Bearded Dragon Brumation Signs Chart
A bearded dragon brumation signs chart: what brumation looks like, when it happens, how long it lasts, and how to tell normal brumation from illness.
Quick answer: Brumation is a natural winter slowdown in bearded dragons over about a year old. Signs include more sleeping, hiding in cool dark spots, reduced or absent appetite, less basking, and digging. A brumating dragon still looks healthy with clear eyes and stable weight. Weight loss, sunken eyes, discharge, or runny stool point to illness instead, so see a reptile vet if in doubt.
The first time a bearded dragon slows down and stops eating, it can be alarming. Often it is brumation, the reptile version of hibernation, which is completely normal. The key is telling a healthy resting dragon apart from a sick one. The chart below lays out the signs side by side.
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Brumation vs illness signs
| Sign | Normal brumation | Possible illness |
|---|---|---|
| Eyes | Clear and bright when awake | Sunken, dull, or crusty |
| Weight | Stable | Steady loss |
| Color | Normal | Dark stress marks |
| Stool | None (not eating) or normal | Runny or foul smelling |
| Mouth and nose | Clean | Mucus or bubbling |
| Activity when warmed | Can rouse and move normally | Stays limp or weak |
| Age | Usually over 12 months | Any age, including babies |
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How to support a brumating dragon
Before deep brumation, give your dragon about a week of warmth with no food so its gut fully empties, since food left in a cooling digestive system can rot. Provide a cool, dark hide, keep the enclosure clean, and offer water during a warm soak every week or two. Do not force food. Weigh your dragon weekly so you can spot any worrying weight loss.
If the signs match the illness column, especially in a dragon under a year old, treat it as a health concern rather than a natural rest. Compare what you see against the healthy versus sick signs chart and learn more about the process in our guide to what brumation is. When in doubt, a reptile vet exam and fecal test settle the question quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the signs a bearded dragon is brumating?
The classic signs of brumation are increased sleeping, hiding in cool dark corners, reduced or absent appetite, less basking, lower activity, and sometimes digging. These changes usually appear gradually in the cooler months in dragons over about a year old. A brumating dragon still looks healthy: clear eyes, normal weight, and good color. That healthy appearance is what separates brumation from illness.
When do bearded dragons brumate?
Brumation most often begins in fall or winter as days shorten and temperatures cool, though captive dragons can brumate at other times since their internal clocks vary. It typically starts after about 12 months of age. Babies under a year rarely brumate, so a young dragon showing these signs is more likely sick and should see a reptile vet.
How long does brumation last?
Brumation can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months, commonly one to three months. Some dragons go fully dormant while others slow down only partially, waking occasionally to drink or bask briefly. There is no fixed schedule, so follow your dragon's lead. The dragon will gradually become more active and start eating again when it is ready to come out.
How do I tell brumation from sickness?
A brumating dragon looks healthy: clear bright eyes, stable weight, normal color, and no discharge. A sick dragon usually shows weight loss, sunken eyes, lethargy even when warm, runny stool, mucus around the mouth or nose, or dark stress marks. If you are unsure, weigh your dragon weekly and have a reptile vet run a fecal test and exam before assuming brumation.
Should I feed a brumating bearded dragon?
Do not force food during brumation, since a cool, slowed digestive system cannot process it and undigested food can rot in the gut. Make sure the dragon has fully digested its last meal before deep brumation by allowing about a week of warmth and no food first. Offer fresh water and a warm soak every week or two, and let the dragon eat only if it chooses to during a brief wake period.
Do I need to do anything during brumation?
Keep the enclosure clean, provide a cool dark hide, and offer water during occasional warm soaks every week or two. Many keepers slightly reduce light hours and let temperatures fall a bit, but you can also simply let the dragon rest in its normal setup. Check on it regularly and weigh it weekly so you can catch any concerning weight loss that might signal a problem.
Why is my young bearded dragon acting like it is brumating?
A dragon under about a year old that is lethargic, hiding, and not eating is more likely ill than brumating, because true brumation is uncommon in babies that still need to grow. Possible causes include parasites, low temperatures, weak UVB, or impaction. Treat these signs in a young dragon as a reason to check husbandry carefully and consult a reptile vet rather than assuming a natural rest.
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