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Does anybody turn off all heat when hibernating their beardeds?
boastud
Nov 17, 2003 11:04 PM
Replies (6)
NorwegianDragon
Nov 18, 2003 03:24 AM
No. I keep the setup basically the same, and I figure the beardie will know when it's time to get out again. She sometimes gets out of her little wooden house, walks around a bit, eats some greens, basks, and goes back to sleep again. I've heard this is normal, so I wouldn't "force" my dragon to brumate without access to heat and food. But that's my opinion.
BeginnersBasics
Nov 18, 2003 06:41 AM
I don't turn off anything..... All I do is adjust the light schedule with the natural cycle outside. Temps and everything else remain the same.
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Lisa 
www.beginnersbasics.com
Cricket FREE babies!
LdyPayne
Nov 18, 2003 10:38 AM
Though I haven't brumated my dragon yet...I can't turn off all the heat...I would freeze! Then again, so would the dragon...it can get as cold as -35 C up here in the north.
veronicag
Nov 18, 2003 10:55 AM
I adjust the hours that the lights are on. Like from 14 hours to 10 or so. I do it gradually though, like by 15 minutes each day. The only light I turn off is the UVB florescents. I leave all the other heating lamps on.
Veronica
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Beautiful Dragons
grimdog
Nov 18, 2003 11:26 AM
What i do is gradually turn down the heat (u can use a rheostat) and light cycle. I make most of the tank 75 F and a basking spot of 85 F. The light goes from 14 on 10 off to 8 on 16 off. If a dragon starts to bask all the time I will pull monitor his weight closely. If a dragon is basking all the time and losing weight it may be having health issues. If this is suspected the dragon should be warmed back up pretty quickly to help ward off any health issues. I tend to offer salads and pellets during brumation. I soak the dragons weekly to keep up hydration. After 2 months cooled I will start to up the light duration and the heat back to 14 on 10 off and a 115 basking spot, increassing food as temps increase.
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Derek Affonce
DeKeAff Exotics
dekeaffexotics.com
pcole
Nov 18, 2003 09:30 PM
In late Oct I reduced daylight and lowered temps in their cages. On Nov 1 late at night I placed each BD in a rubbermaid container with cypress mulch and placed them in the cabinet beneath one of the cages on my 3 season back porch. I'm in Central NC so temps on the porch tend to stay 50-60 degrees. I pull them out right after New Years Day and gradually raise temps and increase daylight. I've done this for 2 years now and have had excellent results.
Thx,
Pete
