Bartl - a bearded dragon after his winter hibernation

I got my bearded dragon in August 2011 when he was 5 months old, couple of months later he went to his winter hibernation. A fascinating time!
There is lot of information about winter hibernation of bearded dragons, but I couldnt found any clear inforamation on how to determine if "Bartl" would do one or not.
Mid of October he was eating less, was a bit restless and was trying to hide in our living room behind the book shelf. Usually he is very active and is running around. So I thought I am preparing him his cave and add some straw (dried gras for rabbits). And indeed couple of days later at the 22nd of October Bartl was sleeping underneeth of all the straw in his cave within the terrarium.
I reduced the lighting during the upcomming week to a minimum so that the plants in the terrarium have enough light and the the temperature is not going over 23° Celsius.
Read the full storry and get the latest images at:
beardeddragonsi...

[@4evervescence]

Handsome , happy and well loved beardie. Your enclosures are awesome. I love how he can clibm the textured wall of the outdoor enclosure and the large plant you have in there.

[@Laereal]

Great video clips! You've got excellent indoor & sunny outdoor terrariums. If every dragon owner had setups like this there wouldn't be any cold, unhappy beardies =D Being in the southern hemisphere Ish (my beardie) is brumating at the moment, due to wake up oct-nov, depending on when it heats up again. Ish is blue-grey phase but looks orange because the red sand I brought back from the Simpson Desert stains his skin. Looks like your little guy is actually a bright orange phase, lucky! Kath

[@BeardedDragonsInfo]

Start slowly with him. Let him first feel comfortable in his new terrarium. When you take him out you can feed him some goodies by hand, i.e. strawberries (mine is loving them), cricket. When you take him out make sure he as a warm place to stay, he is still a dessert creatures!

[@BeardedDragonsInfo]

No necessarily, it depens on what kind of gene your bearded dragon has. Mine is doing it, and actually he is hybernatign already now beginnign of September! Thats also a bit early but when he is start hybernating I simple reduce the light/heat in the terrarium and saving energy costs! :-) More information on my website, just follow the link in the video description.

[@BeardedDragonsInfo]

Great that could help. Mine is going a bit earlier into brumation as last year as he is since end of August very inactive and is sleeping on his wood. Will see how he is doing over the autumn and winter. :-)

[@Tw1zzl3rs]

Thank you so much for the reply, I'll try and find that for my beardie. Love your enclosure btw, very beautiful and natural :)

[@BeardedDragonsInfo]

Hi Jacob, yes I am always using the same reptile sand. I am glad that you like my videos and also that they of any use for you. You need to watch the video "How to build a desert terrarium for a bearded dragon (pogona vitticeps)" as i am showing here the full step-by-step approach.

[@kievithunter]

I watched your video on how to build desert terrarium, and i had a few questions what kindof tile adhesive did you use, do you have to seal it .

[@BeardedDragonsInfo]

I used a epoxy resin coating that makes the bottom water resistant. I have done this as I am having natural plants in it with an autoamtic watering system. Just make sure to let it dry well (3-5 days) before you fill in the dessert sand.

[@Tw1zzl3rs]

What is the substrate you are using? Dried out potting soil? Looks very natural

[@steph30606]

would it be easier for him to eat if carrots where in small cubes

[@legomonkeyfilms5544]

yeah he dident.mine is a red bearded dragon. even when he dident hibernate is that bad?

[@BeardedDragonsInfo]

Yes he likes fresh green salad, strawberries and carots.

[@BeardedDragonsInfo]

Thanks. Actually, this year he went into his hybernation beginning of September, will see how long he will be in winter hibernation. :-)

[@tommysouk2031]

Make more videos!

[@Joblesscloth]

Well duh all animals pee

[@papabur503]

Thank you for this, I'm new to bearded dragon ownership and have both a male and a female. The female is smaller then the male and started hibernation much sooner then he did but its been a couple months now and I'm starting to get worried about her..Glad to know its normal for the brumation to last longer then 2 months and I feel a little relieved now..

[@beardiebrothers99]

What medicine should I use to heal a burn tail

[@joewaters5348]

Mine is about 6 months and hasn't done this yet but that may be because we got him in December, cool video by the way.

[@jessicawalker9110]

where did you guys get your set up from?

