Your bearded dragon might be acting very tired and refusing food, which is very normal for a pet reptile. Bearded dragons brumation is a pretty common occurrence. But it can be scary to a first-time owner who might not understand what their dragon is doing. Read all you need to know about brumation to help your bearded dragon have a peaceful brumation experience. He was released at the end of the season.
What is brumation?
During brumation, reptiles can decrease their metabolism, enter a stage of hibernation, lower their heart rate, and slow down their breathing and their digestion. They may even lose body heat. Brumation is the period of rest after molting, and during this time the dragon is usually lethargic, unresponsive to stimulation, and appears to be asleep.
Animals such as bears and elephants go through this process to survive during winter. They don’t need to eat, or drink, and don’t wake up until hibernation is over. Most of the time during winter, reptiles won’t eat or defecate, but they’ll usually wake up briefly to drink water. If you have a bearded dragon, it’s likely to brumate at some point.
They don’t need to eat or drink, and they don’t wake up until winter is over. Most of the time, your pet reptile will stay asleep during this period. Sometimes, bearded dragons don’t brumate. However, this doesn’t mean that they will live for years without brumating.
What is Bearded dragon brumation?
When beards become dull, they lose their luster and become less interested in their food, the brumation process is going to start. Brumation is a natural behavior that bearded dragons use to relax and conserve energy after spending months with little food. They tend to seek out an insulated spot, where they’ll be protected from the winds, and where they won’t get blown around by the currents.
Burrow, plant, cave, and natural decor make great brumation dens. When you first see this behavior, you may think that it’s an illness. But it’s not. In fact, you should be very proud. This is unlikely, but if your Bearded dragon is losing weight dramatically, is lethargic, or is less than 10 months old, you should seek veterinary advice to be on the safe side. If this kind of behavior seems abnormal for your Bearded Dragon, he could be sick. You should consult your vet and see what they say about it.
Bearded dragon brumation signs:
- Spending less time in the basking area
- Loss of appetite
- Sleeping for longer periods of time
- Retreating to cooler areas of the enclosure
- Digging dark places to hide and make a nesting spot
How long will my Bearded dragon brumate for?
There are many factors that can influence the amount of time a reptile will brumate between species, and even within the same species, which makes it difficult to predict exactly how long a reptile will brumate for.
It’s common for reptiles to brumate. You can get a general idea of how long your bearded dragon will brumate based on the species, but other variables, such as age, gender, natural conditions, and geographical origin, play a role too. Bearded dragons are not born with beards. Male bearded dragons usually begin brumating as early as six weeks of age and females will begin brumating after about ten months.
It is common among most Bearded dragons. Keep this in mind when your Bearded dragon never seems to show the above signs. Not all bearded dragons need to brumate. If your Bearded dragon doesn’t show any of the above signs, it’s probably fine to keep him or her outside for the night. Brumation in bearded dragons tends to happen for around two months in the winter. The length of time can vary a lot depending on individual and external factors.
Why do Bearded dragons brumate?
Bearded dragons are ectotherms, which means that they cannot control their own internal body temperatures, and instead, rely on their external environment to influence this. The low temperatures of winter, the scarcity of food because of this, and the fact that most ectotherms don’t have fur or other means of protection during this time of year are bad for ectotherms. Brumation is a way for bearded dragons to survive the low temperatures of winter. By staying in their cozy burrow, they’re able to save up body heat and reduce their metabolic rate, which conserves energy for later.
Where does a bearded dragon brumate?
It’s natural for bearded dragons to go dormant or hibernate during the winter months. There are many options for a terrarium in the pet store. Help your dragon get started by placing a blackout hut in their cage. A dragon is best kept inside in its own enclosure, where it can curl up and drift off while enjoying the warmth of its surroundings
Should my Bearded dragon lose weight when brumating?
A healthy bearded dragon shouldn’t drastically lose weight during brumation. A little weight loss is normal because they aren’t eating at the same rate that they usually would, but their lower activity levels tend to balance this out and help keep them from losing much weight.
What should we do when Bearded dragon starts to brumate?
It is usually best to just leave your Bearded dragon to do its own thing, but if they start to rumble, then you may need to intervene. In order to keep your bearded dragon healthy, you should make sure to provide her with fresh water at all times and make sure her enclosure is clean. This is easier to do when the cat isn’t producing as much waste. You should also reduce the basking temperatures and daylight hours you currently provide for your reptiles.
When you take your dragon outside at night in winter, you can help it adapt to the shorter day-night cycle by setting the thermostat in the den down two hours earlier. This simulates the shorter days and cooler temperatures wild bearded dragons might experience. Although the best time for brumation isn’t a set rule for caring for your beardie, one thing to keep in mind is that they shouldn’t be disturbed too much during this process.
Can I force my Bearded dragon to go into brumation?
The best time to push a bearded dragon into brumation is if you’re considering breeding them. If you don’t have them in mind as a breeding plan then there’s no need to change their light cycle. Your bearded dragon will go into brumation if you decrease the light hours and the temperature during the winter months, which will increase the odds of getting a successful clutch of eggs. It’s never a good idea to push an adult beardie into brumating. They are just fine as they are, and will only become more active, playful, and curious when the right time comes. Let them go their own way at their own pace.
Can I stop my Bearded dragon brumating?
If your bearded dragon begins to brumate, you should simply let them do this and not attempt to increase its light hours or temperatures. Brumation is totally normal, and should never be interrupted. When your bearded dragon is very young, or not healthy enough to survive the brumation period, the only thing you can do is ensure that the lighting hours and temperatures during the brumation period do not drop, but this is still not guaranteed to prevent them from brumating.
What do I do when my Bearded dragon wakes up?
Don’t be surprised when your bearded dragon wakes up. It should be allowed to go back to sleep after waking up. A bearded dragon must have a suitable temperature and humidity level, along with UV protection that will not allow any sunlight to penetrate. If your bearded dragon was in good health when it went into brumation, it should still be about the same weight as when it started brumation and it should not need monitoring any more than normal.
Brumation Ending
When your bearded dragon initially enters brumation there are signs to look for. It’s fairly easy to tell when your dragon wakes up. She may look at you and seem to stare right through you, or she may just get up and start looking for food. You can check on your dragon and make sure that she’s breathing right, or you can let her roam the terrarium in search of food. Give him plenty of time to get into his old routine.
Gradually adjust your lighting back to normal and offer your pet his usual meals, and just be patient as he gets up. The temperature will probably drop over time. Just keep an eye on her for signs of discomfort. If you notice anything abnormal, reach out to your vet.
While Brumation can be very stressful for your pet dragon, you should not be worried if she doesn’t want to eat for a few days. Dragons naturally go through this process in their early weeks of life. You can also read about:
