Bearded Dragon Starting Brumation?

[NightFury]

Over the last 2-3 days, Arvo (my beardie), has been hiding under his rock snoozing. Only his head sticks out from underneath the rock. He isn't fully sleeping, since when I open/approach the cage he wakes up. I didn't disturb him over the last few days, (meaning no food or bath time) since it seems like he may be starting brumation? What I'm confused about is that he isn't sleeping fully/deeply. Does it seem like he is going into brumation? He pooped right before starting to snooze like this. He is about 8 months old, though I have a feeling he is older than that becuase of his size and they way he seems to be wanting to brumate.

 

[Josh]

What are his temps? Does he still have access to a basking area with high temps?
Are you offering fresh water for him, just in case he wants it? It sounds like he may be going into brumation but in a week or two you'll be able to know for sure. Keep offering food and maintain his temps and see how he responds.

 

[NightFury]

His temps are between 100-100F usually. (I check and change them as needed.) Yes, he has a place to bask (he actually is snoozing under the basking rock.) He has fresh water but he never drinks it. He HATES water. Should I still feed him enough though in order to do that I must remove him from under the rock? I'm worried about him not getting any UVB.

 

[Josh]

Is the UVB light still on? If so, he'll come out and get it if he needs it. If you place one food item in front of it, will he come out and get it? Sounds like he's brumating.

 

[NightFury]

Yea, I leave all his lights on.
Is it normal that he is only lightly snoozing? He wakes up real easy.
I haven't seen him come out of the rock over the last two days or so, so idk if he's getting UVB or not. (I'm not sure if he's coming out when I'm not there. I doubt he is, he just seems to lie under that rock all day and snooze.)
He ate last time I offered food, I'll try again tomorrow and see what happens.

 

[Canicke]

they're all different. some dont brumate at all. my 2 are both down for the count. i can take them out of their vivs - they will open their eyes, but that's the extent of life signs. i miss them so much !! they sleep. yup - hard. pooping before brumation is good. offer food - if he eats it, well and good, if he doesnt, dont fret. he may only go through a phase for a bit, then be back to his old self. ya just dont know

 

[Andyurgay]

I have a young one, maybe around 8months old who will spend days in his cave, but pop up and out to eat when I'm not home or when he sees me putting I fresh veggies. Other days he wont even budge. I'd always offer veggies just in case. Maybe he is just being pickish,you don't want to starve or dehydrate him though. Maybe try changing up the veggies or protein. Some beardies seem to go through phases and prefer certain foods. Keep soaking him though

 

[NightFury]

- they will open their eyes, but that's the extent of life signs.

Yup, same here!
So should I leave him be or take him out to allow free time/baths and such?

 

[NightFury]

I have a young one, maybe around 8months old who will spend days in his cave, but pop up and out to eat when I'm not home or when he sees me putting I fresh veggies. Other days he wont even budge. I'd always offer veggies just in case. Maybe he is just being pickish,you don't want to starve or dehydrate him though. Maybe try changing up the veggies or protein. Some beardies seem to go through phases and prefer certain foods. Keep soaking him though

Ok, I'll start to offer different greens. Though I haven't seen him come out for days. Plus, it's rare that he eats his greens. He will eat a little, but not much. I'll keep offering him some though. I'll keep soaking him too. (I do it every other day.)

 

[NightFury]

Update: Ok, so today he was still sleeping under his rock. However, when I opened the cage, he woke up. I also offered him greens and worms, he ate the worms like a champ and ate some greens too. Then he started basking. (I moved him from underneath the rock.) So does this mean since he seems wide awake now that he isn't actually going to brumate? I'll keep watching him and see if he goes under his rock again.

 

[Canicke]

he may not be going into brumation. he may be a LIGHT brumater. He may be going through a stage. There really is no definitive answer. As for soaking : this is a personal issue. Right now i am not bathing mine - they're both brumating. When they're up and active, i give them a soak every week or two. I drop water on nose for them to drink - you can train them - both of mine start smacking their mouths when they want water. I offer water every 2 weeks or so right now. Every other day is a bit often to me. But - again - personal preference.

