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 #2092624


Rylos
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 Worried about my beardy.

Have a question. My beardy is about 8-9 months old. I built a platform with a cave in it. Lately it seems like she wants to spend most of her time in the cave. Seems to be less active and appitite is down.

She has been growing and shedding about once every 3-4 weeks or so. I dust the crx and have the proper UVB and temps.

Should I be worried or not?

Thanks for the help
11/06/09  12:38pm

 #2092633


DragonMyr
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   Message To: Rylos   In reference to Message Id: 2092624


 Worried about my beardy.

Just keep an eye on your beardie and watch for lethargic behavior, unusual looking stools, and complete loss of appetite. What you’re probably seeing is a type of winter slow down. Your beardie likely won’t go completely into brumation/hibernation due to its younger age, but it will slow down and sleep for several days in a row before coming out again. This is the slow period of the year for your pet and is rather normal. If your beardie becomes active, inquisitive, and hungry after basking (when she takes the time to do it) then that’s a pretty clear sign that everything is ok. Sometimes this behavior change can cause flare ups in internal parasites or illnesses, but things are likely just fine.

My beardie wanted to start doing brumation/hibernation in late September. I’m on the Mason Dixon Line (PA/MD border). These days he sleeps all day curled up under his "blankie" since I don’t have a cave. He’s 2 years old though. When he was the age of your beardie he also did slow down. They don’t normally do the full sleeping brumation/hibernation thing until they’re well over a year old. Next year this time you’ll notice a much more obvious brumation/hibernation.
11/06/09  12:49pm

 #2092654


Rylos
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   Message To: DragonMyr   In reference to Message Id: 2092633


 Worried about my beardy.

Ok thanks! That makes me feel better!!! She comes out to eat then basks and then it’s right back to the cave!
I just kept reading about others peoples beardys having problems.......

I thought she was a little young for brumation.

Thanks again
11/06/09  01:57pm

 #2092662


Phoenix54
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   Message To: Rylos   In reference to Message Id: 2092654


 Worried about my beardy.

I would collect a stool from her and take the stool to a reptile vet or one that knows about reptiles and have them do a parasite test. Its pretty cheap when you think about it. If she has parasites she could be acting that way. Trust me, I just went through it and I never wouldve thought b/c I keep mine seperated, clean, and proper temps...etc! But they get them!! :)

If anything, it wouldnt hurt to rule it out..

Good luck with her.



11/06/09  02:17pm

 #2092679


SkumBoss
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   Message To: Rylos   In reference to Message Id: 2092654


 Worried about my beardy.

Mine is doing that too. Sometimes I have to take him out of the cave to feed him. He’s been to the vet and everything is fine, just not as active and doesn’t eat as much as before. If the stool is runny or smells bad, take him in. 20$ for a fecal exam and then you can rest assured.



11/06/09  02:53pm

 #2092810


Rylos
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   Message To: SkumBoss   In reference to Message Id: 2092679


 Worried about my beardy.

Thanks for the info! Anybody know of a vet in the St Louis area that’s good with reptiles or would rec for the stool testing?
11/06/09  09:19pm

 #2092935


Phoenix54
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   Message To: Rylos   In reference to Message Id: 2092810


 Worried about my beardy.

The best thing to do is, look in your phone book under vets like the yellow pages and sometimes they specify what they specialize in. Or just call them.

Good luck to you!
Get your beardie feeling better. :)
11/07/09  08:57am

 #2094147


Rylos
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   Message To: Phoenix54   In reference to Message Id: 2092935


 Worried about my beardy.

Thanks again for all the info!

I have one more question..... When they are in brumation, i know its a sleep mode, but are they hard to wake up? I mean if she is moved do they open there eyes much etc etc etc?

I turn her light on in the morning and she gets out of her cave after an hour or so, may eat a few crickets, bask, and then back to the cave. If she is basking she keeps her eyes closed and will not open them if moved. Is that normal?

Just kinda seems strange

Thanks again for all the help!
11/10/09  08:07pm

 #2094205


Phoenix54
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   Message To: Rylos   In reference to Message Id: 2094147


 Worried about my beardy.

