Cannot tell if my Beardie is Brumating or sick. Please help.

[DLeidholm]

Bosco is about 8 months old or a little more I believe. I got him from the Petsmart in September. Around January he began sleeping most of the day and eating less. I came to the conclusion that he was brumating since it was winter. It is now may 4th, and he is still exhibiting all of the signs of brumation. He still eats a little bit every few days, drinks water, gets baths, and poops fine. I came to check on him today and he looked like he wasn't even breathing. It took me a little bit to even wake him up. For a bit I thought he had passed. His diet is mostly superworms, and roaches. I have him in a 40 gallon with a reptisun 10.0 and a 150 watt. Zoo med heat bulb.

 

[PatsyB]

8 months old is a little too young for brumation. What are you using to measure your temps with? I'm wondering if the 150w bulb is making it too warm for him. I know when mine get overheated they get very lazy and lethargic. Also how old is your UVB bulb? Is it a tube style? Is it T8 or T5 size? I found when I was using the T8 bulbs on my tanks, they lost their potency around 5 months.

 

[DLeidholm]

I was actually thinking the same thing about the 150w bulb. I swapped it out for a 100w bulb months ago to see if it would help, and only just today swapped the 150w back in. There hasn't seemed to be much of a change. For the UVB it is a tube style that I've had since September. I do have a brand new one that I could go ahead and swap out. I have no clue if it's a t5 or t8.

 

[DLeidholm]

I don't have a temp gun or probe to measure temps with. Only an in tank, stick on thermometer and humidity gauge.

 

[DLeidholm]

He also has not shed since December.

 

[Hdrydr31]

Have you taken him to get checked by a reptile vet?? It may be time to make sure that he's healthy..parasites can mimic brumation actions/behaviors.

 

[PatsyB]

I would get something to accurately check your temps, either a temp gun or a digital probe. Here's a picture of the size difference between T5 and T8. If you have a T8 on top of the mesh screen it should be replaced at least every 6 months, maybe sooner. A T5 is stronger and can go a year before it needs to be replaced.

 

[DLeidholm]

Thanks for the advice. I'll try these next.

 

[DLeidholm]

I just wanted to thank you guys for the advice. After swapping out his UVB bulb, he is being much more responsive and attentive. I would have done this earlier, had I known they needed to be changed so soon. Everything I've heard says to change them yearly. I'm so glad he's happy again!

 

[PatsyB]

That's great! It's always good to double check your temps and change your UVB bulb first when issues like this come up, 8 out of 10 times that's the reason. I mentioned earlier, when I used T8 bulbs every time I changed them out, my dragons perked up. When I had the funds, I switched everyone to the T5 bulbs and they really do last about a year even on top of the mesh. A few months ago, my oldest Dexter was acting very lazy and not wanting to eat or do much of anything. The weather is starting to change here so I checked her temps. It was 112 in her basking spot!!!! I cooled her off and she was much happier after that.