 

[PatsyB]

I'm going through a phase with Luci right now, I thought he was going to brumate last week. He stopped eating as much, stopped going to the bathroom in his tank and just sat at the bottom of his tank with his head down and real sleepy eyes. Not really sleeping but very droopy eyes. He wouldn't go in a hide though, he's never been a big hider, he's afraid he's going to miss something, LOL! He did this for about a week and then this morning all of the sudden he took a big poop in his tank and was back to running around making a mess!

Is it possible he is starting to shed? Luci had some stuck shed on his toes and I managed to get it off only to realize that he is starting a full head/body/foot shed. So that could be part of him being lethargic.

 

[NightFury]

he may not be going into brumation. he may be a LIGHT brumater. He may be going through a stage. There really is no definitive answer. As for soaking : this is a personal issue. Right now i am not bathing mine - they're both brumating. When they're up and active, i give them a soak every week or two. I drop water on nose for them to drink - you can train them - both of mine start smacking their mouths when they want water. I offer water every 2 weeks or so right now. Every other day is a bit often to me. But - again - personal preference.

So what he is doing is normal though, right? Should I leave him snooze if he is under the rock or force him to get up? (feeding/bathing?)
How do I train them to drink water? He seems to have a large dislike for water lol.
I bath him that often since he poops in the tub, he sometimes even holds it until he gets in the bath or outside of his tank. AKA: he likes it really clean lol. I also bath him this often because he doesn't get too much water outside of that. For one, he doesn't drink water from a bowl/syringe, and he doesn't eat much of his greens.

 

[Canicke]

dont force him. neither of mine like to poop in their vivs. they will in a bath or outside in the sun (but it's too cold now for that) if they've eaten. occasionally my boy will poo under the dining room table. i have learned to give him a soak if he hasnt gone in a few days before lettinghim run around.
i would guess that yours behaviour is nothing to be concerned about, but, again, i cannot definitively say that there is not a problem. i wouldnt worry if it were mine. Most beardies wont drink standing water in a bowl. Teaching them to ask for water takes time and patience. I use a 10 cc oral syringe i got from the pharmacy (most pharmacies have them to give out to help moms give the right dose of meds to their kids) Hold him in your lap and keep the syringe - filled with water - near his mouth ready to drip when he opens his mouth. patience. try dripping a bit on his nose, he may open his mouth and lick it off. patience. you can also sweeten the water a bit - a drop of agave syrup. you know : like the song says : a spoonfull of sugar ----

 

[Oscar Russell]

i need help

 

[Oscar Russell]

My bearded dragon, Roger is 4 months old (i think) and last 4 days his tail skin started to fall. He is very sleepy and he never is on his trunk, he is under it. He still wakes up when im near by the cage and he eats crickets and drink water but im worried because i don't know what's wrong. Is he going to brumate? Any advise?

 

[NightFury]

It sounds like yours is like mine. He goes into phases at random times and seems to be very letargic and sleeps lightly. I don't think it's anything to worry of unless he is showing other signs that don't have anything to do with brumation. (all your symptoms are the same as mine is having.) Maybe he is shedding on his tail? Is the skin white?

 

[NightFury]

Though it is odd how young he is. I heard they usually don't brumate until 7-8 months of age. (Mine is 8 months.)

 

[Andyurgay]

Some can semi-brumate that young. Its not common, but it does happen. Two of my brothers 8 month olds have been on a "diet" and chilling under logs and rocks for the last few weeks-a month. Only eating a couple bits of veggie and some meal worms. They are slowly becoming more alert and drinking again.

Just keep offering food, live and veggie. Also always offer water. I don't see any reason to not offer water just in case. A lizard can become dehydrated by not eating and by not being hydrated, will be less likely to want to eat. Offering water or water laden foods can never hurt.

 

[NightFury]

How do you offer water to them when they are sleeping?