Updated October 2026 · By the Dragon's Diet Team · Health information reviewed against the veterinary sources listed at the end of this article.
Is your bearded dragon suddenly sleeping all day, hiding, and turning down food as the days get shorter? It may be getting ready to brumate. Brumation is a natural, winter slow-down, but it looks a lot like illness, and that's why it worries first-time keepers. This guide covers what brumation is, the signs, how long it lasts, how to tell brumation from a sick or dead dragon, and exactly what to do before, during, and after.
A wild central bearded dragon in Australia. Photo: Richard Fuller, via Wikimedia Commons (CC0).
What is brumation?
Short answer: Brumation is a period of winter dormancy in reptiles. A brumating bearded dragon sleeps much more, eats little or nothing, poops rarely, and hides, but it may still wake up to drink. VCA Animal Hospitals describes it as a type of torpor, similar to hibernation but not the same thing.
Bearded dragons are ectotherms: they rely on outside heat to stay warm, move, and digest. In their native Australia, winter (roughly May to August) brings cool days and cold nights, so wild dragons tuck themselves away underground, in burrows, or under logs and rocks and wait for warmer weather. VCA Animal Hospitals notes that wild brumation happens when daytime temperatures sit around 68–72°F and nights fall to around 40–44°F.
Do bearded dragons hibernate?
Not exactly. Hibernating mammals live on stored fat and usually don't wake to eat or drink. Brumating reptiles slow down in a lighter state and may wake to drink, shift position, or even bask briefly. It's normal for pet dragons to brumate, and it's also normal for some to never brumate at all.
When do bearded dragons brumate?
Short answer: In the U.S., most pet dragons that brumate slow down in late fall or winter, when days get shorter and homes get cooler, usually October through February. Some follow Australia's winter instead, around May to August. VCA notes that a dragon may brumate if the room stays below about 60°F for several days.
Do bearded dragons brumate every year, or in summer?
Patterns vary from dragon to dragon, and not every dragon brumates. Your bearded dragon may brumate:
- Every year during our cold season
- Every year during Australia's cold season (our late spring and summer)
- Every other year, or unpredictably
- Only once, or never
Watch for the signs below, but treat the timing as a clue, not proof. A dragon that slows down in a warm house, at the wrong time of year, or for the first time as a youngster needs a vet check before you assume brumation.
Bearded dragon brumation signs: how to know if your dragon is brumating
Short answer: Common brumation signs are sleeping more and going to bed earlier, less basking, eating less or refusing food, hiding or digging, pooping less often, darker color, and wanting to be left alone. The catch: lethargy and appetite loss are also early signs of illness, so a vet check comes first.
| Sign | What you might see |
|---|---|
| Sleeping more | Lights-out earlier, waking later, long naps in the cool end or a hide |
| Less interest in food | Skipping insects first, then refusing most food |
| Hiding or digging | Wedging into a cave, under décor, or trying to burrow |
| Fewer bowel movements | Poops spaced further apart, then stopping once the gut is empty |
| Darker color | VCA notes brumating dragons often look darker |
| Less social | Not interested in handling or coming to the glass |
Brumation or dead? Is my bearded dragon brumating, sick, or dead?
Short answer: You can't tell for sure at home, which is why VCA advises having your dragon seen by a veterinarian rather than assuming brumation. A brumating dragon is still breathing, responds slowly when gently touched, keeps its weight, and has normal eyes and skin. Weight loss, discharge, or weakness point to illness.
