Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hello mates!

i live in the UK, and stinky the dragon (2yrs old and 18 inches long) went slowly into his usual brumation around the end of September. He ate some veg a few days before he started hiding in his cave, but never had a final 'right! i'm off to bed then' poop before hand. I woke him on Saturday (although, he never really sleeps constantly) to show him to a friend, and he seems to have stopped brumating... he's sleeping normally at night tho, but is up during the day. He's up and about, and very active, hasn't even lost any weight really, and he looks great! Should I feed him? I'm worried he might eat, not poop, and then go back to sleep till February again! What should I do?
Also, this may seem strange or dumb, but I've never, ever seen stinky drink, lick water from his nose, nothing! Not even in a bath, nowt! I know they can take water onboard through their skin, but everyone seems to be able to 'give' their Dragons a drink... is it just stinky?

thanks in advance

shredder, archie an' stinky tha dragon

I would definately offer Stinky a bite to eat if he's awake. You can always bathe him in a few days if he doesn't poo on his own. That's what I do. I have an adult that will go in and out of brumation for months. It's very bizarre, but that's how he likes it. And he usually eats when I offer it.

Good luck!
Veronica
-----

Beautiful Dragons

i dont know about ur situation but maybe u could help me, this is my beardies 1st winter as an adult, i stay in UK.

do u actually drop ur temps to get ur beardie to brumate or does it happen with the drop in light/temp we get here anyway

reason im asking is cos my beardy is hiding quite a bit but still comes out to bask sometimes for a few hours then returns, he isnt as interested in food as usual.

i hadnt been to worried and just thought he is maybe trying to brumate, if urs does it without u actually changing the heating it would put my mind at ease lol

If my beardies brumate it's because they decide to. I've never adjusted their heat. I offer them a small salad everyday even if they are brumating, because sometimes they come out of brumation for a day or so and want to eat. And if they do eat, they will need heat to properly digest their food. As I'm not home during the day, I can't turn up the heat if I see them eating. I do offer them a place on the cool side of the tank to crawl inside of and sleep without the light/heat bothering them.

Once I know for sure that they are brumating, I slowly adjust the time that their lights are on. Usually I have their lights on for 14 hours. If they are brumating, I will slowly reduce that to 10 or 11. This makes it easier for me to help bring them out of brumation in the spring. Then again, usually they come out of it on their own.

It sounds like your beardie might be trying to brumate. That's fine, as long as you know he is healthy. Have you had a fecal test done? If your beardie has parasites and starts to brumate he can get pretty sick and lose weight. That's the only thing I can recommend doing before brumation starts.

You can also drip a few drops of water on his nose every other day or so to see if he wants to drink. I've noticed that some of my adults like to drink a little while they are brumating.

Good luck!
Veronica
-----

Beautiful Dragons

I put some fresh veg in last night on my way to bed, and they're almost all gone this morning! Stinky's still up and looking mighty fine too... proud almost!

About drinking tho... like i say, i've never seen him drink... ever! what's he doin'? he must be parched!

I guess he must've had a drink sometime in the past 2 years, but like i say, i've never seen it!

thanks again tho mates!
-----
shredder, archie and stinky tha dragon

Beardies will rarely drink out of their water bowl. I've seen some drink when taking a bath or when water is dripped on the tip of their nose. As long as your beardie is eating, he will get some moisture from what he is eating. If you want him to get extra water, just spray his veggies down and keep them moist. Remember, beardies are desert animals, and their bodies are designed to make the best use of water that they get from their food. That's why they have solid urates and not liquid ones.

If you're worried about your beardie not getting enough liquids, bathe him every day or every other day for awhile. You can usually tell if a beardie is dehydrated by gently pinching a fold of skin on the beardies back near his side. If the fold of skin goes back down almost right away, he shouldn't be dehydrated. If the fold of skin stays in place for awhile, you should get him some liquids.

Hope this helps.

Veronica
-----

Beautiful Dragons

n/p
-----
shredder, archie and stinky tha dragon

Hi Gary...

I don't change a thing in stinkys tank. I follow the times of natural light outside... if the sun's up at 5am, his lights go on at 5am. And if it's dark at 6pm, his lights go off.
I keep a heat mat on 24/7 in his basking end - this keeps the ambient temp upto around 70-75degrees all the time.
He started brumating in September this year... about a week after all the late(ish) hot weather.
Hope this helps mate, I think your dragon sounds like he's doin' fine!
But that's just my opinion!
-----
shredder, archie and stinky tha dragon

>>hello mates!
>>
>>i live in the UK, and stinky the dragon (2yrs old and 18 inches long) went slowly into his usual brumation around the end of September. He ate some veg a few days before he started hiding in his cave, but never had a final 'right! i'm off to bed then' poop before hand. I woke him on Saturday (although, he never really sleeps constantly) to show him to a friend, and he seems to have stopped brumating... he's sleeping normally at night tho, but is up during the day. He's up and about, and very active, hasn't even lost any weight really, and he looks great! Should I feed him? I'm worried he might eat, not poop, and then go back to sleep till February again! What should I do?
>>Also, this may seem strange or dumb, but I've never, ever seen stinky drink, lick water from his nose, nothing! Not even in a bath, nowt! I know they can take water onboard through their skin, but everyone seems to be able to 'give' their Dragons a drink... is it just stinky?
>>
>>thanks in advance
>>
>>shredder, archie an' stinky tha dragon
-----
Rob

Beardies skin in meant to hold in the water. I have read that they do not absorb water or fluids through their skin.

Veronica
-----

Beautiful Dragons

n/p
-----
TheClassyLizard

>>n/p
>>-----
>> TheClassyLizard
-----
Rob

Hi
he told me beardie also take water trough there skin.
i could not belief it but he already dealing 35 years with reptiles and he builded enclosure for big zoo,s.
he is a herptolog and also a veterian of reptiles.
he told me they have tiny tubes not visibel for the eys where they can pul water trough.
he told me a weird storire about tubes and one end of the tube whas wider then the other ,thats why he could transport water that way.
i am not shure if he is right for 100%
but you never know .
byeeeeeee

http://www.run.to/b22

>>Hi
>>he told me beardie also take water trough there skin.
>>i could not belief it but he already dealing 35 years with reptiles and he builded enclosure for big zoo,s.
>>he is a herptolog and also a veterian of reptiles.
>>he told me they have tiny tubes not visibel for the eys where they can pul water trough.
>>he told me a weird storire about tubes and one end of the tube whas wider then the other ,thats why he could transport water that way.
>>i am not shure if he is right for 100%
>>but you never know .
>>byeeeeeee
>>
>>http://www.run.to/b22

provide you with some documentation indicating that. Something other than documentation on reptiles in general but specifically Pagona Viticeps. Tell him you've got other dragon experts arguing with you and you want to prove them wrong. Just a thought.
-----
Rob