Sleeping since November

[Rockymountain]

Hi All,

Roxanne just turned a year this month. She has been sleeping since November but looks good and is keeping her weight. I take her out just about every week to bathe. When am I going to get my girl back? I really miss her.
Why is it some beardies brumate and other old enough too do not?

Patty

 

[pclyons]

Hey, well I can tell you this....every beardie is different. I'm a new poster (never on beardie.org) but have been stalking the site ALOT, since I picked up 3 beardies. (I know, I have to do intros..I'll get around to it). Our two oldest, male and female are about 3 years old. The male - Ping - will go down for a day or so...then up and run around for a few days, and then we rinse (bath time) and repeat all over. If he catches a glimpse of any of our other animals, he tries to break bad with the beard. However our female - Pong - is a burrower (sp) and dug herself in during the month of Nov, and hasn't come out. Once a week we bath her (she could really care less), then she eats something - sometimes, then not 2 hours after she's done bathing....back under the rock. Over Christmas, I left her in there for two weeks - she was happy as a clam I didn't wake her up, but I couldn't take it anymore, and pulled her out to bath....not a happy dragon, lemme tell you. But it's for her own good. Since we have a view into her hidey hole, I peek in every other day and she looks at me like I caught her doing something, then turns her back on me. FUNNY!!! Occasionally, I'll take a peice of green and wave it in front of the hole, and she'll stick her head out, grab it, then go right back in....silly dragon.

 

[Thinker]

Patty, I am a bit concerned as well, but I think that all will be well. My 2 yr. male, Hans, has been sleeping since mid November. He wakes occasionally and climbs up to his log for awhile, then returns to the dark cold side and sleeps again. I offer fresh salad each day hoping he will come back to me. I awaken him for a bath each Saturday. He has only lost a few grams in all this time.

My 10 month male, Bean, just started brumating a few weeks ago. I thought that he wouldn't do so until next winter. He's the one who worries me the most since he should be eating like a pig and growing. I probably shouldn't worry, though.

My 9 month female SweetPea is running around and making messes like usual. She's eating more then ever and may soon catch up to Bean in size and weight. Finally developing that cute Buddah belly.

It's interesting to see the differences in behavior between dragons. Just love them, and try not to be a worry wart like me.

Dan

 

[zebraflavencs]

I know of at least 1 beardie that was down for 4 months ! As long as significant weight isn't lost, let them sleep. In the future, a fecal exam would be reccommended to make sure no parasites are present, then let them do their thing.
As for being a worry wart, an ounce of prevention, is worth a pound of cure !
Janie.

 

[Willyp]

Our beardie just turned a year this month and has been brumating since November. He doesnt sleep all of the time but has not eaten in over 6 weeks. He looks healthly though and we make sure we give him a bath every week. Sounds like your is doing the same thing. I was worried at first but after reading alot about this, I know he will be fine. Just would like to know when they will be "normal" again.....

 

[Rockymountain]

I am missing her being on me every night. I can't wait until she wakes up. Thanks for all the replies.

Patty

 

[Patti B.]

I just wanted to add- my Sunny has been sleeping since early October. We got her as a baby around Christmas 2005, and this is her third brumation. The last two winters she has slept from early October to early March - 5 months, so I expect her to sleep another month or so. I get her up every week for a bath and try to get her to eat something. She will wake up and swim around in her bath each week, but will go back to sleep within an hour of me putting her back in her viv. She eats very little during this time and still wakes up chubby in the spring. I really miss her during this time. It's almost like she's sleeping half her life away. I wouldn't trade her for anything, but I do wish she didn't take this brumation thing quite so seriously. From what I have read, 5 months is the most that dragons brumate.

 

[JadeyNJeff]

Hi all, i am new to this site and i found this post interesing. I know how you feel its very worrying when they brumate. Jeff my BD has only just come round from this years brumation and i worried so much as i missed him. I have to say though i have found that it is not a good idea to interupt this cycle. Some beardies take longer than others to return to their normal active selves. As long as they are not loosing weight they will be fine. The base of the tail is a good way to monitor this as it should be nice and "fat".
I did put the occational locust in front of the hide for him to snatch but bare in mind if they are not active they are less likely to have bowl movements or basking to help with digestion so this may make them feel a bit groggy and blocked lol.
I agree with monitoring them but i would not recomend interupting them too much ie for baths, as in the wild they will stay put and eat very little if at all during this time. For peace of mind have them checked for parasites etc but its likely they will be fine its just a boring wait and a very stressfull time for us BD parents.

J&J