Like I said, you should get fecal done on her. Look up in the yellow pages and call around to make sure they handle reptiles. Its not hard and it will answer some questions. If she is sick though, you want to keep her awake. So you can treat the parasites. If she is free of parasites though, then she might be starting to shut down for her brumation period. When you notice her not coming out much anymore, dont feed her anymore and then after her last poop or if has been a couple days since her last feeding, turn her lights off. She cant go to sleep with her belly full. Also, try to keep it comfortable for her, not noisy, and make it dark and cool. She is trying to shut down. Go to vet first though! Find one and call them!

Did you take the male out yet?
Can you get pics up?

Hope this helped, keep in touch if you got pics, show them.



11/10/09  10:00pm

 #2094231


Rylos
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   Message To: Phoenix54   In reference to Message Id: 2094205


 Worried about my beardy.

Just waiting for her to poop!!! LOL LOL Then its off to the vet!

The male and female have been apart for a while now.

Thanks for all the help!
11/10/09  11:12pm

 #2094832


Rylos
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   Message To: Rylos   In reference to Message Id: 2094231


 Worried about my beardy.

This is the beardy in question... my daughter calls her Sweet Pink.



this is her on a check book



this is Rex, my sons beardy



Pink came out today and ate her greens and a couple of crx and that was about it. Still waiting on the poop to bring to vet! lol lol

Pink still has a couple of flakes on her from her shed the other day.
11/12/09  07:25pm

 #2094952


Newfgal
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   Message To: Rylos   In reference to Message Id: 2094832


 Worried about my beardy.

They are beautiful! And 8-9 months Brumation is quite possible. One of my females went into Brumation at 9 months, but it didn’t last long, just a few days...If the fecal comes back and shes clean, just let her sleep :) Here is some info on Brumation if you need it...

Once mature, {after one year of age}, Bearded dragons will usually go into a "shut down" period. They will become inactive, hidden in shelters, or laying on the ground and eating very little if at all. If raised indoors, babies hatched out in the summer will not have a shut down period until the following year, {at about 18 months of age}, but at times they may choose to sleep for a very short time, a few days...

During winter shut down, dragons must be kept at cooler temperatures, 60-70f at least, and no higher. If you cannot get to these temps, one thing you could do is place the tank on the floor to achieve cooler temps. Basking lights should be reduced to 75-80f, and left on only 8-10 hours a day, until you can completely shut them all off... Alot of people worry their dragons are getting sick during shut down, but it is quite normal for them to act this way in the winter months. Winter shut down can last from a few weeks to a five months. If a bearded dragon is healthy and paracite free, they will lose little to no weight during this period, and will remain in good condition, and will show no signs of disease, such as sunken eyes, gaping or twitching. One things that should be done befor shut down is to reduce, then eliminate food for the dragon about one week befor the onset of cooler temps. The owner can wait and observe the dragon closely, and then create shut down conditions, as soon as the dragon shows signs of reduction in activity and food intake.

At the end of winter shut down, you will notice a shift in behaviors following the increase in heat and lighting. They will return to normal as soon as they start to bask and eat again...If they wake and refuse to eat, it is quite normal as at times it sometimes takes a few days for them to eat again...



Nancy.
11/13/09  06:07am

 #2094963


Rylos
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   Message To: Newfgal   In reference to Message Id: 2094952


 Worried about my beardy.

Thanks Nancy, this is just freaking me out! lol lol You have to admit that the first time your beardy does it its STRANGE!! WORRY WORRY WORRY!!!!!!!

I have always had snakes and other critters over the years and never had the brumate worry thing!!! I guess you have to go with the flow!

Thanks again for your help.
11/13/09  07:31am

 #2094965


Newfgal
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   Message To: Rylos   In reference to Message Id: 2094963


 Worried about my beardy.

Quote:

You have to admit that the first time your beardy does it its STRANGE!! WORRY WORRY WORRY!!!!!!!



Yes, I admit it! lol...I was a basket case...Now it’s like, ok, whatever, just let them sleep, their fine, lol...

It is more stressful for us then them, thats for sure :) I could tell you were freaking out...just a little, lol...

Your welcome..

Nancy
11/13/09  07:41am


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