Unwanted Brumation :'(

[KTyne]

So I hope I'm posting this in the right section.

My Leo, Gaia, has been seemingly starting to brumate the last couple weeks on her own with no temperature changes in her enclosure. I don't know what to do! I am also not 100% sure she is brumating or if she is impacted. I have not yet looked at her stomach to see if she is blue but she isn't bloated.

Anyways, I noticed lately she isn't coming out of her hides much at all like she usually does in the evening. Also, I THINK she is eating (the worms are disappearing from her dish) but her last couple of poops have been just urates without any actual feces part.

Thanks for the help guys! Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[NikkiC223]

That kind of sounds like my Leo Teak. I just rescued him, he is 5. I have noticed that he is in his moist hide ALL THE TIME! I know that this time of the year, because its cold, they tend to brumate and not eat as much so I'm hoping that is it. I'm hoping he begins to be more active when this season is over!

 

[KTyne]

I'm hoping so too! I just find it weird because last year Gaia didn't do this, but it might have been because she wasn't breeding age last year.l

 

[KTyne]

Ok, so I just took her out and she looks fatter than a week or so ago, maybe a bit more sleepy acting, but she isn't bloated and her belly looks regular colored. I think I'm just being paranoid.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Mine did that for a couple weeks, and now is acting fine. I doubt you need to worry.

~Maggot

 

[Lindz0518]

My female has been eating way less and just as fat as ever. I think that even if we don't change their temps that they can still sense it's winter.

 

[KTyne]

I think so too, what with the shorter day light hours and such. Makes me happy that she is super fat, lol.

 

[Ozy]

My gecko is also eating less than normal and pooping less than normal. She is still fat as a little pig though. I haven't dropped her temps or anything, but she knows it's winter because she can see the sunlight from the window. So from that she knows the season and time of day.

 

[SORROW89]

My gecko is also eating less than normal and pooping less than normal. She is still fat as a little pig though. I haven't dropped her temps or anything, but she knows it's winter because she can see the sunlight from the window. So from that she knows the season and time of day.

They don't brumate in captivity. The temps aren't low enough. They think they are gonna have to because of the temp drop or the humidity drop. If you keep the air temp up and the humidity like at 50 they will keep eating.

 

[KTyne]

My air temps and floor temps are the same as in the summer which is why I was confused as to why Gaia was acting odd. She was still eating.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

They don't brumate in captivity. The temps aren't low enough. They think they are gonna have to because of the temp drop or the humidity drop. If you keep the air temp up and the humidity like at 50 they will keep eating.

It's more tham temps and humidity. Also light and barometric pressure.

Reptilian Brumation

"I have adopted the following philosophy regarding brumating my reptiles, and have found it to be entirely successful thus far. Keep in mind that because your animals are in captivity, does not mean that they do not receive subtle cues from the outside world. With the exceptions of snakes being kept and bred in rack units (where all light and heat is regulated by the keeper) reptiles will begin showing signs of a winter slow-down and/or brumation regardless of what environmental conditions you provide.

Many temperate, desert, and sub-tropical herps will become less active and feed less in the winter, even when normal ambient and basking temps are provided. I do not adjust the husbandry of my bearded dragons from season to season. They are provided with the same photo-period and heating protocol year round. Yet year after year they begin losing interest in food in late fall, and remain in this psuedo-brumation until spring. During this time, all of my animals will migrate away from all heat sources, and make themselves comfortable in the cooler regions of their enclosure."

~Maggot