Question Hopefully Someone Can Answer

[SachaNicole]

Hello all, my sons bearded dragon has not been acting himself and dont know if something is wrong or if hes trying to brumate? Past couple weeks hes been sleeping a lot, but not in his hide he sleeps on his hammock. Hes hardly eating, even his favorites of blue berries, apples or snap peas. Once in awhile he will move to his rock, or if I move him there he seems to perk up a bit. Gave him a bath and he was his normal self, let him wander on the floor but he just went to a corner and went to sleep. He will eat some dubias unless I put calcium on them then he turns his nose to them. Should I leave him be, just thought it odd hed choose to brumate on a hammock if that is what he's doing. Hes about 6 years old but weve only had him about 8 months.

Right now is also mating season for bearded dragons. My best friends male and my female have had the same issues. Theirs was acting funny and not eating and mine was sleeping a lot and not eating. So all should hopefully be good.

 

[LJZONUM]

Hello all, my sons bearded dragon has not been acting himself and dont know if something is wrong or if hes trying to brumate? Past couple weeks hes been sleeping a lot, but not in his hide he sleeps on his hammock. Hes hardly eating, even his favorites of blue berries, apples or snap peas. Once in awhile he will move to his rock, or if I move him there he seems to perk up a bit. Gave him a bath and he was his normal self, let him wander on the floor but he just went to a corner and went to sleep. He will eat some dubias unless I put calcium on them then he turns his nose to them. Should I leave him be, just thought it odd hed choose to brumate on a hammock if that is what he's doing. Hes about 6 years old but weve only had him about 8 months.

Everyone is going to go on and on about your lighting … and I’m not going to tell you that lighting isn’t important, but, yes, your guy might be starting to brumate. This is the time of year my dragon does his thing … acting as you’ve described and then will finally go I to his hide and just sleep, or do this sort of half sleep thing, if you know what I mean, for days, into weeks, into months! He’s just gone into his hide this week, and if the last couple of years holds true he won’t be his normal perky self again until November. I never just leave him alone to sleep (just can’t do it - I think I miss him!) I’ll take him out maybe once per month to weigh him and give him a bath. His weight never really changes, if it did I would know there’s an issue. And The bath is to be sure he’s hydrated. He’ll always stay awake for a couple few hours on bath day, but then he goes back to his hide again and I won’t see him again until I pull him out a month or so later. He’s not the norm from what I read about most dragons, they brumate for a much shorter time, but just in case your guy is like mine, I wanted to pass along my experience.

 

[Waffen06]

Thanks, do you mean there is a problem with my lighting or thats what people jump to as the first problem?

Everyone is going to go on and on about your lighting … and I’m not going to tell you that lighting isn’t important, but, yes, your guy might be starting to brumate. This is the time of year my dragon does his thing … acting as you’ve described and then will finally go I to his hide and just sleep, or do this sort of half sleep thing, if you know what I mean, for days, into weeks, into months! He’s just gone into his hide this week, and if the last couple of years holds true he won’t be his normal perky self again until November. I never just leave him alone to sleep (just can’t do it - I think I miss him!) I’ll take him out maybe once per month to weigh him and give him a bath. His weight never really changes, if it did I would know there’s an issue. And The bath is to be sure he’s hydrated. He’ll always stay awake for a couple few hours on bath day, but then he goes back to his hide again and I won’t see him again until I pull him out a month or so later. He’s not the norm from what I read about most dragons, they brumate for a much shorter time, but just in case your guy is like mine, I wanted to pass along my experience.

 

[Elisabet]

Hi, I'm not sure that I agree with this advice. Brumation is a completely natural process and to interfere with this would be injurious to the health of your Beardie. Reptiles are very sensitive to their surroundings and can sense all sorts of changes in their environment including outside their vivarium (temps, air pressure humidity etc). So if your son's beardie wants to brumate, let it.

It’s good advice if it’s not the right time to brumate as it looks very much the same if they are sick it’s better to be safe and get them to the vet just incase,

 

[Smudger]

It’s good advice if it’s not the right time to brumate as it looks very much the same if they are sick it’s better to be safe and get them to the vet just incase,

The advice was that beardies don't need to brumate at all if their temps/humidity are at the correct level. This is not correct and if said advice is followed and acted upon it can be dangerous for the wellbeing of the beardie. That said if there is any doubt about what is going on, then, yes, a trip to the vet is advisable.