Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a female about 1 1/2 years old, Last week she stopped eating her usual amount. She might eat one cricket a day..might but none of her greens. She drinks plenty of water, moves from basking spot to cool side and back. When she is not basking, she is digging at the bottom of her cage non stop. Ambient temps on hot side are around 93, basking spot about 103-110, cold side ambients are 78-80. Her lights are MV and fluorescent. She has no eggs in her belly that I can feel and has not been with another dragon yet. She doesn't seem impacted as she has been pooing a little,but passes lots of urine(white stuff). I put her into a dig box tonight and she has been digging for over 3 hours now. Should I put her in a tub and brumate her or should I seek a vet? she is active doesnt act like anything is wrong except for the constant digging and no appetite. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

All my healthy adult females have started their brumation. I let them brumate in their enclosure by putting a 1/2 log on the cool side for them to dig under and seal the opening if they want. Here's a picture of 3. Some of my girls actually started their brumation over a month ago. If they don't come out then I lower the hot side ambient to 82, with a slightly lower basking temp. in case they come out. Every 3-5 weeks I check on each and offer water.

Thanks for the information, this is the first time she has done this. I will let her brumate then.

What you are describing sounds alot like a female looking to lay some eggs. As i am sure you know a female will cycle eggs regardless if they are infertile or fertile. Try the lay box again. Good luck.

Sh e may very well be getting ready to lay..make sure you give her plenty to drink...she's busy digging and needs a good spray on the head for drinking.

They can be searching for a variety of things ie..temps, moisture, food, hides and appropriate nesting sites. You have to find out what they are looking for. Or, they just like to dig Natural and instinctive behavior for them ya know...

I have a couple that appear to be trying to brumate as well. I thought it was a bit early and I was a little worried about her (she's my favorite). Seems like they haven't gone down until October/Nov in the past.

Vickie Dachiu once mentioned to me that the dragons seem to have about an 11 month cycle. It seems odd but I observe the same thing here. Last year I had eggs in January for the first time ever.

I have 8 dragons brumating. Most for over a month already. 5 girls 3 boys.

I've had beardies for almost a decade now and I still worry about brumation each year.

Yea. I worry too. Knock on wood I've never lost one or had ill effects. I check on each one and offer water every 5 weeks though. It's neat when one day a dragon just appears in a cage that has been empty for months. lol.

I thought it was early for brumation, however I am in Toronto and it has been a colder then usual summer.
Yesterday I found my 18month old girl in her hide for the first time in ages.
And today was only out for about an hour in the morning.
She is on an all tile substrate, should I find an alternative portion?
Should I offer extra water? right now I offer bi-daily( greens)...

thanks

My best suggestion is always to weigh them. If a dragon hides all day but barely loses any weight that OK. Significant weight loss would be a good indicator of illness. I don't think they have to dig in as mine do. A good dark hide is sufficient. Reptiles feel safe in small dark areas. Offering water is always a good idea.

My female has brumated several winters now, she just gets underneath the papertowel and plastic table cloth in the cool end of the cage for her first brumation. I then provided her a hide in that area since then, which she used in her second brumation a year later.
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PHLdyPayne

you have to many houses in your aquirom. and she is nesting for eggs dumbass

If she is trying to lay eggs, you don't want to cool her and start brumation. I have a female who digs for days before laying. Treat it like eggs for now and brumation in a week or two.
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www.moonstonedragons.com

Thanks for all your help guys. She stopped digging after she had made her a cave in her dig box. She curled up and is sleeping now. I did feel her several times during the past week but couldn't feel anything abnormal for her so I don't believe she has any eggs in there but I will move her to her permanent brumation tub in a day or two just to rule out any eggs.

Thanks again for the fast replies.

keep in mind that infertile eggs are not easy to feel through the belly. I could never feel the eggs in my female and she's laid 4 infertile clutches this summer.
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PHLdyPayne