Signs of brumation (reptile hibernation) include reduced activity, sleeping more, seeking cooler/darker spots, and a significant decrease or stop in eating, with sluggish movement and less pooping as they prepare for a long rest, but crucially, they won't lose significant weight, distinguishing it from illness. You'll notice them spending more time hiding or burrowing, showing less interest in food or handling, and generally becoming more lethargic as temperatures drop.
Now when a dragon is brumating or wanting to brumate, they'll show one or more of the following signs; lack of appetite at times, wanting to stay inside their hide or cave, wanting to sleep a lot, but when awakened they're fully perky and alert and maintain a strong and healthy body posture.
In the wild, brumation would last three to four months.
It can be disconcerting if your bearded dragon goes into brumation and then disappears for months on end. If you start to worry, just peek in on your dragon from time to time or even every day to make sure he is still breathing.
This condition generally occurs in the winter, when temperatures cool, or when lack of food or extreme heat make it necessary for the lizard or snake to slow its metabolism and conserve its energy. "Brumation is a state of sluggishness, inactivity, or torpor exhibited by reptiles..."
Healthy adult bearded dragons can go without food for up to seven to 10 days under normal circumstances. Some may survive longer during brumation (a type of reptilian hibernation). Juvenile or baby bearded dragons should not go more than a few days without food.
Bearded dragons still require access to water during brumation. They may not accept water, but having a small dish available and dripping some water for them while they are awake typically is sufficient for offering a source of hydration.
The most common causes of death in bearded dragons often stem from improper husbandry, leading to conditions like Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) (due to lack of UVB/Calcium), severe parasitic infections (like nematodes), or Atadenovirus (ADV), a highly contagious and often fatal virus causing liver/gut issues. Other frequent culprits include impaction from eating prey that's too large, respiratory infections, and systemic organ failure, with inflammatory diseases being a top category in pathology studies.
It is usually best to just leave your Bearded dragon to do their own thing if they start to brumate.
Starting Brumation
Also reduce the amount of time that lights and heat sources are on each day, with 6 hours of light (“day”) and 18 hours of darkness (“night”). 1 week before brumation is scheduled to begin, turn off the beardie's heat lamp and any other heat sources, and maintain the same daily schedule for the UVB.
Brumation
Adult bearded dragons may go into brumation, a reptile version of hibernation, especially in the winter months. During this time, they eat and move less, or not at all, and may not poop for weeks or even months.
The ideal temperature for brumation is 41 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas temperatures below 35 degrees Fahrenheit can be dangerous, and temperatures more than 60 degrees Fahrenheit are too warm.
What you're likely seeing is a natural process called brumation, a hibernation-like state that some bearded dragons go through, especially in cooler months. During brumation, your dragon might sleep more, eat less, and spend extra time hiding or burrowing.
Provide fresh water daily, as dehydration can be a significant risk during brumation. Some reptiles may soak in their water dish before entering brumation, so make sure the water is clean and accessible.
7 Signs Your Bearded Dragon May Be Sick
They also experience brumation, which is a form of hibernation unique to reptiles. The big question on many pet owners' minds is whether bearded dragons brumate with their eyes open or not. The answer is yes, bearded dragons can indeed brumate with their eyes open.
Brumation isn't as deep as hibernation. Gently touch them and you'll still see a small amount of movement. In a deceased beardie, their mouth may fall open, beard may be black, the body can look bloated (from decomp gasses) and the eyes will be very sunken.
If their terrarium is too cold, bearded dragons may attempt to regulate their body temperature by flattening out in order to absorb as much heat as possible. If you notice your dragon pancaking a lot in his tank, this is likely the cause.
Being a diurnal species, bearded dragons need a day and night cycle. According to data on sunrise and sunset times in bearded dragons' natural habitat in Australia, a cycle of 14 hours/day during summer and 10 hours/day during winter (with gradual adjustments in-between) is appropriate.
Red heat bulbs are an outdated and potentially harmful tool in modern reptile care; They interfere with natural behaviors, disrupt sleep cycles, and put off inferior and inadequate levels of heat.
Bearded dragons are naturally curious and active reptiles. A healthy dragon will spend time basking, exploring its enclosure, and occasionally interacting with its environment. Lethargy, lack of movement, or hiding more than usual could suggest an underlying health issue OR seasonal brumation.
Do reptiles eat during brumation? Most reptiles stop eating completely, or eat very little. Always provide fresh water in a suitable water dish as they will wake to drink.
In a nutshell, brumation is to reptiles what hibernation is to mammals. When temperatures begin to drop to cooler climates and the days begin to get shorter, reptiles seek out a warm, safe hiding place where their metabolism slows to the bare minimum and they rest until the climate changes again for spring time.
Wrinkled or sunken skin: Skin may look loose, dry, or “accordion-like.” Sunken eyes: Eyes may appear dull or recessed. Lack of urates or dry urates: White chalky waste should be soft—chalky or absent urates suggest dehydration. Lethargy: A normally active lizard or snake that stays hidden or sluggish may be dehydrated.
Bring It To Animal Services: Call your local animal services (click this map of the USA for the phone number in your county - I list every county in the USA) and ask if they can accept a dead animal body for proper disposal.
Bearded dragons can safely eat scrambled eggs.
They can also eat hard boiled eggs. Just remember these pointers: Adult bearded dragons should eat no more than half an egg at a time, max. If you're scrambling the egg, don't mix any additional ingredients with it.