[@Rmantvg]

Can anyone answer this, i just got a beardie like 2 weeks ago, and hes very well adjusted and calm. He stays calm when i take him out to handle, but if i let him roam freely he walks over to his tank and starts trying to climb back in, ii dont want to keep him out if he doesnt want to be, but i want to handle him. Is this because hes young? i think he's only like 4-5 months old

[@SapphireStepMAC]

Do bearded dragons pee? :o I want to know cause my lizards pee on me :(

[@BeardedDragonsInfo]

I am using a reptile sand/clay similar to the one i have posted on Bartls website beardeddragonsinfo.blogspot.co.at/2011/08/decoration-of-dessert-terrarium-for-my.html is natural, keeping lot of moisture and creates good climate.

[@redactedredacted6843]

Is the substrate shown on you website the sand you always use? I've been reading around and keep reading conflicting articles on what is safe and what to use? I am building my own vivarium so my bearded dragon has a bigger awesome home and your videos helped inspire me!!!!

[@thomastryon1477]

Nice! What did you use for the walls the lizard is climbing on?

[@4sences]

so do bearded dragons always hibernate or is there something wrong with mine!!!!!!!!!?????????????!!!!!!!

[@legomonkeyfilms5544]

Wow that's weird my bearded dragon is 7 months and he is 17 and a half in and. Only getting bigger ;)

[@BeardedDragonsInfo]

I think thats false too. Some beardies wants to go into the hyernation others not, but this is not depending on the age. Just make sure you have a humid climate and lower the temperture to room temperature ~20 Degree Celsius. Your beardie will wake up when he/she thinks its time.

[@BeardedDragonsInfo]

is your bearded dragon doing a winter hibernation or not? Because if not this might be the explanation why your dragon is bigger. i am also not quite sure but I assume that different dragon types getting different sizes.

[@BeardedDragonsInfo]

not at all, it depends on the type of bearded dragons. Some do hibernate some don't. I am just glad that mine is doing one as it saves me food an light for 4 months! :-)

[@MorganConstrictors]

Cute beardie. He seems to like his carrot slices!

[@BeardedDragonsInfo]

Ha, maybe but i dont have enought time to cut the carrots into little cubes! :-)

[@evenifitkillsme572]

Lol

[@therealalexmullins]

How difficult is that to clean? I've seen some people have "bio" dirt for Savannah monitors that basically cleans itself with bacteria. I currently just have sand and slate for the substrate which my dragon only poops on the slate so it's super easy to clean. I'd like to go to a sand dirt mix for burrowing especially since she started laying eggs.

[@BeardedDragonsInfo]

Every second day Bartl is placing his poo pretty always on the same place. When he is in winter hybernation no pooing at all. So its quite easy to clean and handle.

[@BeardedDragonsInfo]

Hi Matt, you can try not to reduce the light and temperature over your winter months. But keep in mind a brumation keeps your bearded dragon healthy and we will live longer.

[@barokikaw01]

what temp should i give to my bearded dragon during hibernation?

[@BeardedDragonsInfo]

When my bearded dragon starts to hide in his cave for a longer period (couple of days) I start recducig the grightest lights (sun spots) one every second day. So the temperature goes continually down. Within a week the only light are the neon lights and I keep them because I want to see my terrerium in the living room. :-) So my bearded dragon has a temperature of around 23 Degree Celsius. During his hibernation i spray every day the plants and walls with water to keep the moisture high. I do this for the plants as they can relax as well but also for my bearded dragon.

[@mattlietz5253]

Hello is there anyway to prevent brumation i done wan to go months without playing with my beardie or do they not brumation if they aren't gonna breed because i dont plan to breed mine

[@grantrichter6477]

Beautiful leatherback! And nice terrarium. My beardie doesn't hibernate but he is over 2 yrs old and is still small

[@BeardedDragonsInfo]

Bartl has hibernated during the first winter, this year he decided not to do so. Not sure what the root cause is, but he is now very active the whole day and is even climbing on plants, curtains,...

[@124085]

So envious of that enclosure

[@BeardedDragonsInfo]

Thanks, whas lot of work but it worked out. :-)

[@spiritnc2031]

mine is still in brumation😤

[@BeardedDragonsInfo]

mine seem to be fit all winter, not doing any brumation at all.

[@joewaters5348]

Do they only do this when they're older?

[@BeardedDragonsInfo]

I think this has nothing to do with the age, some bearded dragon will do hibernation others don't. Mine is doing this somethimes, so not every winter, a bit strange, but he took some rest over autumn. :-)