Brumation?

[Dolphin28]

Hi All,
My beardie (Drax) is 2 and a half years old and he started brumating on and off about 3 months ago. This is our first experience with him doing so and I’m always worried if he is brumating or not and if he is ok. He mainly stays in his rock hide and sleeps a lot. Every now and then he opens his eyes and I give him beard pets. His body weight appears to be the same and he looks like he is fine, just really tired. To me it seems like he is brumating. Does this sound like it to you all?

He woke up on 12/21, went to the bathroom and went back to sleep lol. I just upgraded his tank to a 4X2X2 and I have put a mat down for now, I plan to put substrate in and more climbing items, a second hide, and some plants. I don’t want to do this while he is in brumation or is it ok to do or is it just better to wait?

Sorry if these are obvious questions but this is my first reptile and first time with this brumation.

 

[Sadie]

Hi All,
My beardie (Drax) is 2 and a half years old and he started brumating on and off about 3 months ago. This is our first experience with him doing so and I’m always worried if he is brumating or not and if he is ok. He mainly stays in his rock hide and sleeps a lot. Every now and then he opens his eyes and I give him beard pets. His body weight appears to be the same and he looks like he is fine, just really tired. To me it seems like he is brumating. Does this sound like it to you all?

He woke up on 12/21, went to the bathroom and went back to sleep lol. I just upgraded his tank to a 4X2X2 and I have put a mat down for now, I plan to put substrate in and more climbing items, a second hide, and some plants. I don’t want to do this while he is in brumation or is it ok to do or is it just better to wait?

Sorry if these are obvious questions but this is my first reptile and first time with this brumation.

It is the time of year for them to slow down- brumation is also going on - are you turning lights on and off as usual? What are the surface basking temps in the tank and how are you taking them? NO stick ons they are good for ambient only - what type of UVB are you using and where is it in the tank? I want to go over all this so we can for sure say its brumation - please give him water - I would get him out weigh him on a kitchen food scale - weigh in grams and keep track of it - you can wait to put the new decor in --

 

[Dolphin28]

It is the time of year for them to slow down- brumation is also going on - are you turning lights on and off as usual? What are the surface basking temps in the tank and how are you taking them? NO stick ons they are good for ambient only - what type of UVB are you using and where is it in the tank? I want to go over all this so we can for sure say its brumation - please give him water - I would get him out weigh him on a kitchen food scale - weigh in grams and keep track of it - you can wait to put the new decor in --

Hi!! I put his lights on as normal when I wake up and they are turned off when I go to sleep. I just took the surface temp of his main basking rock and it only read 68 degree with the temperature gun. I think it is incorrect, I know my temperature gauge is incorrect and I believe I need the one with the probes, what would you recommend? Also since I upgraded his enclosure to the 4x2x2 I notice the temperature doesn’t seem as hot as it should be. I’m looking to get a slate basking spot in hopes it will help. I’m taking pictures of the UB light placement and his basking bulbs, I have also been using a heat emitter to try to warm it up more. I will put water in the enclosure, I usually have it in there but I do not right now. Can a mail scale be used to weigh him? I just looked and it converts in grams if needed. I appreciate all your help!

 

[Sadie]

Hi!! I put his lights on as normal when I wake up and they are turned off when I go to sleep. I just took the surface temp of his main basking rock and it only read 68 degree with the temperature gun. I think it is incorrect, I know my temperature gauge is incorrect and I believe I need the one with the probes, what would you recommend? Also since I upgraded his enclosure to the 4x2x2 I notice the temperature doesn’t seem as hot as it should be. I’m looking to get a slate basking spot in hopes it will help. I’m taking pictures of the UB light placement and his basking bulbs, I have also been using a heat emitter to try to warm it up more. I will put water in the enclosure, I usually have it in there but I do not right now. Can a mail scale be used to weigh him? I just looked and it converts in grams if needed. I appreciate all your help!

Ok so lets get the temps correct in the tank --- surface basking spot 95-100 taken w/ a digital probe thermometer -- Zoo Med makes them take the probe put it where he sits for basking get the temp- middle of your tank 90's--- you want ambient temp on the hot side around 100 -- cool side of the tank 80ish during the day - the 68 degrees you have going is good for night time temps - anything from 65-75 at night is good- next UVB it should be approx 12-15 inches directly above his basking decor piece or a piece of decor - you dont need water in the tank unless he actually drinks from the bowl or your humidity is really low - do you have a digital probe hygrometer? Exo Terra makes them you want the probe placed on the back center wall of the tank 40-50% is optimal you dont want it lower than 20% or higher than 70%- you can try a mail scale if its in grams - havent thought of than one but it should work - NO slate --- it gets too hot -- I just was responding to someone using slate and its burning the dragons feet --

 

[Dolphin28]

