Pygmy BD's - brumation already

[porkosta]

Hi all,

My male Pygmy BD has started hiding and has been in his hide rock for the last week and a half. My female is showing no interest of slowing down and is active and feeding as normal.

The temp at the hot spot of the enclosure is sitting about 37-38 degrees. The lights are still on summer settings (7:30am - 8pm).

Should he be going into brumation this early?
What is the average time of the year that they should be allowed to brumate?

Thanks,
Andy

 

[Dave]

My Vitticeps have been in brumation for a few weeks.. they start to slow March-April.

 

[porkosta]

Really? I didn't think they would start for another month or two. When should they wake up?
I was aiming to lower light times around mid to the end of april.

 

[Dave]

August-September normally.. I put in shoe boxes with a hole cut in it and they go into them for brumation (some use sand so they can dig a burrow) I don't bother having the lights on at all.

Really? I didn't think they would start for another month or two. When should they wake up?
I was aiming to lower light times around mid to the end of april.

 

[porkosta]

Yeah I don't have to worry about the shoe boxes as they each have a hide rock on both end of the enclosure.

Thanks

 

[Lovemydragons]

Yeah my two girls have been sleeping for 3-4 weeks. I thought it was a bit early and was getting worried. So I woke them both up the other day, got the biggest greezies from both of them. So I got out a bunch of crickets for them, they both looked at me stupid and the crickets were just running away and hiding, one took a couple but still greezed me again.

They haven't touched their salad/vegies in weeks either, it just dries up and goes yuk. So do I bother putting any food in at all??

I would also like to know when I should change to winter light/temp times?

 

[Dragoness]

My boy is getting very sleepy as well, has been for the past few weeks. I was also a little worried that it was a bit early as I couldnt remember him going this early last year. Then I remembered that last year daylights savings ended a month earlier, so while it make seem early to me, the days are definately much shorter. My guys still eats a little. wont touch his veggies so as of today Im not offering them and if I take him out and put in feeding container, he refuses to eat, if I offer the woodies to him one by one in his tank he'll humour me and eat some, lol. Ill be changing my lighting etc this weekend when daylight savings ends (have already changed his times a little, but will do properly this weekend)

Cheers

 

[Lovemydragons]

ok, so what would your times be after daylight savings has gone back??

How many hours of daylight and heat do they need? And what temps do they need now?

 

[JasonL]

Brumation times can vary depending on location, heating, enclosure design, health of your dragon, temperment of your dragon, if it's housed with other dragons....and the list goes on.. I have had dragons go into brumation in Feb., but usually later. I offer similar heating year round, though drop the amount of time the heating is on during winter from 9 hours down to about 5. They will often go into brumation without any change of temperature in their enclosure, they notice differences in ambient temps ect that just can't be avoided. It is also common that some dragons will eat small amounts all through winter, it does not effect their breeding if they do this.

 

[Dragoness]

Like Jason, I dont change the heating, it stays the same year round, but is just on for alot less hours over winter. Currently his light comes on around 8am and goes off around 5pm. From this weekend Ill probably change that to coming on between 8 & 9, and going off between 3 & 4. Im not sure if dragons are like horses and change their body clocks with the length of the days (not the temp), but my guy has access to lots of natural light and as soon as they days started getting shorter, he started slowing down.
As for temps, I dont have a therm in my tank, so not sure of the exact temp. Im a fairly laid back owner, lol. He has a bit open tank that has just mesh over the top, so stays cool except under his heat lamp. I figure as long as he has access to warmth and coolness he'll be right. Has worked for me for years now. I dont however breed, think the temp thing is much more important if you're breeding.

Cheers