Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A man I know posted this today on another site and as he was perhaps the only beardie owner on the site I figured I'd post it here.

Well, hello folks, im posting here to today to tell you about my beardie...dunno why I just typed...typed...tapt...typed that sentenace, but here we go.
Ok, ive got a Bearded Dragon and hes less than a year old, I got him October 14th. Well, he was really small back then, now hes gotten quiet large, not his full 2 feet, but hes around 12 inches now, from head to tail end. The little guy went into hibernation, or "Brumination" I just say hibernation, even though hibernation is what warm blooded do, and Brumination is what cold blooded do. So, the little guy went into Brumination in February!!! AND HES STILL NOT OUT! Ive been reading up like crazy, and all the websties confirm that there only suppose to have like a 3 month brumination period, when its been around 5 months! Ive been force feeding him a little sliver of lettuce every month, cause I am getting scared, but now im really scared, because he wont eat his crickets, hasnt pooped, or yurinated since February, nor has he drinken!. Recently I took out his hide box, and have been forcing him into the basking light, but he keeps going over to his water mountain dish thing, and trying to squeeze in next to it, but I keep forcing him back out, im trying to wake him up, but he just wont do it. I really need some help here, I dont know whats going on. He doesnt seem to be sick but...just, please! Someone help!

Thanks in advance for your help.
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"Been there done that"
Canrivorous plant and Herp specialist
Ask me a question, I guarantee an answer.
May not be the answer to your question but it will be an answer.

It might be something wrong with your beardie... have you taken a fecal sample to the vet? He might have parasites, that is why he is acting this way. Even if he hasn't got parasites a trip to the vet is what I would do...
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Teo - A Bearded Dragon

My little guy was born I think last August, and he decided to crash end of February as well. I'd take him out once in a while, give him a warm bath and put him up under his basking lamp, keep the UVB lamp going for long days, but he was determined to sleep. He would poke his nose out once in a while, then disappear again. He finally decided to stay up just 2 weeks ago! He's still not eating as much as he was before he sacked out, but he drinks like crazy when I bath him even though he's got access to water all the time.

A quick trip to the vet will tell you if he's healthy or not, and if you have to worry. My fellow kept good body condition, but I still worried like mad. Good luck, and keep us posted!

Do you have a digital thermometer to take the temps in the cage? If not, you will need one. Don't guess at the temps or rely solely on the stick on ones. They aren't very accurate.

What are the temps (basking and cool side)? How long are his lights on for? These are really important factors when it comes to brumation. Because it's the seasonal changes that encourage a beardie to brumate in the first place.

To get him out of brumation, you have to reverse it. Slowly bring the basking temp up to 100 to 110. And bring the cool side of the tank to 75 or 80. Don't allow the tank to get cooler than 65 at night. If you have air conditioning, make sure it's not blowing right on his cage or near it, especially if his cage is located on the floor. His lights should be on for at least 12 hours. I prefer 14 on and 10 off. There's more daylight in the summer time, so if you should change the light cycle gradually and leave so that the lights are on for 14 hours. Also, if you're not providing UVB, you will need to get a bulb that has UVB. Reptisun 5.0 and the mercury vapor bulbs all work great.

I wouldn't force feed him until he's basking. If you force food into his stomach and he runs back under his log and hides, the food will rot away in his stomach. A beardie has to have an internal temp of 95 degrees to digest food. Provide him with plenty of water by dripping some on him nose every day or every other day. You can also mist him once in a while. Weekly baths also help to hydrate dragons. The most important thing you should be worried about is if he is getting enough liquids. As long as he isn't loosing weight, then he Should be fine. If he is losing weight, he could have parasites or some other kind of problem going on.

It is also good to bathe him to try to get him to deficate. If you can get him to poop, take a fresh sample to the vet to get it checked for parasites.

Good luck.

Veronica
Beautiful Dragons

As I said he isn't mine and this isn't my problem!
His beardie is dropping in weight severely with bagging skin.
I sent him a pm trying to get him to take him to a vet
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"Been there done that"
Canrivorous plant and Herp specialist
Ask me a question, I guarantee an answer.
May not be the answer to your question but it will be an answer.