Gus the Rescue Beardie...

[Julirs]

I picked up this Beardie last Saturday. Besides being huge, a year old, in a 20 gallon tank, and having no UVB-he seems OK-beleive it or not. I do not know when he last ate, drank, or last pooped. Since the temps crashed here in FL into the 20's a week ago-my other Beardie seems to be brumating. She actually slowed her eating way down over a month ago. The new guy has not eaten since I have had him, I have not seen him drink, and he mostly just sits on his log looking sleepy all day, and at night moves to a flat out sleeping position. I really want to get him on regular calcium and supplements and well gut loaded food, but I am not sure if I should disturb him from brumation. I would also like to get him in the tub as they have never swam him. What do you guys think?
I also posted this on the Beardie forum-but I know alot of you guys here keep Beardies too.

 

[chams1]

I would send an e-mail to Darci (Vegas Darci) at Tiki Tiki Reptiles. She breeds beardies and would know what to do. I have a pair of beardies, too, but I am still learning as well.

 

[Chase]

Probably brumating. A male and female I have, decided to go into it by themselves. But, in about two-three weeks see if you can get the temps up to get them to get out of it. But do it slowly.

 

[Julirs]

I would send an e-mail to Darci (Vegas Darci) at Tiki Tiki Reptiles. She breeds beardies and would know what to do. I have a pair of beardies, too, but I am still learning as well.

Darci is where my other Beardie came from-I will certainly send her a message.

 

[jojackson]

Im with linkinpark Juli, though if your unable to heat the new housing or boost the photoperiod, let it brumate and warmer temps will see it happy come spring.
note: this will depend on its overall condition.
If you do slowly increase the temps, then increase the photoperiod proportionately.
Beardys are pretty hardy though and some decent temps may see it eat immeadiatly, though if no bright light has previously been provided, it will very likely be in brumation mode.
Never the less, even during brumation, there will hot days here and there and beardys will wake and take advantage. Be sparing with food to start but still offer atleast once a week, prefrably after a few hours of heat. They do eat even during brumation, though not nearly as much or as often.
Ive never turned off heat entirely during winter cooling (brumation), using a timer to provide atleast 3-4 hrs of heat a day.
If your not planning on breeding him immeadiately, then brumation is not nessesary nor lack of it harmful. If you dont know when it last ate, then provide some heat just in case.
A nice warmish bath 25c/77f wont hurt it at all and will produce a poo.