brumation - awaken to bathe?

[riley2012]

Hi.

I have a female bearded dragon, Riley, who is about 15 months old. About 8 months ago, this past spring, she went into brumation on and off for about four months. The past couple of days she seems to be going into brumation again. She spent the entire yesterday sleeping in her cool hidespot, and didn't eat at all. Normally, she is awake all day, eats well, has active periods during the day, and sleeps at night.

My question is this: is it better to leave her undisturbed and allow the brumation to proceed naturally, or should I wake her for baths and food? I normally give Riley baths three times per week. Last week, after a day and a half of sleeping, I woke Riley for a bath. Following the bath, she was active for a few days. She ate well the day of the bath, but ate less than usual the following days. Is it better for me to wake her from her sleep for baths and food, or allow her to brumate undisturbed?

In case it's helpful, here is info about Riley's environment: Riley is in a 40 gallon terrarium. The basking side is 110 degrees, the cool side is 80 degrees with a hide spot. There is a 72 watt halogen bulb and a 60 watt ceramic heat emitter on the basking side, and a 24 inch 10.0 output UVB across the terrarium. The substrate is shelf liner.

Thanks for your help!

[murrindindi]

Hi, I responded on the other forum and the answer is still exactly the same; you should NOT disturb the lizard if it`s brumating unless it`s an emergency. They will not starve or become dehydrated during normal brumation otherwise they would all soon be quite dead, both in captivity and the wild whenever they did that. You are also putting the animal at great risk by offering food during that time because there`s a real risk of it rotting in the lizard`s stomach when the metabolism has slowed.
You give the temps as 110 down to 80f, I take it the highest figure is the surface temp at the basking site? Also, can you give the humidity range?

[Lankyrob]

Why are you bathing it three times a week?

[riley2012]

Murrindini and Lankyrob, thanks for your help!

Murrindini, 110 is the surface temperature at the basking site. I haven't measured the humidity level. I've taken over care of the lizard from my son, who is away for the year, and he checked the humidity levels in our home and told me that our home level is good for our bearded dragon. The water bowl is very small, so I don't think it adds much humidity.

Lankyrob, regarding bathing three times a week, it was recommended by a vet. We brought Riley to a vet at the end of her last brumation period, concerned about the change in her eating habits. The vet recommended frequent baths. Riley sometimes, but not always, drinks in the bath. Is there a reason that you asked? Do you think three baths/week is not a good idea?

Thanks!

[Lankyrob]

Personally i would say that if a lizard needs bathing then the enclosure isnt providing the right conditions for it.

[murrindindi]

Hi again, contrary to popular belief (that includes many vets outside of Australia), they DO require a moderate humidity, and a range between approx 30 to 50%+ is perfectly fine.
I hear so many times on these websites about how people bathe them in order to help them shed their skin or keep them hydrated, but with proper conditions in the enclosure there should be no need. There`s nothing wrong with giving them a soak on occasion because they do seem to "enjoy" the experience, using it as a "band-Aid" to fix health problems is a mistake.
They DO come from some very arid areas, but it`s not like that 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, otherwise they`d quite quickly dehydrate in the wild and probably have become extinct (and they most certainly have not)!

[lisas]

I do soaks - I thought they were necessary. She seems to enjoy them so I think I'll keep them up. I actually saw her in her water dish soaking herself the other day, so they shouldn't let themselves dehydrate if there is a large water dish in the tank. I rinse the greens I feed her as well.