Pre-brumation fattening?

[Savra mitera]

Hi there! Just wondering if anyone else’s beardie becomes an eating machine and packs on weight at this time of year and/or before their brumation. Last year my Spike gained huge amounts of weight. I didn’t notice any changes in his appetite and thought the weight gain was my fault. He brumated from Oct to Feb and once awake, his appetite was just ‘meh’. Every morning I made him an attractive little salad and every afternoon I tossed the untouched salad out. About a month or so ago (around the same time his weight returned to a healthy range), he’s started devouring every last little piece of his salads. I even need to be careful to keep my fingers away from his salad as in his feeding frenzy, fingers are fair game. His weight is starting to climb again and I’m just wondering if this is going to be his ‘normal’ brumation cycle. Lowest weight is 565 Gm and highest is 680 Gm.

 

[Sadie]

Hi there! Just wondering if anyone else’s beardie becomes an eating machine and packs on weight at this time of year and/or before their brumation. Last year my Spike gained huge amounts of weight. I didn’t notice any changes in his appetite and thought the weight gain was my fault. He brumated from Oct to Feb and once awake, his appetite was just ‘meh’. Every morning I made him an attractive little salad and every afternoon I tossed the untouched salad out. About a month or so ago (around the same time his weight returned to a healthy range), he’s started devouring every last little piece of his salads. I even need to be careful to keep my fingers away from his salad as in his feeding frenzy, fingers are fair game. His weight is starting to climb again and I’m just wondering if this is going to be his ‘normal’ brumation cycle. Lowest weight is 565 Gm and highest is 680 Gm.

Could be are you checking weight and keeping him hydrated thru brumation?

 

[Savra mitera]

Could be are you checking weight and keeping him hydrated thru brumation?

If he wakes a little…comes out of his hide, I check his weight and offer him yummies. Usually he wants nothing to do with anything and goes back to sleep after less than a day. Last brumation, he woke only once about 3-4 weeks in and for the remainder of his brumation I was lucky if he faced his hide’s opening so I could see his face. He went into brumation at his heaviest of 680 Gm and at the end he was 615 Gm. Negative for parasites. Doesn’t drink from a bowl. Has never had even one urate that wasn’t pure white/cream colored. I just was wondering if his appetite has increased so much because he getting ready for brumation. Is that a ‘thing’?

 

[Sadie]

If he wakes a little…comes out of his hide, I check his weight and offer him yummies. Usually he wants nothing to do with anything and goes back to sleep after less than a day. Last brumation, he woke only once about 3-4 weeks in and for the remainder of his brumation I was lucky if he faced his hide’s opening so I could see his face. He went into brumation at his heaviest of 680 Gm and at the end he was 615 Gm. Negative for parasites. Doesn’t drink from a bowl. Has never had even one urate that wasn’t pure white/cream colored. I just was wondering if his appetite has increased so much because he getting ready for brumation. Is that a ‘thing’?

I am not sure - but I would get him out during the brumation at least every 2 weeks to watch his weight and offer water- drop on his nose to see if he will lick - w/ him going into brumation heavy I wouldnt worry about him but I would get a weight on him when he does start his brumation so you can keep track of it

Brumation in Bearded Dragons

Written by Denise R. Bushnell in June, 2008 For those who are not experienced in the hobby, and who keep Bearded Dragons as pets, one of the greatest sources of worry is when, for one reason or another, our beardies refuse to eat for long periods of time, or become increasingly inactive and...

www.beardeddragon.org

 

[Savra mitera]

I am not sure - but I would get him out during the brumation at least every 2 weeks to watch his weight and offer water- drop on his nose to see if he will lick - w/ him going into brumation heavy I wouldnt worry about him but I would get a weight on him when he does start his brumation so you can keep track of it

Brumation in Bearded Dragons

Written by Denise R. Bushnell in June, 2008 For those who are not experienced in the hobby, and who keep Bearded Dragons as pets, one of the greatest sources of worry is when, for one reason or another, our beardies refuse to eat for long periods of time, or become increasingly inactive and...

www.beardeddragon.org

Many thanks for the info.