Brumation sounds like a fancy coffee drink doesn’t it? Turns out it has very little to do with staying awake. Brumation is the term used to describe reptile hibernation, a time when your critter decides that it’s high time to bed down and nap for a few weeks or months. Many owners are caught off guard by this behavior and worry that there is a medical issue rather than it being a natural part of a reptile’s life cycle.

Snakes, lizards and some amphibians are built to go to ground. When the weather changes and food becomes scarce they have the ability the “switch off” and sleep for long periods of time. The first time my bearded dragon decided to turn into a sleeping beauty, I freaked out. A trip to the vet revealed to me that he was brumating and very happy doing so.

In Colorado the change in seasons can trigger brumation in your creature but cold weather isn’t always the culprit. Snakes and lizards tend to do what they want and brumation is no exception. Bearded dragons have been known to fall asleep in the heat of summer as readily as they do in winter. As with any animal, the cycle is unique to each creature as are the signs and severity.

If you are the owner of an exotic animal with this propensity, the number one thing to remember is that your animal still needs attentive care, sleeping or not. Maintain proper light and humidity levels, make fresh water available and even if it does make your scaly friend snarky, check them over every once in a while to be sure that they are maintaining proper body weight and hydration. In a few weeks or months your little one will snap out if it and be back to their old tricks in no time.


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