Can we talk more about brumation?

[Honchess]

This may be old news to a lot of you, but some us newbies are just now dealing with it. Brumation! It's making me a nervous wreck !
My questions:
1. What should she be sleeping ON? She likes to dig around so any kind of cloth is pretty illogical. I don't even want to think about sand because our little snake choked to death on a sand covered fish. I'm paranoid. Would several layers of paper keep her off the cold floor of her tank?
How about tiles? What kind of tile? Ceramic? Asphalt?
2. OR is she supposed to be cooler when she bromates?
Next:
3. I was told that I should hydrate her by soaking every week. NOW someone has said that will extend her brumation period!! So: To soak or Not to soak?
4, The infamous pooping question... The General didn't poop for more than two weeks when she first started this. She slept off and on for that whole time. Everybody said, "Oh the food will rot in her stomach!" and I was having fits. .
I mean how do you get a dragon to poop? I fed her wax worms on the theory that they are mostly fluid and fat filled bags of skin so maybe they would work like a laxative!!! Whether it worked or not, she did poop a pile that rivaled my Chihuahua's piles!
So if The General is brumating should I or should I NOT offer her salads or worms?
5. (Yeah I have a BUNCH of worries)
#5. Should I maintain the light dark cycle consistently? I saw someone on a forum that had discontinue this.
6. Should I maintain the temperatures at the regular levels?, Or should it be cooler? This ties in to my #1 question because the times I've taken her out to soak she has felt too cool. I'm used to her being warm when I pick her up.
Is it normal for her to be cooler while she is brumating?

Ok, that's all.

 

[julescoffman]

I'm going through this again! You will hear many different things,every dragon is different,the 1st time Si went into brumation last Dec,he slowed down eating,got lazy about 2 weeks before climbing under his cave.but he did have big poo right before,it is true that some have had stomach rot if they don't go before they go into full brumation..i did soak him in warm water about every 10-12 days,just to keep him hydrated..and I swapped out his cave for a cave like limb that he could hide under,but I could see him,they like it cooler,so I dropped his temps and kept the uvb lights on like normal,he would be cold to touch,but when they go into full brumation there metabolism slows to almost nothing..also I offered greens only in his dish daily,but he never wanted any,I researched the tar out of this because it is scary! My best advice is,keep him hydrated,offer greens only,keep temps down a little and let nature take over,she will wake up refreshed and ready to go

 

[julescoffman]

Make sure after a soak you get her good and dry before putting her back in,Si stayed asleep through his soaks,but he would take his little hands and hold my finger,only soaked him for bout 5mins then wrapped him in fluffy bath towel and cuddled him till I knew he was completely dry,he would crawl right back to his spot!she may be digging more because she wants a nice cool dark place to go to sleep,good luck and try not to worry too much,its what they do..

 

[slicric]

Make sure after a soak you get her good and dry before putting her back in,Si stayed asleep through his soaks,but he would take his little hands and hold my finger,only soaked him for bout 5mins then wrapped him in fluffy bath towel and cuddled him till I knew he was completely dry,he would crawl right back to his spot!she may be digging more because she wants a nice cool dark place to go to sleep,good luck and try not to worry too much,its what they do..

How often and when (what age) do they start this deal. We just got a baby girl, Priscilla, she is 9 to 12 weeks, and we are stressing enough with her eating habits so far, she eats really good one day nothing the next day or two, then on the third day she eats a few (less than 10 insects) then 4th or 5th day she eats good again. she otherwise seems happy and healthy? But we do not need anymore stress.

Rick

 

[julescoffman]

Hey Rick,they normally start at 1yr old,heard of them going in brumation as early as 9-10 months,but even babies and juveniles tend to slow down a little with temperature changes,maybe try different bugs and salad,they do get bored with same ole food,Si has always been lazy! He likes the slow bugs lol he didn't want to chase down crickets after he was around 6-7 months!

 

[diegothediggy]

Both my beardies are just over 1 and its getting cooler hede in the UK but. They not showing any signs of.brumation. Does every beardie brumate?

 

[Honchess]

Thanks, Jules.
The General has been sleeping now since about 20 hours after her last soak. I felt honored yesterday because she actually stuck her head out of her cave and looked at me with one eyeball! Then she turned around and curled back in the dark. I am reassured about the body temp though. I had visions of her catching pneumonia or something such!

I'll just let her sleep!

 

[PatsyB]

@diegothediggy not all beardies brumate. Dexter is almost 2 and she hasn't yet. I have a feeling that Luci will since he does the complete opposite she does.

 

[julescoffman]

Patsy is right,not all do..my friend has 12 beardies and only 2 have brumated..

 

[julescoffman]

This is were he chose to sleep!

 

[julescoffman]

He's so funny! If you can even see him,he's hanging on his rock wall,I had to put log under his foot I was afraid he would fall..he's been there for a week now,before he was under his cave..

 

[Josh]

In my experience you can continue your care mostly as normal you just will notice a bit less activity and feeding in your dragon. I would still offer fresh water (always) and some food (periodically). Continue your light cycles as normal or even shortened a bit if you want to simulate winter.
A nice hide with room to dig or bury would be a good addition just in case your dragon is extra sleepy

 

[diegothediggy]

So i thought Boris had gone into brumation the past couple of days. He crept under his teddy and stayed.the.for like 3 days didnt eat any salad or bugs. Then all of a sufden this mornin he was up and about again eatin and basking away? ince they go asleep do they stay asleep n not move or can they still get up a few days to eat and warm up. None of mine have brumated yet so i have no idea what im lookimg for? They both over 1 and im from uk so the cold is settleing in quick. Any help ir info wud b really helpful

 

[julescoffman]

Si has been asleep for almost 2 months now,he doesn't move or eat,he just sleeps! I offer fresh greens every day,he did eat 2 pieces of banana few days ago! I wish he would wake up!! He looks good,hydrated,just sleeps