, I found it handy when my girl Doodles went down for the first time this year.
Brumation varies from dragon to dragon, it normally involves not wanting to eat, and wanting to hide in the cool end of the tank, preferably in the dark if possible, and sleep. Some want to sleep for months, some just a few days, then they wake up and go back down. It involves only a few grams of weight loss, if that.
It is totally possible that a sick beardie might be feeling the change in seasons and WANT to brumate, but it's imperative that you don't let them, and that you don't write off symptoms of illness as 'just wanting to brumate'. If your beardie is healthy and slows down at this time of year, it's nothing to worry about and you just take your care cues from what they want. If your beardie is sick, you have to ignore what their body wants and make sure they are fed/warmed/hydrated/medicated/whatever else they need. A sick beardie allowed to brumate may well not survive.
Brumation varies from dragon to dragon, it normally involves not wanting to eat, and wanting to hide in the cool end of the tank, preferably in the dark if possible, and sleep. Some want to sleep for months, some just a few days, then they wake up and go back down. It involves only a few grams of weight loss, if that.
It is totally possible that a sick beardie might be feeling the change in seasons and WANT to brumate, but it's imperative that you don't let them, and that you don't write off symptoms of illness as 'just wanting to brumate'. If your beardie is healthy and slows down at this time of year, it's nothing to worry about and you just take your care cues from what they want. If your beardie is sick, you have to ignore what their body wants and make sure they are fed/warmed/hydrated/medicated/whatever else they need. A sick beardie allowed to brumate may well not survive.
Depends on the dragon and what the health issue is. It might be as simple as keeping the tank warmer than normal overnight, removing any hide from the cool end, putting them on the basking spot in the morning until they want to eat (and then again after) and giving them meds for a couple of weeks until whatever issue is resolved. Or for a very sick dragon it might be all of the above plus force feeding for the entire winter.
I am one proud momma right now Went to feed my baby some turkey baby food watered down to make it less thick,and she ate a whole syringe I went to my my feeding stuff away and she wanted more so she took down another half a syringe she loved it she is now happily basking with a full belly bright eyes and a beautiful skin color.also I got her to eat 4 small crickets yesterday and 2 earlier today she won't go near veggies other than baby food peas one step closer
That's great that she ate so well and is happily basking. We sure would love to see some pictures of her when you get a chance. You're doing a great job with her.
Were you able to remove all the walnut shells? What do you have down now, paper towels? Does she seem to mind the difference?
The walnut shells are no more I out down a soft blanket because she lived the material her blanket is made from so I thought I'd give it a try and seeing as how she won't potty in her Viv I figured she'd like it,as soon as I out her in her tank she ran right up to the glass opened her mouth gave me a stink eye and turned right back around.i guess she has to get used to the change