If this is your first dragon or its first brumation, a deep sleep can be frightening. A dragon in brumation is breathing (watch the sides rise and fall slowly), may open its eyes or shift a leg if you gently touch it, and holds its body and tail normally. If you can't see breathing and the dragon doesn't respond at all, call a reptile vet right away.
| What you notice | More typical of brumation | Call a reptile vet |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Stable on a weekly weigh-in | Any steady drop in weight (the RSPCA says brumating dragons shouldn't lose weight) |
| Activity | Sleepy, but wakes slowly and shifts position | Limp, weak, can't hold itself up, or no response to gentle touch |
| Eyes and skin | Normal, maybe darker overall | Sunken eyes, wrinkled or discolored skin, yellow crusts |
| Breathing | Slow and quiet | Open-mouth breathing, bubbles or discharge from the nose or mouth |
| Poop | Less often, then none once the gut is empty | Diarrhea, blood, very foul smell, or straining |
| Body | Normal shape | Swollen jaw or limbs, tremors, a swollen belly |
| Context | Healthy adult, cooler season, vet-checked | Young dragon, warm house, recent illness, or a gravid female that becomes lethargic |
VCA Animal Hospitals lists respiratory infection signs such as open-mouth breathing, discharge, and bubbles from the nose or mouth, and says any change from normal should be checked by your veterinarian. A female carrying eggs may stop eating but stay bright; if she becomes lethargic, see a vet right away, because egg-binding is an emergency (VCA).
How to prepare your bearded dragon for brumation
Short answer: Only a healthy dragon should brumate. Book a reptile vet exam and fecal parasite test, weigh your dragon to set a baseline, keep the setup's heat and UVB correct, and let appetite taper on its own. Don't stop feeding, chill the room, or switch off heat to force brumation without your vet's advice.
VCA warns that dragons with an inadequate diet or parasites can wake from brumation critically ill, which is why the pre-brumation vet visit matters most. Use this checklist:
- Vet exam and fecal test. Parasites and early infections can look like brumation. Your vet can also tell you whether your dragon is in good enough condition to brumate.
- Baseline weight. Weigh your dragon in grams on a kitchen scale and write it down. You'll compare against this every week.
- Correct setup first. A dragon that's too cold or under worn-out UVB may slow down for the wrong reasons. Check your temperatures and lighting against our bearded dragon tank setup guide; VCA recommends a 90–100°F warm end and a 75–80°F cool end, and the Exotic Animal Medical Centre advises replacing UVB bulbs every 6 months.
- Good nutrition going in. In the weeks before, keep offering a varied, calcium-dusted diet so your dragon goes in well-fed. See our complete bearded dragon diet plan.
- Let appetite lead. Offer food as usual and remove what isn't eaten. If your dragon is cool, sleepy, and not basking, ask your vet before feeding, since reptiles rely on warmth to digest.
- A final poop. A lukewarm soak can help an empty gut before your dragon settles in.
- A dark hide. Give your dragon a cave or hide at the cool end where it can sleep undisturbed.
Should I turn off the heat and lights during brumation?
Ask your vet what's right for your dragon. Don't switch off all heat or let the room get cold to force brumation. A dragon that's settled in will spend most of its time in a hide, and many keep a shortened light day. VCA notes that extra night heat usually isn't needed if the cool end stays around 65–80°F. If your home gets very cold, keep a safe temperature range; our power-outage guide covers emergencies.
What to do while your bearded dragon is brumating
Short answer: Leave your dragon to rest in its hide, keep a shallow dish of fresh water available, and check on it quietly every day. Weigh it once a week and call your vet if it loses weight, looks sunken or wrinkled, or shows any illness signs. Don't force-feed or force water.
- Daily look-in. Check breathing and position without waking your dragon.
- Weekly weigh-in. The RSPCA says brumating dragons shouldn't lose weight or stop eating entirely; contact your vet if your dragon is losing weight.
- Fresh water. Change it daily. Dragons may wake to drink.
- Brief waking is normal. Some dragons wander, bask, or eat a little, then go back to sleep. Offer a small meal if your dragon is awake, warm, and interested.
- Keep notes. Start date, weights, wake-ups, drinking, and poops. Your vet will find this useful.
- Handle as little as possible. Short, gentle checks are fine; frequent handling just disturbs your dragon.
Where does a bearded dragon brumate?
