what to do???

[lilacgeorge]

Hi, my beardie has been brumating for a couple of months now (since August I think)....what happens next?

Will he just wake up himself?

Do I have to wake him? If so how?

He has the lights on for a reduced time at the moment - approx 6hrs - but he feels so cold too touch :? He lays in a wooden house in the cool end of the viv and occassionally moves to shift position. He regulary keeps an eye open to keep tabs on us!!!!

Please advise :?

 

[Livey]

Hi dawn,
No don't wake them up, they will wake up on there own after winter has ended,
They will occasional come out to bask
Are you bathing her?
If he feels cold you could wrap a blanket around him

 

[lilacgeorge]

Thanks for your advice Olivia, I think I have just officially joined the confused.com club though! :shock:

I posted this question on another forum as initially I had trouble posting on here (it kept saying it was under maintance?) and the other forum is saying that he ISN'T brumating???? When he first started quietning down, I did lots of research on the subject and was given a link to one of the care sheets on here (Denise's brumating one!) and have to say it was spot on with what he was doing...

What do I do???????????

I have emailed Denise to see what she advises - I really hope she gets back to me, I am so worried that I may have risked his health keeping him as I have the last few weeks...but am hoping that actually I have done the right thing and that he is indeed brumating...

 

[Jragon]

Hi there! Why are the people on the other forum saying he is not brumating?

 

[Livey]

Thanks for your advice Olivia, I think I have just officially joined the confused.com club though! :shock:

I posted this question on another forum as initially I had trouble posting on here (it kept saying it was under maintance?) and the other forum is saying that he ISN'T brumating???? When he first started quietning down, I did lots of research on the subject and was given a link to one of the care sheets on here (Denise's brumating one!) and have to say it was spot on with what he was doing...

What do I do???????????

I have emailed Denise to see what she advises - I really hope she gets back to me, I am so worried that I may have risked his health keeping him as I have the last few weeks...but am hoping that actually I have done the right thing and that he is indeed brumating...

I think,.. although im not sure that Denise is sick at the moment? although i cant be sure..
If you have read through the care sheet at it ticks all the right boxes i canrt see why people are saying he`s not brumating?
If he has been asleep since august i would say its brumation,
Oh how old is he/she?

 

[lilacgeorge]

I'm sure its a 'he' and he was 2yrs old in May. I'm convinced he's brumating..... he does tick most if not all the boxes, I've looked at other caresheets and they all virtually say the same.

Really appreciating your polite replies...feeling a bit battered elsewhere!!! Know where I'll come in future!!! Thank you x

 

[Livey]

I dont think theres much to be worried about,
Im still not sure why other people will be saying he isent without spending time with your dragon..
I would come and have a look but its would take a lonnnggg time to get there lol :lol:
And at 2 years old i would expect him to be, if he was a couple of months i would ask a few more questions,
Only you can be the best judge
Good luck with your brumating beardie!

 

[lilacgeorge]

Again thank you! You would be most welcome down here (I think you'll find also a lot warmer!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: ) If ever you're down this way gis a shout and I'll put kettle on! :wink:

So I guess it's now a waiting game??? Wait for him to decide to wake up and join us :shock:

One more thing, shall I leave the lights on??? Again getting/got mixed responses for this one :?

 

[EShell]

I have a 6yo male brumating right now. He has perches in the "sun" and in the shade, and spends most of his time sleeping in the cool side shade. He'll raise an eyebrow if I disturb him, like working next to his cage with one of the other lizards, talking to them, etc., but goes right back to sleep. Had I not read up on brumation here, I'd be very worried, but I believe he's fine.

I give him a 20 minute soak at 95o every week for hydration and he's in great shape. He wakes up when I get him out for bath time, but is lethargic until the bath water warms him up. Once warm, he seems alert and comfy, and will sit there with his front half up on a rock until I get him out. I dry him in my lap on a towel, let him hang out awhile, then put him back in his enclosure. He'll usually bask for an hour, probably to dry thoroughly, then return to his "shady stick" and go back to sleep. Once back up on this stick (a comfy-looking near-horizontal 3" wide branch with a fork), he'll often stay there until I get him out for his next soaking.

He has not eaten in five or six weeks, but he did eat like a pig for the last month that he was at a normal activity level and put on a lot of weight, then suddenly stopped. He had a few normal bowel movements since his last food, then several small ones following baths, then nothing for two weeks now, so I would think his digestive tract is pretty well cleaned out. I offer him food while he's awake and he just looks at it, so I don't push the issue. If I put him down on the floor, he'll poke around until I get him, so he's curious and somewhat active. He is still a little fat, good girth with the root of his tail wider than his hips by a good margin, like the other lizards. He seems awake more often lately, and may be coming out of it. Good.

The other three are younger than is customary to brumate, although one of them seemed like he was going to and didn't. He (8 mo male) started spending a lot of time in his cave and his own shady side perch, but never went off the chow and has since regained his full activity levels.

ETA: I leave the lights on the timer, but reduce the daylight hours to give him a break. I also have his shaded area well away from the bright/heat, but he still gets UVB from the ReptiSun10.0 on the back half of his body 12 or more hours daily.