Mary Allen
The annual hibernation of bearded dragons not only increases their life expectancy but also strengthens their immune system. That is why you give your animals this time out because it is beneficial for them. In addition, the bearded dragons usually become very lazy on their own anyway and bury themselves in the sand because of the harsher climate.
A Break for the Bearded Dragon for Good Reasons
Hibernation is of fundamental importance for bearded dragons for a healthy immune system and thus for a long life expectancy. Furthermore, hibernation serves as an incentive for successful reproduction, an indication of how important hibernation is for the animals. Adequate hibernation is particularly important for young animals because if they eat all year round, they will grow too quickly, which promotes developmental problems and skeletal deformities.
Preparations for the Hibernation of the Bearded Dragons
It is very important that you have the bearded dragons’ droppings examined a few weeks in advance because then any treatment that may be due can be carried out before the hibernation period. Hibernation should only be carried out with healthy animals that are in a good nutritional state!
In preparation for the hibernation, reduce the lighting time and temperature continuously within a few weeks until you can finally pull the plug out completely. The animals then eat less of their own accord. You should by no means let them starve, but you should definitely refrain from feeding them insects and other delicacies. You can also bathe them to stimulate their digestion. This is a precautionary measure so that the leftover food in the bearded dragon’s body does not begin to ferment or rot.
Bearded Dragons Rest Better in Cool Temperatures
It is important that the temperature drops to around 17 to 20 ° C because this way the bearded dragons can rest better. Cooler temperatures are ideal, but this is usually difficult to achieve in living spaces. In any case, avoid temperatures of over 20 ° C, because this does not represent any real relaxation for the animals. However, do not forget that in winter an open window next to the terrarium can also make it too cold!
Do not Feed the Bearded Dragons During Hibernation
Ideally, the animals bury themselves in the slightly damp sand and do not reappear for about two months. But occasionally the animals appear or sleep completely outside the caves. However, they will not be fed even then, as bearded dragons cannot digest the food due to the now reduced metabolism. Now you can either wait until the animals finish their hibernation on their own or, after two to three months, gradually turn up the lighting and heating again within two weeks and thus end their hibernation. Then the bearded dragons gradually emerge from their hiding places. Then you can feed them normally again.