In many cases, you'll notice signs of brumation in the late fall just before winter (October, November). But for some bearded dragons, brumation starts around June, when it's winter in Australia. It just depends on your individual dragon.
Bearded dragon brumation signs:
Spending less time in the basking area. Retreating to cooler areas of the enclosure. Loss of appetite. Sleeping for longer periods of time.
Generally, it is OK to pick up your bearded dragon while he's in brumation. For example, some bearded dragon owners choose to help their pet through the brumation period by giving him a relaxing bath. While this is not necessary, it can help with producing a bowel movement.
Brumation can last a few weeks, or up to four months.
In the wild, brumation is typically triggered by shorter days, lower temperatures, and barometric pressure and humidity changes, depending on the species and the native environment. Most keepers that choose to replicate brumation in captivity prefer to artificially create those changes as closely as possible.
Brumation requires a dragon to go for months without food. This lack of nutrition can be very harmful to a baby's growing body. In many cases, if your baby dragon starts going into brumation, it is best to prevent it.
It is important to make sure your beardie has had a bowel movement before entering a total brumation state, as this will ensure their digestive system is empty, eliminating the risk of trapped food. Once this has been achieved, turn off the bearded dragon's basking bulb and UV light.
As a result, reptilian dormancy, or brumation, is different from mammalian hibernation because the metabolic processes are different. Not unlike mammals, reptiles may begin their dormancy stage in the fall. However, they do not enter a state of “sleep” as the mammals do. They go into a state of suspended animation.
How Long Can A Bearded Dragon Go Without Food? As desert dwelling reptiles, bearded dragons can go weeks without food, sometimes a few months. This allows them to survive in their native habitat when food sources are scarce.
How Long Can A Bearded Dragon Go Without Pooping? Healthy bearded dragons not in brumation should not go for longer than one week without pooping. Some individuals can go several weeks without pooping, but, this will be very painful and is normally a sign of a health issue.
Dragons who are brumating, can be expected to go weeks if not months without eating, but should still be given water on a regular basis. Bearded dragons that are brumating can go months without eating, but should still be given water.
While brumating, your beardie will fall into a sleep-like state that will last for months. During that time, he might not eat or drink a lot – or not at all. Naturally, that gets many owners worried. Still, always remember that brumation is a natural process which should not be stopped, but helped.
Brumation is essential to the survival of particular reptile species because they are incapable of raising their body temperature when the seasonal weather changes. During brumation, reptiles stop eating and their heart and respiratory rates slow significantly, as does their digestion.
1 week after brumation has ended, schedule the lights and heat sources back to being on for 13 hours/day. Your beardie's appetite should go back to normal. If appetite does not go back to normal or your beardie doesn't seem to be waking up, take your dragon to an experienced reptile vet for examination!
However, the temperature will drop below 60° Fahrenheit at night and only get up to about 75° or 80° during the day. Instead of going into full hibernation, wild bearded dragons simply slow their movements and digestion during this period to conserve energy. This is brumation!
While all bearded dragons should be offered food during brumation around once a week, it isn't a big deal if your pet refuses to eat. Brumating bearded dragons will experience a decrease in their appetite and a slowed metabolism rate. This means, it isn't so critical they fuel their bodies daily.
Brumation is a lethargic state that some ectothermic animals, such as many reptiles, assume during cold conditions. Reptiles generally begin brumation in late autumn. They often wake up to drink water and return to "sleep". They can go for months without food.
Bearded dragons start brumation when temperatures drop and daylight hours decrease. Generally, this occurs from May/June until August in the Southern Hemisphere, and from November/December until spring in the Northern Hemisphere. It can last a few weeks or reach five months and more.
Bearded dragons can usually go without heat for about 24 hours. That's not enough for long-term survival, but it can buy you time to address the heating problems in the enclosure.
Glass surfing is thought to be a result of stress and a bearded dragon may be stressed for several reasons: An enclosure or tank that's too small for it can stress a bearded dragon out. Another bearded dragon, even if they're not housed together, may be interpreted as competition for a bearded dragon and cause stress.
What vegetables do bearded dragons eat? There are a handful of vegetables that are considered safe for your bearded dragon to eat including, bell peppers, cabbage, carrots, celery, kale, and asparagus.
Brumation will come to an end when the bearded dragon picks up on the days becoming longer and warmer. If it has gone into full brumation (sleeping) it will come out from hiding to bask and its appetite will pick up. Set the heating and lighting to summer cycle if it isn't already.