We need serious help!

[AHBD]

Lol, they are all different when it comes to brumation or semi brumation. That is also a common scenario, especially if the tank is still very warm. So he'll possibly be going in + out as he chooses.

 

[pia2some]

Lol, they are all different when it comes to brumation or semi brumation. That is also a common scenario, especially if the tank is still very warm. So he'll possibly be going in + out as he chooses.

This is kind of fascinating to watch. lol. Scully stayed out for about 1.5 hours and then went back in the box. He has been there all day. A lot of the time his head is on the floor but his eyes are open. Other times his eyes are closed. At one point, he sat up and stuck his head out of the box and was looking around. At that time, I made a small salad and put it right next to him but he never did eat it. I turned off the lights early tonight but I've not put the towel over the tank.

Our house stays about 77 degrees right now. Do you think I should just leave everything off in the tank for now? Lights and heat lamp? Or I could keep the UVB bulb off and have the heat lamp on for a little light and heat. I am not sure what is best. Scully is sleeping directly below the T5 UVB fixture which is very bright. I'll put the towel over the tank as usual at night and take it off in the mornings. Just trying to decided about the lights and heat though.

 

[AHBD]

I personally keep my lights off. You might put the lights on for a few hours a day, then once he starts really sleeping you can just turn them off altogether. If the tank can be placed on the floor it should be a little cooler there as well.

 

[pia2some]

I personally keep my lights off. You might put the lights on for a few hours a day, then once he starts really sleeping you can just turn them off altogether. If the tank can be placed on the floor it should be a little cooler there as well.

Okay. That sounds good to just have them on for a while each day. There's no way to put the tank on the floor. We have cats and a dog, too! That wouldn't make for restful sleep. lol

Do they tend to do this the same time each year?

 

[AHBD]

Most beardies do ....but you never know for sure.

 

[pia2some]

Most beardies do ....but you never know for sure.

Okay. Hey, I am so grateful for your help. Never in a million years would I have thought that the extreme agitation would be related to the need to brumate. Thank you so much for taking the time to post your suggestion and follow up advice.

 

[AHBD]

You're welcome...I'm glad to be of some help .

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

How is he doing now? Is he still sleeping & relaxing?
I am glad that he has calmed down too.

Tracie

 

[pia2some]

Well, Scully went into the hide on Saturday and slept until Wednesday. I decided that I needed to put him in a bath that day because I knew he hadn't pooped prior to going to sleep. Put him in the bath and he drank for what seemed like forever. Didn't poop though. Offered some greens, which he ate and then he sat on his basking log for a bit with the heat on but low. I left the UVB light off. After a bit he went back into the hide and slept.

Yesterday morning he came out and sat on the floor of the tank. I didn't turn any lights or heat on. I had to go out for a few hours. When I got home, he was sitting on his basking log all alert. Later he started that roaming around the tank and clawing at the glass. I put him in the hide to see if he would stay but he didn't. Finally, in the evening he fell asleep in the corner of the tank. I put the hide over him and the towel over the tank.

This morning I took the towel off the tank (do this every morning) and left everything off. Within minutes Scully came out and is sitting on the log.

So is he done with his brumation? That was 5 days? Do I go back to turning his lights on and off as usual? I'm confused. lol

 

[AHBD]

As long as he's active, you definitely want to keep the lights on. He'll decide what he wants to do....he's not actually brumating yet, and some will just do a " part time" brumation or semi brumation....sleep for a while, then up + about again.

 

[pia2some]

As long as he's active, you definitely want to keep the lights on. He'll decide what he wants to do....he's not actually brumating yet, and some will just do a " part time" brumation or semi brumation....sleep for a while, then up + about again.

So if he is out on the floor of the tank and looking around and alert (as he is right at this moment), I should go over and turn on lights and heat? As long as the hide (shoebox - lol) is in the tank, then he has a place to go when he wants to sleep so that should be all he needs? I guess I'm still traumatized by the days of agitated clawing that I'm afraid he'll start that up again.

 

[AHBD]

Yes, the lights can go on, especially since he ate something. If he starts scratching alot, let him out for a little roam time if you want [ but not necessary ] and then put him back in but as long as he's out of his cave leave the lights on.

 

[pia2some]

Yes, the lights can go on, especially since he ate something. If he starts scratching alot, let him out for a little roam time if you want [ but not necessary ] and then put him back in but as long as he's out of his cave leave the lights on.

Great! Thanks again for your help. BTW, I did make Scully sit under his basking lamp after he ate. It would make me very concerned if he ate and then didn't have the heat to help him digest.

 

[pia2some]

Scully is keeping me confused! After he was out the last time, he went back into the shoebox and slept a few more days. I kept the lights off and only had a towel over the cool side of the tank (trying to keep it darker and cooler). A lot of the times I'd peak in on him he would be staring right back at me. lol. The other day I took a syringe and water and dripped it on his nose. He drank a ton. Then he came out and sat on his basking log for a bit.

Ever since then, he is just laying on the middle of the tank floor. Not on the cool or hot side. He is not interesting in eating or drinking. I tried putting him back in the shoebox one night and he came back out to the middle of the floor. He just sits there staring out at me. Not asleep, but not moving or interested in eating.

So I assume that I keep the lights and heat on and just go through the normal schedule of turning them on and off? The shoebox is still in there. Is this normal? Is it just a mini brumation or a semi brumation?

 

[SkeptiBee]

I would leave the shoe box in there for now at least until another week or so. My boy Hermes was acting very similarly to Scully this past brumation; sitting in his hide for days on end, looking around, not eating. Eventually, his eyes started half closing. One day he leaps out, basks for about a half an hour, then demanded out so he could go to the bathroom one last time before he settled down completely. It's possible that Scully is taking his time too. Just let him do what he wants. If he does settle down to hibernate, gradually lower the temps in the cage over a week then turn everything off. If you can, cover the cage so it's dark in there and then peek in to see how he's doing. If he stays up, chuck it up to a mini-brumation.