Winter shut down

Hi my name is Paul and i live in the UK, Last year i bought myself a Rankins Dragon and a lovely little chap he is to, but since about the end of February he has been sleeping a lot, and is definitely not as active, and at prescent doesn't seem to be to interested in waking up, is this normall.and how long does it last for, i would be grateful for and advice, many thanks

My vitticeps "nap" for 2 to 3 months in the winter. I usually shut them down right after Thanksgiving (late November) and start warming them up around the first of February.

I was told to leave the heat lamp on 24/7, so is there anything i should be doing or do i just leave him to wake up by himself, the temp at the hot spot is is steady 105f he has always got fresh water but im reluctant at this time to maybe start feeding him?

Almost all reptiles need a day/night cycle. Leaving the lights on or off all the time adds stress... I would get a light timer and set it for 14 hours on and 10 hours off. What you are witnessing could just be a late brumation, although most brumations, as Dean said, start towards begining of winter, and end at the onset of spring.
-Drew

Cheers guys many thanks for your help i really apreceate it i'll reset the timer on both the heat lamp and ultra voilet to what you have suggested, once again many thanks good luck

Hi Dean thanks once again for your help, one other thing what did you mean by "Shut them Down" are you reducing the temp, and by how much?

I change the timers from a 14 hour on 10 hour off schedule to 10 on and 14 off (in increments of 1 hour per week). During the last 2 weeks of this change, I stop offering food. Once the timers are at 10/14, I change from 120 watt floods over the basking spot to 90 watt floods. This gives me about a 10°F drop in temps over the basking area. That also reduces ambient cage temps by around 5°F. That is enough to get them to shut down. My beardies are in the living room. I keep a pretty close eye on them, but during brumation, there really is not much to see. I have seen one of my males stay in the same position for over 3 weeks!!! I am not even sure he moved a leg during that time.

For the record, my basking temps hover at 100°F and ambient runs to about 80°F during the 14/10 "summer" period. During brumation the temps run 90/75 respectively.

Originally Posted by some_lizard_guy

Almost all reptiles need a day/night cycle. Leaving the lights on or off all the time adds stress... I would get a light timer and set it for 14 hours on and 10 hours off. What you are witnessing could just be a late brumation, although most brumations, as Dean said, start towards begining of winter, and end at the onset of spring.
-Drew

If you bought the rankins as a full grown adult it is possible he has already developed a brumation cycle. Most lizards will brumate at the same time every year. I force brumation on my breeders as 1st years and then brumate at the same time every year after. At least that way they keep on an annual cycle which is the healthiest for them.

Hi Dean many thanks for your help, can you clear up one thing what did you mean by "shut them down". Are you talking about reducing the temp and if so by how much and for how long, obviously im new to this, and im gratefull for any help and advice you offer, many thanks Paul.