Short answer: Wild bearded dragons brumate in sheltered spots like burrows, rock crevices, and hollow logs. In an enclosure, give your dragon a roomy, dark hide at the cool end, such as a cave, so it can sleep without light and household movement waking it. Some dragons simply pick a quiet corner.
A hide that's big enough to turn around in, stable, and easy for you to lift off makes daily checks simple. The Zen Corner Cave fits into a back corner and doubles as a basking platform the rest of the year. If your dragon tries to dig, make sure décor can't shift or topple.
How long do bearded dragons brumate?
Short answer: It varies. Some pet bearded dragons brumate for a few weeks, others for a few months, and some skip it entirely. Wild dragons brumate through the Australian winter, roughly May to August. If brumation runs longer than you expect, or your dragon loses weight, check in with your vet.
If you've searched "how long do bearded dragons hibernate," this is the same question: brumation is the reptile version of a winter slow-down. There's no "right" length in captivity, and the same dragon can brumate for different lengths in different years. What matters more than the calendar is the weekly weigh-in and how your dragon looks. If you're worried, a vet visit mid-brumation is always reasonable.
How long can a bearded dragon go without eating during brumation?
There's no set number of days that's safe for every dragon. A healthy, vet-checked adult may eat very little, or nothing, for weeks while it brumates. What matters is its weight: the RSPCA says brumating dragons shouldn't lose weight or stop eating entirely, so weigh weekly and call your vet if the number drops. Babies and juveniles are still growing (VCA notes growth finishes around 10–12 months) and shouldn't go weeks without food.
Should you ever prevent or end bearded dragon brumation?
Short answer: Yes, with your vet's guidance, if your dragon is young and still growing, underweight, sick, has parasites, or starts slowing down in a warm house or out of season. VCA notes that only healthy dragons should brumate and that poorly fed dragons or those with parasites may wake up critically ill.
Contact your vet if your dragon starts to slow down under any of these circumstances:
- It's young. Dragons under about a year are still growing (VCA notes growth finishes around 10–12 months), and going weeks without food can be harmful.
- It's the "wrong" season or a warm house. Some dragons follow Australia's calendar, but slowing down in a home kept at 60–70°F can mean illness, according to VCA.
- Heating or UVB problems. A cold enclosure or old UVB can mimic winter and also lead to serious problems like metabolic bone disease. Replace old bulbs and recheck temps with a thermometer, using our heating and lighting options if something needs replacing.
- Malnutrition. A thin dragon, or one with a narrow tail base, shouldn't go into a long fast.
- Dehydration. Sunken eyes and loose, wrinkled skin need attention before any brumation.
- Known illness. If your dragon is being treated for anything, tell your vet as soon as it starts slowing down.
Regardless of brumation, see a reptile vet if you notice diarrhea or constipation, skin discoloration, difficulty moving, swollen jaw or limbs, difficulty breathing, weakness, or any sudden change from normal.
How do you know when brumation is ending?
Short answer: A waking dragon stays out of its hide longer, basks again, looks alert, and starts showing interest in food. Over several days, return the light schedule and temperatures to normal, offer small meals once your dragon is basking, and keep fresh water available. Weigh it again and book a vet visit if appetite doesn't return.
Feeding after brumation
Start with small, easy meals once your dragon is warm and basking: a little finely chopped salad and a few appropriately sized insects. Build back to its normal routine over a week or two. A gentle lukewarm soak and misted greens help with hydration. Feed insects no wider than the space between your dragon's eyes (Dubia size chart). Our live Dubia roaches are gut-loaded before they ship, and you can keep them well fed at home with our gut-loading guide.
Ordering feeder insects in winter
Brumation season is also cold-shipping season. Our Dubia roaches are raised by us in Kentucky and shipped fast by USPS Priority. When temperatures drop, add a Reptile Shipping Heat Pack to your order; see how we ship Dubia roaches in cold and hot weather and what to do when your roaches arrive. Every order is covered: send us a photo within 3 hours of delivery and we'll make it right. (We can't ship live insects to Florida, Hawaii, or Alaska.) First order? Use code NEWCUSTOMER when you order Dubia roaches for sale from us.
