Introduction to Bearded Dragon Brumation
Brumation is a dormant-like state bearded dragons, and many other reptiles undergo during the winter months. Bearded dragon brumation is quite similar to mammalian hibernation, except it happens to cold-blooded reptiles. It’s an important survival tactic that allows them to survive prolonged periods of cold temperatures and food scarcity.
Bearded dragons need external heat to control their body temperature and vital bodily functions, such as digestion and activity levels. During brumation, bearded dragons slow down their metabolic rate, which causes various physiological changes.
Whether you are a new or experienced bearded dragon owner, it’s important to understand bearded dragon brumation and how to spot the signs that it might be happening to your reptile.
When Do Bearded Dragons Brumate?
In the wild, bearded dragons brumate during the winter months, where daytime temperatures can be as high as 72°F (22°C) and as low as 40°F (4-5°C) at night. These are the average temperature ranges from May to August in their wild habitat in Australian deserts.
Bearded dragons in captivity can brumate during these months as well, even if you live in a completely different climate. Experts recommend that bearded dragons in captivity brumate once a year just as they would in the wild. However, unless your home is consistently lower than 60°F (15-16°C) to 68°F (20°C), your bearded dragon won’t feel the need to brumate naturally.
Most bearded dragons undergo brumation once they are at least 10 months old, while others might only start after 1 to 2 years. Some brumate more frequently or for longer periods than others.
Common Signs of Bearded Dragon Brumation
- Increased lethargy
- Sleeping for longer periods
- Changes in appetite and weight
- Spending more time hiding or burrowing
- Using the basking area less
- Reduced activity
Most signs of brumation are caused by their metabolic rate slowing down, leading to a lower heart rate and their digestion system shutting down. A week or two before brumation, you will notice that your bearded dragon starts eating less than usual and spends more time sleeping. They might use their basking spot less and hide or burrow in the cooler ends of the enclosure instead.
Their slowed metabolic rate affects their digestion and movement, making them require less energy from food. That’s why bearded dragons will eat less or refuse food entirely, which can also cause them to gradually lose weight. They won’t urinate and defecate often if they aren’t eating, so changes in their bathroom habits are normal. In most cases, bearded dragons will still wake up periodically to drink water to prevent dehydration. So, ensure you provide them with fresh, clean water for when they wake up.
Preparing Your Bearded Dragon for Brumation
Generally, most healthy bearded dragons have no complications during brumation because their bodies are designed for it. But you should still prepare them correctly to reduce the risk of something going wrong. Keep in mind that it’s risky for unhealthy or very young or old bearded dragons to brumate because they are in a fragile state.
Schedule a Vet Check-up Prior to Bearded Dragon Brumation
Bearded dragons who are malnourished, underweight or are ill, or have intestinal parasites should not brumate. They might not be strong enough to survive the brumation period and could become severely ill. There are a lot of changes, such as weight loss and a slowed metabolic rate, that take place during brumation that healthy bearded dragons are equipped to handle.
It’s a good idea to schedule a checkup with an exotic veterinarian before allowing them to brumate. The vet will help you decide whether they are ready to brumate or if it should be prevented due to their age, health, or weight.
Temperature and Lighting Prior to Bearded Dragon Brumation
To prepare your bearded dragon for brumation, you should replicate the same environmental conditions they experience in the wild. This involves gradually lowering the temperature and keeping the lights on for shorter periods. For example, if you keep the lights on for 10-12 hours a day, you should reduce this to 8-10 hours and eventually between 6-9 hours. Changes in daylight hours naturally trigger brumation because wild bearded dragons experience cooler temperatures and shorter days in winter.
Feeding Prior to Bearded Dragon Brumation
You should also make sure they are eating a balanced diet to help prepare them for the lack of appetite they will experience during brumation. A balanced diet provides the essential nutrients they need to be healthy and maintain a stable weight.
How Long Does Bearded Dragon Brumation Last?
Most bearded dragons brumate for about 2-4 months, which is the duration of the winter months in the Australian desert. If they haven’t woken up after four months, you should let the veterinarian know just in case something could be wrong. In most cases, though, your bearded dragon should be fine and might just take a bit longer to respond to the changes that naturally wake them up.
A gradual increase in daylight and warmth triggers the end of the brumation period in the wild, so you will need to replicate this so that they know when to wake up. Even if the brumation period isn’t over yet, some wild bearded dragons will wake up every now and then to eat and drink on the warmer days.
What to Do During Bearded Dragon Brumation?
If it’s your first time letting your bearded dragon brumate, it’s normal to feel worried for their well-being. However, brumation is a completely natural biological process and rarely causes complications in healthy bearded dragons. As tempted as you might be to disturb them, it’s best to interfere as little as possible. You don’t want to disrupt the process or make them feel stressed, as this could do more harm than good.
If you have prepared them for brumation correctly and had them checked by a vet, you won’t have to do much monitoring besides checking their weight. Just make sure they are still breathing throughout the day by looking for chest movements and maintain their enclosure as usual.
Turn off their UV lights after 6-9 hours every night and refill their water dish once a day. They will be defecating and urinating less, so you don’t have to clean the enclosure very often. Giving their enclosure a deep clean a week before they brumate is usually good enough for the next 2-4 months.
You want to avoid intentionally waking them up or handling them unless you monitor their weight. At least once a week, you should weigh them on a kitchen scale and record their weight to monitor for any abnormal changes. This should be done quickly and with minimal disruptions to prevent stress.
When to Be Concerned: Signs Something Is Wrong
Although you can expect them to lose a bit of weight because they aren’t eating, losing more than 10% of their starting weight is concerning. This could be a sign that something is wrong, and you must take your bearded dragon to a veterinarian immediately if this is the case. They might have fallen ill or had a hidden health problem that went unnoticed before brumation, such as intestinal parasites.
You should also be concerned if your bearded dragon shows signs of brumation when you haven’t been preparing them for it by making changes to their environment. This could mean that they are, in fact, ill rather than brumating and should get checked by a veterinarian. An example would be if they suddenly start acting lethargic and refusing food, which can indicate a health problem.
Bearded Dragon Brumation vs. Illness
It’s important to know the difference between brumation and illness because they often share similar signs.
Brumation is a natural period of dormancy that bearded dragons and many other reptiles go through to survive cold winter months. It involves them gradually experiencing changes in appetite, sleeping habits, and activity levels for 2-4 months. They won’t wake up to urinate, defecate, or eat as usual and will wake up on their own time when the conditions are right.
There are various illnesses that could be confused for brumation, including metabolic bone disease, respiratory infections, parasites, or gut impaction. We recommend taking them to a veterinarian immediately if they show signs of lethargy, changes in appetite and basking habits, or frequent hiding or burrowing. It’s best for them to have a vet check-up prior to brumating anyway, as mentioned previously.
Conclusion: Understanding and Supporting Your Bearded Dragon During Brumation
If you choose to allow your bearded dragon to brumate in captivity, you must ensure they are healthy and prepared for the process. Other than replicating the environmental changes to trigger brumation, you must monitor their weight once a week and provide them with clean water every day. You shouldn’t disturb them too much, so try to keep handling to a minimal. If they haven’t woken up from brumation after four months, let the veterinarian know and follow their advice on what to do next. Most bearded dragons don’t have any issues during brumation, but it’s still important to support them through the process.
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