Reptile & Amphibian Forums

... the past week the night time temperatures have dropped so that not only is the air conditioning not running at night but the ambient temperature of the house has dropped from 75 to 70 degrees. The animal while still active in the morning and eating then, is by the time I get home from work gone from basking to sleeping. Does anyone elses dragon begin to sleep more at this time of the year as soon as the weather changes. If it does it, how long before it is totally in brumation and when does it usually come out of it? Does it take any water/food? Does it defecate at all? The reason I'm concerned is I'm still not 100% sure the animal is over its health problem from this year and I want to make sure it slow down is seasonally related and does not need another vet visit!

One of my dragons slept for 5 1/2 months last season. She has been brumating for over a month so far this year.

It's really hard to say and I would feel confident the animal is healthy before brumation starts. Overall 5 of my dragons are brumating already but about 1/2 of mine never brumate.

Hey BDlvr my male seems to be doing the exact same thing as the previous poster...sleeping during the day and eating way less. He will bask on and off but for the most part will be laying or sleeping below his bask where the temp stays around 95. What are some things I can do to ensure he stays healthy if he is in fact burmating...also should i still be offering him food everyday?

It's real hard to answer your question because the diversity between BD's is dramatic.

All of my dragons food intake is way down now. Less than 25% of summer levels, so this is normal.

I'd recommend you get a fecal done now to eliminate one possible problem or worry.

Ideally, heading into brumation, your dragon should pretty much slow down to the point of no eating in order to clear it's digestive tract. If not that's OK too. If he/she sleeps hard and doesn't come out then wait 2 weeks and wake him/her, put on the basking spot for an hour and then give a bath and hope for a poop. lol. If not repeat in another 2 weeks.

I've had dragons store poop for a 3-4 month brumation which is not as bad as some will say but certainly not ideal.

I think you should wake and bath a brumating dragon every 5 weeks just for your own comfort and because it does no harm to the animal. I wouldn't offer food during a hard brumation unless the dragon goes to sleep and then is awake and around the next day.

Some of my dragon's brumation will end before Thanksgiving and some won't till Feb.

Thanks for the response...I'm pretty sure he has not gone into a "hard" burmation yet as you called it because he is still basking and eating throughout the day...however there is no question that he has slowed down. As of right now i have been keeping his bask spot at normal temps...should i keep his bask on untill he has gone into hard burmation or should i cut it out now? Thanks.

I never encourage brumation. I keep a basking spot available all year. I would make a cool side hide available though. Personally, I'd prefer they don't brumate, an if they do that it be short in duration. One of my females brumated for 5 1/2 months last year.

Wow five and a half months is a long time...thanks again.