Winter Brumation?

[AMoriarty]

Does anybody here brumate (it's like hibernation, but a little different) their geckos in the winter? I find my gecko kind of naturally starts acting sluggish in the winter as the temperatures and amount of daylight here in the northeast US drop, and I am wondering if I should just go with it, drop the temps, and officially brumate her. I've already adjusted her light timer.

Does anyone else has experience with brumating their geckos on purpose?
Any drawbacks, advantages, stories?

I have been doing some research at the library and online, and everything I read says that brumation may be good if you plan on breeding your leo. As and I am thinking about breeding my leo next year, is there anyone who has tried this?

What were the results? Thoughts welcome from breeders and non-breeders alike.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

I have never brumated my leopard geckos, as they seem to cycle themselves based on the shorter sunlight hours in the Fall. When the days start becoming longer than the night sometime in January or February, they will start ovulating.

 

[LZRDGRL]

I don't do it, either.

Chrissy

 

[animeavatar]

Mine brumates by itself without me wanting it.

 

[Desdemona]

I have one that brumates by choice as well.. but I am to nervous to do so on purpose. The one is a pretty light "brumator" (if there is such a thing) but I have a Bearded Dragon who does the "real" thing and this previous time she did so I was worried she was just dead the whole time! (I spent a lot of time checking). I rather like them alert and obviously alive.

(I should probably add that I'm a bit paranoid of pets dieing... I've had a lot since I use to be a rodent girl.. so lots of naturally short lived pets.. add numerous fish to that tally too).

 

[animeavatar]

How do beardies brumate? My gecko only brumated once so far. I was so scared I thought something was wrong. I would wake it up to make sure it was alive

 

[grboxa]

what temperatures should you avoid...mine are 75 surface for cool side

 

[animeavatar]

Maybe under 19C