Normal time of year to slowdown/brumate

[TheBeard9789]

Hey guys my 2 girls are slowing down it's been little over a week ago this has started to happen my Amber has her days. Amber will pop out too eat then bask for a hour or so then pop back into her hide and some days she is alert but won't budge all day. Chubbs is completely opposite and today is the first day I forced her out (bath and bugs) otherwise she hasn't been out in almost a week.

I know it's getting colder we get 60-80 degree days and 40-50 degree nights (their temps go know lower than 69 at night)

 

[xp29]

The light cycle is getting noticeably shorter also. A few weeks ago it was getting daylight here by 5 a.m. i could have my guys outside by 5:30 now it's not daylight enough to even put them out at all before i leave for work. They are perceptive to that also, and when combined with cooler temps they think it's a great time for a nap lol 2 of my 5 are being really lazy too. Ruby stays in her hide all day most days and Sweet Pea refuses to give her bed up. If i don't take it away she stays in it all day now.

 

[Claudiusx]

My part of California just had a massive heat wave for the past 3 weeks. Kiki started her slow down at the beginning of it. Temps at night here are still staying in the 70s inside.

They do what they want.. LOL.

-Brandon

 

[Chris.]

My boy is slowing down as well for some time now. Some days he's in his hide all day, other days he's out but avoiding his basking spot until i fed him in the afternoon and put him on it. At the Moment I'm looking at him and he is like blinking for 10s straight (it's 6pm and his lights go out at 8pm).
I took him out of his hide twice this week for feeding and bathing but it feels strage. Like invading his privacy

Like Claudiusx said it's been really hot here as well, one night was 78 and the days get to 100.

 

[TheBeard9789]

The light cycle is getting noticeably shorter also. A few weeks ago it was getting daylight here by 5 a.m. i could have my guys outside by 5:30 now it's not daylight enough to even put them out at all before i leave for work. They are perceptive to that also, and when combined with cooler temps they think it's a great time for a nap lol 2 of my 5 are being really lazy too. Ruby stays in her hide all day most days and Sweet Pea refuses to give her bed up. If i don't take it away she stays in it all day now.

@Claudiusx @Chris So I'm not the only one who's experiencing this that's a relief

On a side note instead of making a new thread my Chubbs was/is in the process of shedding and as I said in this post she is slowing down.

Should I allow her to slowdown? Or should I bathe her every few days just so she can soak? I could make a vet appointment and see if they can get the shed off and just give her a general exam.

 

[Claudiusx]

There is nothing wrong with shedding and brumating. By nature, dragon owners seem to like to find something to worry about, LOL. Complications from shedding is something I can count on one hand in my 20 years of experience and 1000's of dragons I've seen on this site. And it all involved horrible living conditions.

FWIW, if I had to bet money, I'd bet that soaking doesn't actually help with shedding like most people think it does. Dragons skin doesn't absorb water like our skin or other creatures who need high humidity levels to shed.

-Brandon

 

[TheBeard9789]

There is nothing wrong with shedding and brumating. By nature, dragon owners seem to like to find something to worry about, LOL. Complications from shedding is something I can count on one hand in my 20 years of experience and 1000's of dragons I've seen on this site. And it all involved horrible living conditions.

FWIW, if I had to bet money, I'd bet that soaking doesn't actually help with shedding like most people think it does. Dragons skin doesn't absorb water like our skin or other creatures who need high humidity levels to shed.

-Brandon

I generally soak when they can't get shed off otherwise I soak 2-3 times a week they seem to like to poop every time I bathe them. Chubbs has always had a tougher time shedding than Amber and I have no idea why . I'll keep a eye on it and help Chubbs out when she needs it

 

[xp29]

I never really found soaking to expedite shedding either. Sure the stuff that is loose anyways comes off, but the shed that hasn't released yet don't seem to be affected by soaking very much. I've tried shed ease and such as well, the only thing I've seen that do is relax the shed a bit, but it didn't speed the process. I do find it useful however on the legs and tail if the shed seems restrictive. It seems to let it be a little more stretchy after the shed ease soaks in.

 

[Chris.]

My part of California just had a massive heat wave for the past 3 weeks. Kiki started her slow down at the beginning of it. Temps at night here are still staying in the 70s inside.

They do what they want.. LOL.

-Brandon

Not directly related but another question for someone more experienced.
What is the most important temperature to hit right? Basking spot, hot side or cool side? With those crazy outside temps it's really hard to hit all three all the time even with a dimmer. Rearranging things all the time must be quite stressfull for them I imagine.

 

[xp29]

Basking and cool side

 

[Chris.]

Got those, only struggeling right now to get more than a hot corner as opposed to a hot side....