Bearded dragon brumation checklist
- ☐ Reptile vet exam and fecal parasite test before brumation
- ☐ Baseline weight in grams, then weekly weigh-ins
- ☐ Correct heat gradient and UVB (bulb under 6 months old)
- ☐ A roomy, dark hide at the cool end
- ☐ Shallow dish of fresh water, changed daily
- ☐ Brumation notes: start date, weights, wake-ups, poops
- ☐ Vet's number handy for weight loss or illness signs
- ☐ Plan for waking up: normal lights and heat, small meals, fresh feeders
Bearded dragon brumation FAQ
Is brumation dangerous for bearded dragons?
For a healthy, well-fed adult, brumation is a normal process. The danger comes when a sick, underweight, or parasite-carrying dragon brumates, because VCA notes those dragons may wake up critically ill. That's why a vet check before brumation and weekly weigh-ins during it are the most important steps you can take.
Do bearded dragons eat or drink during brumation?
Most eat much less, and some barely eat at all, but many wake occasionally to drink, so keep a shallow dish of fresh water available. If your dragon wakes, basks, and seems interested, offer a small meal. Never force-feed or force water. Call your vet if your dragon loses weight or looks dehydrated.
How can I tell if my bearded dragon is brumating or dead?
Look for slow breathing movements along the sides, and gently touch your dragon: a brumating dragon may open its eyes or shift slightly. Its body stays in a normal resting position. If you can't see breathing and there's no response at all, or the body looks limp, call a reptile veterinarian right away.
Do bearded dragons poop during brumation?
Much less often. As brumation starts, poops get spaced further apart, then usually stop once the gut is empty, which is why a lukewarm soak beforehand can help. Note any poops in your brumation log. Call a reptile vet if you see diarrhea, blood, a very foul smell, or straining.
Do bearded dragons stop breathing when they brumate?
No. A brumating bearded dragon keeps breathing, but its breaths are slow and quiet and can be hard to spot. Watch its sides for a gentle rise and fall rather than waking it to check. If you can't see any breathing and there's no response to a gentle touch, call a reptile vet.
Can baby bearded dragons brumate?
They can slow down, but it isn't recommended. Young dragons are still growing, and VCA notes growth finishes around 10 to 12 months, so going weeks without food can harm them. If a baby or juvenile starts acting sleepy and stops eating, check temperatures and UVB first, then see a reptile vet.
Why is my bearded dragon sleeping so much?
In fall and winter, it may be getting ready to brumate. But extra sleep can also mean the enclosure is too cool, the UVB bulb is old, or your dragon is sick. Check basking and cool-end temperatures with a thermometer, review the signs above, and see a reptile vet before assuming brumation.
Should I wake my bearded dragon from brumation?
Usually no. A healthy, vet-checked dragon can be left to wake on its own while you check it daily and weigh it weekly. Your vet may advise ending brumation if your dragon loses weight, shows illness signs, or is young. Don't warm up a sleepy dragon and force-feed it without vet guidance.
Sources
- VCA Animal Hospitals, "Brumation in Bearded Dragons" (Gregory Rich, DVM)
- VCA Animal Hospitals, "Bearded Dragons: Housing," "Bearded Dragons: Diseases," and "Bearded Dragons: Problems"
- Exotic Animal Medical Centre, "Recognising signs of stress in reptiles" (Dr Kimberley Earl, 2026)
- RSPCA, "Caring for your bearded dragon" (seasonal slow-down and weight guidance)
This guide is general care information, not veterinary advice. Brumation and illness can look alike, so if your dragon slows down, stops eating, or loses weight, see a reptile veterinarian.
About the author
Written by the Dragon's Diet Team. We've kept and cared for reptiles for 25 years, and we raise and ship live feeder insects from Taylor Mill, Kentucky. Our care guides draw on that hands-on experience and on veterinary sources like VCA Animal Hospitals and the RSPCA.
