Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, so I moved some of my reptiles into my basement for extra space. Something happened that I did not expect though. I guess the area I had my frilled in is about 60 degrees F. I thought it was more like 70 but I was wrong. She hasnt been moving and is losing a lot of weight. I figured that maybe she started brumating on accident. I took her to a vet to make sure and he said that she seems fine. But when I put her back, she did it again. She doesnt eat and just sits all day on the highest branch in a type of sleep mode. If I bring her to a warmer area, will she just snap out of it, or is it something I need to wait on?

I did some Internet searches with respect to frilled dragons and hibernation.

It appears that frilled dragons can hibernate.

If you are concerned, to be on the safe side, try for a temporary in-expensive space heater to raise the temperature above 60 degrees this should assist digestion and encourage eating.

A metropolitan herpetology article referred to burmation for breeding purposes.

It came with the warning that:
"....if during the time they are hibernating you start to see one of the animals losing an extreme amount of weight [which shouldn't happen if the temperature is low enough], separate that animal and provide some food and water. It may not finish it's brumation, but it's better to have a healthy animal to breed next season then to loose it from dehydration or malnutrition)"

http://www.metroherpsociety.org/care-sheets/frilled-dragon-chlamydosaurus-kingii.php

best wishes

Alright, thanks a lot for the help. I got the space heater and everything. I just hope she pulls out fast.

how's she doing, any better?

Yes, I put a space heater near her cage and monitor the temps. She snapped out of it in a period of about 3 days and shes eating and acting normally now. Im pretty relieved, thanks for the help btw.

no problem,

just hopping she was okay

I know how it feels to lose a lizard