vitamins during brumation

[covedweller]

Syd is a healthy 2 1/2 year old who is, i guess you'd say, semi-brumating. she's alert during the day but just lays around looking out her window most of the day. she had a clear fecal check about a month ago when i noticed she had slowed down on her eating. she hasn't eaten anything at all in about a month but she's not losing weight or acting sick. my question is: do you just let them go on like this until they decide to start eating again? syd will take baby food from a dropper if i offer it to her. should i mix some baby vegies/chicken with her calcium and vitamins once a week just to make sure she is getting the supplements that she needs? thanks. Diane

 

[covedweller]

does anyone have an opinion on this? i would appreciate any input. thanks, diane

 

[LunaFierce]

Helix has been doing the same exact thing for about 3 months now, only she won't even take baby food. She half heartedly goes after a cricket when one is near her, but that is about all. I took her to one vet, he said she is perfectly fine and she is probably burmating. I wasn't quite satisfied, so I took her for a second opinion. This vet ran a bunch of tests and again came back with the same conclusion -- burnation. Unfortunately I am now broke from vet visits, so I can't afford a third opinion.

They said just continue to to dust her crickets with calcium and repto-min with beta carotine, and to let her soak like I usually do (every other day for 20 mins). That's all the advice I received from two highly recommended herp vets in my area. For some reason, it still does not sit well with me, but I don't quite know what to do at this point either, except to continue trying to encourage her to eat until she snaps out of it.

If it would make you feel better, I highly suggest take your beardie to the vet, just be prepared to shell out a few bucks. My visit to the first vet ended up costing me about $175 for just an "exam" and the second vet cost almost $650 with all the tests he did. PS... they didn't seem all that concerned that she only had one poo in these past 3 months, and this is something that I stressed to both vets.

Good luck and let me know how eveything turns out!

 

[covedweller]

thanks for your reply. yes, i took her to get a fecal check and it was clear. all my vet recommended was to up her normal temps to see if she would snap out of it. i just checked her weight today and she has lost 27 grams in the past 2 weeks. (but she still weighs 561 at 16 3/4 inches :shock: ) i think i will give her some baby food/vitamins tomorrow. thanks. diane

 

[LunaFierce]

I am happy to hear her fecal check is clear! What do you keep her temps at or what did you up them too? Helix is at 103 F, I don't want to risk going any higher. For the first two months, Helix did not lose any weight. I unfortunately have not been able to check her weight in the past month because my wonderful Ex-bot dropped her scale on the ground while I was moving to my new apartment. So now I have to search for a new scale that will fit Helix's big butt :lol: Hope your little girl starts noshing on more food soon!

 

[protiemama]

Have you two read the article on brumation in the articles section up top? It may give you some comfort. It drives us all nuts,but most of them do it. Mine was only 7 months old when he started! We all miss them, some come out as early Jan. Hope you are one of the lucky ones.

Dandy H

 

[covedweller]

protiemama: thanks and, yes, i read it but i didn't remember seeing anything about supplements or lack of supplements. i'm just a worrier, i guess.
lunafierce: i have the cool end around 78 F and the basking around 102 F. (upped from around 100) Syd has really never liked it any warmer than that, even as a baby. Measured with a temp gun.

 

[LunaFierce]

peotimama: Yep, I reread the articles, and I have experienced it many times with my Agamas... but Helix just seems way too active to be brumating... I don't know. For years, I helped my best friend raise all her beardies, and I know they went through it, but I guess because Helix is mine I am freaking out.

Diane: Perfect temps, I noticed too that once it starts getting to 104, Helix get a bit mean and hangs out in the cooler zone of her tank (I know I'm pushing it with 103 )

 

[covedweller]

seems like we have the same dragon, doesn't it? i wouldn't be worried at all except that she's lost some weight. i like her fat and happy.

 

[LunaFierce]

LOL I wonder if they are sisters! :lol: I wasn't worried about Helix' weight (before her scale was broken) since she was right on target and not losing, but now you have me all freaked out (which I should be), so I am sortly leaving for Target to hopefully find a new kitchen scale that will fit her.

 

[covedweller]

that's where i bought mine. it's made by Taylor and it's in the kitchen section.

 

[protiemama]

If you can't find a scale long enough, do what I do- Get a shoe box (or other long box) and weigh it. Add dragon and weigh, subtract weight of box. Bogie is too long for my scale so I have been using the plastic shoe box for awhile. It keeps him in place till I can read the scale.
Bogie is waking for two days at a time every week or so. Sounds like I should weigh him again next time he wakes. You folks are starting to worry me. Well maybe. :lol: He looks slimmer, but you really can't tell. Good luck and Happy Brumating.

Sandy H

 

[LunaFierce]

Sandy, that is a brilliant idea! Thanks!

Diane, thanks for the suggestion on the Taylor scale! They were out of them at my local Target, so they are ordering one in for me!

 

[covedweller]

u r welcome! i've had mine for 2 years now and it works great. i also use the shoebox for weighing syd. i fed syd some baby food with vitamins this morning. she's all happy and running around now but it may just be because we are having a sunny day for a change. any change with Helix?

 

[protiemama]

Bogie spent the day playing with the kids, poor thing. And running around making sure we hadn't moved anything during his nap. "Hey, what's that big green thing doing in here?" :lol: Now he is back asleep, probably for the week. Ah, well, brumation lamentations.
Glad ya like the box idea.


Sandy H