Questions about Brumation/My Beardie

[CriminalMinded]

Hey everyone, My female bearded dragon is going on two years at the end of this month. It's winter here in the east cost and I think she's just basically giving me a scare. For the past two days all she wants to do is crawl into her hide (wooden log) yet the temps are fine, myself and my brother mist the cage regularly too when the humidity level is low.

She eats lots of veggies, collard greens, bok choi, dandelion, mustards, on occasion squash, and when I feel like spoiling her I chop of strawberries for her. She eats Crickets (most of the time), phoenix worms, and once or twice a week I give her 1 or 2 super worms. She's always been healthy.

I was reading online and apparently in winter its called brumation? she just sleeps all day lately and like shes super weak... when she finally opened her eyes today I hand fed her some greens and I gave her a nice warm bath as she was super cold when I picked her up tonight super sad.. I hope shes ok and its just the weather....

CAN SOMEONE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME!!! Should I take her into the vet or is this normal? her cage is 40 gallon, she has the reptisun 10.0 tube strip.... she has a great basking light and at night I turn off all the lights as my house is always 22-24 degrees as I can't stand it being room temp but I was told its fine do I need to buy a small basking light or heat rock or something? anyone got any advice on what I can do... she shedded last month just fine.. but this month she has 0 energy, no apetite, and just wants to crawl into her hide when the timer turns the lights on at 12:00 PM on schedule...

I guess I am just being paranoid and skeptical, but some professional advice would be really helpful. THANK YOU TO WHOEVER HELPS ME ON THIS!

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

It is highly likely that is it brumation. However, I do have a few questions on the set up & temperatures.
When you mention 22-24 degrees, are you meaning C right? LOL I just had to ask. The ideal temperatures for them overnight, even if brumating, should be really no lower than 55-60 anyway.
Is she losing weight or seeming to be maintaining it?
You could use a ceramic heat emitter to help get the temperatures to a nicer temperature in the tank, 75 or so.
How old is the Reptisun 10 tube bulb?

Tracie

 

[CriminalMinded]

Bought a new one in november its jan now so 3 months. They last 6 months right or should I buy one now. Yes degree celcius im in canada not sure what that is in farenheight. She shedded last month just fine and I was giving her a bath n using a toothbrush on her shes maintaining the weight but refuses to eat and hides in the coldest part of the tank in her hide (wooden log) should I post a pic???


EDIT: here is the pic (taken 10 mins ago) I feel so helpless Only reason she is on top of the log and not in it is because I put her there after a nice warm bath....

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. I would get rid of that red light. He needs a bright white basking light. Those red lights make it look like dusk to the beardie.

 

[CriminalMinded]

Hi I have two I use a 75watt hologen bulb during the day shes always on the cold side of her cage...

Today though she ate. 5 CRICKETS (dusted with calcium) and 1 super worm... she even had veggies.. BUT she is back at it in her hide... is this normal brumation behavior last night she was weak as heck today shes full of energy and brght alert eyes I just dont get it.

Last month as previously mentioned she shedded. She was basking since jan 2nd shes constantly hiding this never happed this bad last year shes only turning 2 now so could it be because shes growing or??

Also please let me know based on the pic if she looks healthy when I get back home from work ill take a few pictures or tomorrow. My main concern is if it isnt brumaion so I can take her to the vet what do you guys think? Atleast it will put my mind at ease.

 

[craniomom1]

She is probably brumating.When was the last time she moved her bowels?I ask because if she is going to go into deep brumation mode she should not have anything in her belly.Right now my 2 and 3 year boys are playing with the whole brumation thing.They sleep until about dinnertime for a couple days,then will come out at the end of the day for their snuggles.This goes on for a couple days then they are up like normal at 5:30am when their lights come on and eat,poop and get a bath.

