Can I hold, bathe, or give water to my dragon during brumation?

Thanks for reaching out about Pumpkin and including a photo. Brumation is caused by a drop of environmental temperature. If environmental temperature is maintained, then you need to consider Pumpkin being ill and a veterinary visit is recommended. Try offering water through a syringe. Good luck.

A small bit of food likely won't cause any issues, just don't offer any more food for the next two weeks. Monitor for defecation so you know he's digested and passed any food. Make sure Flash remains well hydrated. An exam with your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles prior to brumation would be recommended to confirm Flash is healthy enough for his "nap". Once he begins brumating, monitor him monthly for weight loss (>1% body weight), nasal discharge or urination. If you notice any of these issues or if he is too active in his burrow or box, consider having him examined and brought out of brumation.

Thanks for reaching out about Lizzie. Brumation is triggered by a drop in temperature in the environment and shortening day length. If you have a heating element on your system, the temperature should not be dropping. Being quiet and secretive for two days is concerning, as they usually remain active up to the time they lay, not for several days prior. If she is egg bound, a veterinary visit is recommended. Calcium injections and a drug to induce egg laying (oxytocin) can be given to stimulate egg production. She could be sick for other reasons with kidney disease being common in aging bearded dragons. If she is still eating, you have a little time. If not, she needs to visit a veterinarian. Good luck.

Submit a stool sample to your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth. Confirm proper environmental parameters. Low temperatures can affect activity, appetite and digestion in reptiles. Soak him in a warm 50 /50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 20 minutes. This can warm him up and may treat or prevent minor dehydration. Offer appropriately sized crickets and mealworms as well as fresh, chopped greens and fruits. Follow the link below for more information regarding care. http://www.anapsid.org/waterdragons.html

Consider a recheck with a veterinarian experienced in treating reptiles. You can find one here: http://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661 In the meantime, maintain proper environmental conditions. You can even increase tank temps by 5-10 degrees F to aid in recovery. Soak Falcor daily in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 15-20 minutes. This will provide hydration. You can supplement him with Fluker's Repta-Boost. Find it in the local Petco or online. Keep his eyes clean by rinsing with sterile saline and a soft cloth. He may need different antibiotics and to have the affected area cleaned and flushed. It is never recommended to allow an ill dragon to brumate. Increasing the photo-period along with the increase in temp may bring him out of brumation, but his lethargy is more likely due to illness.

When soaking a bearded dragon to increase hydration, I recommend having a Tupperware container that is only used for Phantom (reptiles have the potential to shed Salmonella when they don't feel well, and we don't want to cross contaminate anything in your home). You also want to get a thermometer (a human one will work) to measure the temperature of the water. Ideally it will be 90F for soaking. It can be chin deep, as long as Phantom can hold his head up. if you are doing this for maintenance (i.e. he is not sick), you can soak twice weekly for 15-20 minutes. If you are doing this because Phantom is sick or dehydrated, then I would recommend soaking him twice daily for 15-20 minutes. I personally don't utilize Pedialyte for soaking bearded dragons, as it can get quite sticky and sometimes they don't like the taste of it. Often they will drink while in their baths, and after that will urinate and defecate. I hope that helps to answer your question, and good luck!

Give him some time to settle down. If the heavy breathing persists or if you hear wheezing, popping or see discharge from his nose or mouth then have him examined by an experienced herp veterinarian. If possible, contact your friend and ask if Draco has ever exhibited this behavior in the past. He could be stressed to begin with at the absence of his owner.