One day, your active, hungry bearded dragon decides to go into their hide and simply… not come out. They refuse to eat. They sleep for days at a time.

For a new owner, this is terrifying. Is he sick? Is he dying?

Don’t panic. Your dragon is likely going through Brumation.

As we briefly mentioned in our Health & Wellness Guide, brumation is the reptile equivalent of hibernation. It is a completely natural survival instinct, but it can be stressful for owners who don’t know what to expect.

This guide will explain exactly what is happening to your pet and how to manage it safely.

What is Brumation?

In the Australian wild, temperatures drop during the winter months. Food becomes scarce. To survive, bearded dragons slow their metabolism down to a near-halt. They find a burrow, curl up, and “shut down” to conserve energy until spring returns.

In captivity, even though your tank lights are warm, your dragon’s biological clock can still sense the change in seasons (air pressure, ambient room temperature, shorter days outside).

Who brumates?

• Adults (12+ months): Very common.
• Babies/Juveniles (< 1 year): They should NOT brumate. Babies need to eat constantly to grow. If your baby dragon is lethargic, it is likely sick, not brumating. Check our guide on Signs of Sickness immediately.

Signs Your Dragon is Brumating

Brumation looks a lot like laziness, but more extreme.

• Excessive Sleeping: They may sleep for 24 hours straight, or even weeks.
• Hiding: They will seek out the coolest, darkest part of the tank (usually inside a cave).
• Loss of Appetite: They will stop eating entirely. Do not force feed them.
• Grumpiness: They might hiss or look annoyed if you try to disturb them.

The Critical Check: Brumation vs. Illness

This is the most important part. Sickness and Brumation look identical (lethargy, no appetite). How do you tell the difference?

The Weight Test

• Healthy Brumation: A dragon will lose very little weight (maybe 5-10 grams over months) because their metabolism has stopped. They aren’t burning calories.
• Sickness/Parasites: A sick dragon will lose weight rapidly. You will see their fat pads deflate and their tail get thin.

Pro Tip: Buy a kitchen gram scale. Weigh your dragon before they go into deep sleep. Weigh them once every two weeks. If their weight is stable, let them sleep. If they are losing weight fast, wake them up and go to the vet.

How to Care for a Brumating Dragon

Just because they are asleep doesn’t mean you ignore them.

1. Hydration is Key: Even if they don’t eat, they need water. Once a week, gently take them out and give them a lukewarm bath for 15 minutes. They might drink, poop, or just sleep through it. Then, dry them off and put them back in their cave.
2. Adjust the Lights: Some owners choose to reduce the daylight hours (e.g., from 12 hours to 8 hours) to mimic winter. Others leave the lights normal. Both methods are fine, but ensure the heat is still available if they choose to wake up.
3. Stop Feeding: This is crucial. Do not feed a dragon that is about to sleep. If they eat and then go into the cold to sleep, the food will rot in their stomach (literally) because they need heat to digest. Make sure their stomach is empty before they go into full brumation.

Waking Up

Brumation can last anywhere from a few weeks to 3 or 4 months. One day, they will simply pop their head out, look around, and act like nothing happened.

When they wake up:

• Turn the lights back to the normal summer schedule.
• Offer water immediately.
• Offer fresh greens and calcium-dusted insects. They will be hungry!

Summary

Brumation is a waiting game. It is boring for the owner, but essential for the dragon.

• Don’t panic.
• Do weigh them regularly.
• Don’t force them to eat.

Unsure if your dragon is brumating or actually ill? Compare their symptoms with our list of 7 Signs Your Bearded Dragon Is Sick to be safe.

Now, find out what your dragon is trying to tell you when it moves its head: Read our Body Language Guide!.