Ok so lets get the temps correct in the tank --- surface basking spot 95-100 taken w/ a digital probe thermometer -- Zoo Med makes them take the probe put it where he sits for basking get the temp- middle of your tank 90's--- you want ambient temp on the hot side around 100 -- cool side of the tank 80ish during the day - the 68 degrees you have going is good for night time temps - anything from 65-75 at night is good- next UVB it should be approx 12-15 inches directly above his basking decor piece or a piece of decor - you dont need water in the tank unless he actually drinks from the bowl or your humidity is really low - do you have a digital probe hygrometer? Exo Terra makes them you want the probe placed on the back center wall of the tank 40-50% is optimal you dont want it lower than 20% or higher than 70%- you can try a mail scale if its in grams - havent thought of than one but it should work - NO slate --- it gets too hot -- I just was responding to someone using slate and its burning the dragons feet --

I will get a ZooMed probe thermometer this weekend so I can get these temps straightened out. Is the thermometer attached to the wall of the enclosure or is it left unattached? I do not have a digital probe hygrometer, I will get one of those too. For the hygrometer is that attached to the back center wall and left in the enclosure? I am very happy I told you of the slate I planned on using! I don’t want him to hurt himself. He really enjoys the hide he is sleeping in and that is is spot to bask when he is awake. For his substrate I was thinking of using a mix of play sand and a reptile soil mix. I really don’t like the idea of a messy substrate but I read it is good to use the sand mix for digging. What do you recommend? I currently have a black non adhesive mat down. He occasionally drinks out of his water dish but I find he takes water better with a dropper so when I see him awake I will do that. Should I give him any kind of bath or soak during this time or is that not necessary? I will weigh him in the meantime and see how much he is.

 

[Sadie]

I will get a ZooMed probe thermometer this weekend so I can get these temps straightened out. Is the thermometer attached to the wall of the enclosure or is it left unattached? I do not have a digital probe hygrometer, I will get one of those too. For the hygrometer is that attached to the back center wall and left in the enclosure? I am very happy I told you of the slate I planned on using! I don’t want him to hurt himself. He really enjoys the hide he is sleeping in and that is is spot to bask when he is awake. For his substrate I was thinking of using a mix of play sand and a reptile soil mix. I really don’t like the idea of a messy substrate but I read it is good to use the sand mix for digging. What do you recommend? I currently have a black non adhesive mat down. He occasionally drinks out of his water dish but I find he takes water better with a dropper so when I see him awake I will do that. Should I give him any kind of bath or soak during this time or is that not necessary? I will weigh him in the meantime and see how much he is.

Loose substrate 50/50 play sand found at Home Depot etc and top soil w/ NOTHING IN IT NO ADDITIVES - take the readers for both and use two sided tape to stick them to the sides of your tank I have my hygrometer taped on the outside of the front of the tank above the doors and temp gauge readers taped on the inside the tank - I take the probes when not in use and wrap around the reader - the hygrometer probe is left in the tank all the time - dragons do not need baths unless they poop themselves or that is the only way they drink water -

 

[Dolphin28]

Loose substrate 50/50 play sand found at Home Depot etc and top soil w/ NOTHING IN IT NO ADDITIVES - take the readers for both and use two sided tape to stick them to the sides of your tank I have my hygrometer taped on the outside of the front of the tank above the doors and temp gauge readers taped on the inside the tank - I take the probes when not in use and wrap around the reader - the hygrometer probe is left in the tank all the time - dragons do not need baths unless they poop themselves or that is the only way they drink water -

Awesome, thank you so much for all your help I greatly appreciate it. The top soil with no additives is that found at a Hone Depot or those types of stores also? Or is it found elsewhere?

 

[Sadie]

Awesome, thank you so much for all your help I greatly appreciate it. The top soil with no additives is that found at a Hone Depot or those types of stores also? Or is it found elsewhere?

No you should be able to get that there as well - just make sure it's plain nothing in it

 

[Dolphin28]

No you should be able to get that there as well - just make sure it's plain nothing in it

Thank you!!

 

[Dolphin28]

No you should be able to get that there as well - just make sure it's plain nothing in it

I gave Drax water today and he drank quite a bit. I weighed him and he is 604g if the scale is accurate, he was 540g on 8/5/24 and 525g on 11/7/23. With what information I shared so far, does it seem like he is brumating? I’m attaching some pictures from today so you can see his size and such.

 

[Sadie]

I gave Drax water today and he drank quite a bit. I weighed him and he is 604g if the scale is accurate, he was 540g on 8/5/24 and 525g on 11/7/23. With what information I shared so far, does it seem like he is brumating? I’m attaching some pictures from today so you can see his size and such.

He looks good -- let him do his thing offering water every 10 days or so

 

[Dolphin28]

He looks good -- let him do his thing offering water every 10 days or so

Thank you so much for all your help and all the information. It is much appreciated