 

[AHBD]

Hi there....I know it's natural to be scared when this happens but your dragon is in brumation and she will be fine ! Night temps. should be 65-70 average, no higher, and baths and food are not necessary unless they come out on their own....as a matter of fact damage can be done by trying to force them from their natural behavior. I've brumated dragons for 20 years....colder temps., lights sometimes on, sometimes completely off [ then I check to see if the wake on their own.]. Many of them sleep solid for 2-3 months and I've never lost one.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Great, those are temperatures around 71-74F or so which is perfectly fine for brumation.
As suggested, do remove the red basking light & use a bright white basking light instead.
She physically looks good actually, good fat stores. Her beard isn't black in the picture, either.
They will sometimes eat a bit then try to nap, etc. Since this is her first brumation, she may not sleep real heavy or very much but just slow down & not eat as much.

Tracie

 

[CriminalMinded]

I want to say THANK YOU for all your advice.

She pooped today! This is embarrassing but I think she was umm... backed up you could say... I didn't know a reptile could poop that much... This is most likely because I was feeding her through brumation? She seems to be fine now and full of energy going to try feeding her tonight or do you guys think I should still not feed her?

Before today she didn't eat, didn't poop, she would only eat her greens so still mind boggled as to what caused her for the few days to act strange... I know its not much but I donated $3.00 today as I had $5.00 left on my PayPal account balance and $3.00 was the minimum or I'd of gave it all.

THANK YOU BEARDEDDRAGON.ORG SINCE I'VE HAD HER AS A BABY I'VE ALWAYS CAME TO THIS SITE AS A GUEST TO VIEW THE THREADS AND HELPFUL TOPICS YOU GUYS PROVIDE!

My last questions are:

1) What is the ceramic light thing I can buy and do you guys know of a good place in Canada I can buy or should I check out BigAls that's where I buy most of my stuff.

2) Should I start feeding her again now that she pooped or wait. Most likely I believe she was in brumation last week.

3) How much damage did I cause by feeding her when she was lazy and in sleep mode? should I take her to a vet and if so do you guys know any places I can take her in Toronto, Canada?

Pics from about 30 minutes ago:

VIDEO from about 30 minutes ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ky-596efNA
***She pooped after I shot the video... but just to get an idea how she looks... I think she's healthy and I am paranoid... what do you guys think? Going to try feeding her tonight but waiting to see the advice given on if I should feed her or not....

 

[CriminalMinded]

So she just went into the cold side hiding/shady part inside one of the wooden logs I have for her... Safe to say not to feed her anything right? Should I continue to put the greens out for her? looks like it is brumation so I don't think a vet call is necessary.

Thanks again for your time & assistance all!

 

[CriminalMinded]

Anyone know??

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

That is wonderful she finally went to the bathroom. That can happen during brumation, they can get dehydrated.
Is she spending a good amount of time basking right now? I wouldn't feed her much right now until she gets her system working normally again. She is still slown down.
The ceramic heat emitter is helpful in keeping the tank a little warmer without putting out any light.
You should be able to find one pretty easily.
She is beautiful & has great colors.. Did she slow down for just the one week?

Tracie

 

[CriminalMinded]

Hi Tracie. Yes, she cones out for maybe 3 hrs on the hot side then hides for the rest of day in the shade. I just put fresh greens. Havent fed her nothing else since she pooped.

Thanks for the tips going to get one on PayDay next week. I wont feed her until shes normal but yes shes been out of whack for almost 12 days now doing it. All the signs point to brumation.

 

[Luv4animalz]

Sounds like she's brumating for sure. The ceramic heat emitter is a really good idea for colder places. I'm in Canada too! I'm learning *F rather than *C in regards to beardie temps now lol I'm picking one up next week for night time, and a basking bulb for day time. Along with an Under Cabinet light fixture to install inside the enclosure with a 10.0 reptisun uv tube bulb.

Heat Emitter: http://bit.ly/1ynO7Ig

Basking Bulb: http://bit.ly/1znFygc

Under cabinet fixture: http://bit.ly/1xzSjNV & UVB Bulb: http://bit.ly/1xzS6ue

Edit: fixing links!