Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have one beardie that is eight months old and another that is seven months old and they are both caged seperately. My question is this, should I decrease the temps in their cages with winter approaching? I understand that they are too young to breed and I am not planning on breeding them for another couple of years or at all. I guess what I am getting at is what is the correct way of keeping your temps year round for the first year of life and after? Should I leave the temps the same all year round for the first year of life or should I be adjusting their temps and light cycles to the sunrise/sunset times in my area at this time? After they reach one year of age is it proper practice to mimic the natural sunrise/sunset times? If anyone can help me out I would greatly appreciate it. I just need to know if it is healthy to keep my temps the same thru their first winter.
Thanks.

i wouldn't really think that changing the temperature is needed becuz they are dessert lizards (north west austrailia) and there it pretty much stays the same temp all year round, xept for some minor fluxuating (I dont live in australia so I dun really know how the weather workx there, mlike if it ever gets cold )

I don't adjust my temperatures at all. I do however, change the timers to a shorter day cycle once I see signs that my adults are slowing down.
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4.3 Bearded Dragons (Rescues)
1.0 Corn snake (Rescue)
0.1 California King
4.5 Royal (Ball) Pythons (3 rescues)
1.1 Dogs (Rescues)
2.0 Cats (Rescues)
2.2 Humans
No, it's NOT a big house

So, should I be decreasing my daylight cycles soon? Or wait until they have gone thru their first winter and after they are over a year old?

I would wait until they are full grown. Decreasing them may induce brumation (though juveniles do not usually brumate) and interfere with their nutrition and growth.

Best,
michele
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4.3 Bearded Dragons (Rescues)
1.0 Corn snake (Rescue)
0.1 California King
4.5 Royal (Ball) Pythons (3 rescues)
1.1 Dogs (Rescues)
2.0 Cats (Rescues)
2.2 Humans
No, it's NOT a big house

I personally do not change anything for the first year. Since I was only going to breed them after 18 months of age I left everything the same. Plus through the first year I wanted them to eat and grow normally through the winter without any slow down. If they do descide to brumate anyway, and some do, there really isn't much you can do except double check the temps and make sure nothing has changed.
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Mystical-Dragons Web Site
Webshots photos

Glad this topic came up. I was wondering why my Dragon is slowing down and hiding under her rock now. She never sat under the rock before. Her light cycle is still the same,so since she has slowed down I should cut light down what by an hour or so?

Even so when I break out the roach's she really wakes up and eats readily. Feed her some shrimp today and she ate that willingly. Only thing she isn't eating that much of anymore is her greens.

I'm thinking this is pretty normal then she is about 2 years old now.

Good advice on the board. As young as your dragons are don't consider brumation at this time. Why not let them continue their growing. Brumation is a sleep/slow down that doesn't seem to be necessary until about the third year. Don't force/induce it, they'll let you know when it's time.