Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got a 4 month old female pastel German Giant (got her from Captive Bred Reptile Specialities - crestedgecko.com) about a week ago. Before she was sent to me the breeder told me she has been going thru a cool-off period where she hides on the cool end & basically sleeps for a long time before starting a heavy eating & activity period. Well, she has not eaten in exactly one week & she only pooped the day after she was sent to me. She also has dug herself a hole in the back of her log tunnel & has been sleeping there for 6 of the 7 days I've had her now. I contacted the breeder to see if this was normal & he told me the following (cut/pasted):

"She'd been doing that for awhile here, too. She must want to brumate. You may want to put her down for a few weeks, then bring her back out. You'd think that a younger bearded wouldn't voluntarily do that, but beardeds of all sizes will decide they want to brumate at strange times. I have some that do it in summer! You won't have to worry about her starving to death or anything. She's a healthy dragon and she's just doing what feels natural to her right now. After a couple/few weeks of brumation, she should come out and start chowing food again which will give her a big growth spurt. I think I'd just turn her lights off completely, or at least the heat lamps, for about 2-3 weeks. Let her hide, but check on her a couple times a week. Most of my adults are cooling like that now and I plan to turn their lights on again at the end of December."

Is this good advice to follow? I don't want my baby to have stunted growth & not reach her full size or anything.
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Danielle
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1.0 green water dragon, 0.4 leos, 1.0 adopted iguana, 0.1 beardie,
2.0 green anoles, 1.0 blue anole & 2.2 bettas ~My Pets~

It's uncommon for a young beardie, but certainly not unheard of. I think he gave you sound advice. When they want to brumate, there's not a darn thing you can do about it. (Lil boogers!)
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TheClassyLizard

I would take this baby for a fecal test at minimum. In several years of raising bearded dragons and hundred's of babies, I have never seen one that young brumate, they are usually bottomless pits and bundle of energy all year round til they are at leat a year old.

But, I also have to say that Bob at Sandfire ranch who rasies his outside has told me that he does have some young dragons that brumate with the adults....... but I would still get a fecal done... better spending $10-$20 more and know that the dragon is healthy and that there is not something there affecting its eating and being lethargic

You might want to email Sandfire Dragon Ranch also and talk to them.
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www.reptilerooms.com

Brumation is triggered by light cycle and temp, however light plays the larger role.If your animal can see any natural light chances are he will que onto that instead of your cage light cycle.Since we are now in less than 12 hours of daylight it would be totaly natural for him to be a little inactive and want to brumate.If he can see any natural light I would suggest that you match your light cycle to sunrise and sun set as not to confuse him. Although it's not real common for young animals to brumate it's not unherd of either.It could also be and probably more likely that your NEW dragon is still adjusting to his new environment, this could take a few days or more than a week.